Southern Ontario folk musician Ian Bell says it makes sense that sea shanties are taking off on social media right now because they are participatory and easy to learn. "I think for a lot of people, singing shanties at this moment is like the musical equivalent of learning to bake your own bread." Musician Ian Bell has been singing sea shanties for many years and says he loves shanties about the Great Lakes because of the local connection. (ianbellmusic.ca)Songs to make work easierShanties aren't so much songs as they are templates of songs, Bell said. Great Lakes shanties name local spotsA number of sea shanties were written on or about the Great Lakes and they are particular to the types of ships on the lakes, he said.

Source: CBC News January 23, 2021 12:01 UTC