|
Post by Mike Floorstand on Nov 22, 2013 23:11:52 GMT
Another observation, I don't think folk is a "genre", in the way that different types of rock or jazz or rap music form genres.
Sea shanties, murder ballads, Northumbrian pipe tunes, etc. etc... are all "folk", but the folk label (meta-genre?) more describes the original social contexts and purposes rather than shared musical characteristics.
I don't mind labels generally though - if someone said they'd done a reggae version of a punk song, you may not like it but you'd know roughly what they mean.
"World music" always struck me as an odd category, mostly a marketing term I guess - or a shorthand for "folk by foreigners"?
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,859
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Nov 23, 2013 11:24:21 GMT
earwighoneyI must confess to not knowing Adventure all that well. I used to have some Tom Verlaine solo albums (on cassette) which were pretty good. It was me big sis that got me into Marquee Moon which I was about 11. It's probably what got me listening to Talking Heads, The Bunnymen, Smiths, Go-Betweens, etc a few years down the line. It was very different from the Hard Rock stuff she usually listened to. I've introduced both my daughters to Marquee Moon - they both love it:-)
|
|
missclarktree
C.O.G.
Posts: 2,423
My main instrument is: It varies
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"1979e6"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 100605
Mini-Profile Text Color: 020a12
|
Post by missclarktree on Nov 23, 2013 20:22:05 GMT
Another observation, I don't think folk is a "genre", in the way that different types of rock or jazz or rap music form genres. Sea shanties, murder ballads, Northumbrian pipe tunes, etc. etc... are all "folk", but the folk label (meta-genre?) more describes the original social contexts and purposes rather than shared musical characteristics. Good point. And yes, 'world' is a funny term. Music from the world, as opposed to music from out of this world. I remember calling it foreign music and being corrected.
|
|
brianr2
C.O.G.
Posts: 3,061
My main instrument is: Brook Lyn guitar
|
Post by brianr2 on Nov 24, 2013 11:40:14 GMT
Another observation, I don't think folk is a "genre", in the way that different types of rock or jazz or rap music form genres. Sea shanties, murder ballads, Northumbrian pipe tunes, etc. etc... are all "folk", but the folk label (meta-genre?) more describes the original social contexts and purposes rather than shared musical characteristics. Good point. And yes, 'world' is a funny term. Music from the world, as opposed to music from out of this world. I remember calling it foreign music and being corrected. Labels and classifications - much beloved and abused by commercial marketers - are always a problem. We want them for clarity of communication and yet it is simplification that often confuses and obscures. One web dictionary definition of "foreign" is: "of, from, in, or characteristic of a country or language other than one's own". Quite a reasonable description of "world" music, I should say, which I have never seen taken to include the UK. A parallel meaning is: "strange and unfamiliar. Synonyms: unfamiliar, unknown, unheard of, strange, alien, exotic, outlandish, odd, peculiar, curious, bizarre, weird". As a card-carrying Old Git, for me that mops up most non-acoustic music, especially rap, house, garage (? "toilet") and pretty well all current pop. Echoing Show of Hands "Roots", it is a pity that the mainstream media devotes so little attention to UK traditional music. I can read every week in national press, however, about the latest stuff from the Balkans, Africa, Asia.... The more different varieties of music everyone - especially children - is exposed to the better. It all has something offer and you cannot know what you like until you try it. I must draw the line, however, at the dross so cynically manufactured by Simon Cowell. Brian
|
|
|
Post by arturo on Nov 25, 2013 18:15:43 GMT
Ooh! Cracking thread Alison.
Does it matter what we call it? I listen to blues, (yes, even the Stones)country, ragtime, americana, Calexico, Old timey, traditional folk dance music as well as to some of the more popular beat combos in the hit parade.
I confess that as I get older, any idea of where the boundaries are gets less and less clear, to the point that, like some others have commented here I don't really care. If I like it I like it. It doesn't even mean its any "Good".
Perhaps someone would like to define what Good means in this context, or is that too contentious?
Arturo
|
|
|
Post by Mike Floorstand on Nov 25, 2013 19:07:11 GMT
|
|
|
Post by slasher on Nov 28, 2013 16:07:14 GMT
My view of Folk is that it is the songs that relate to us ordinary people. Songs about love,death,sex,drink,war,work, and quite a few other things as well. Many of these songs were written by those two great writers-- Trad and his pal Anon. Somebody did write them originally though, they did'nt appear out of the blue! There seems to have been a move, particularly in the USA, to define anything played acoustically as Folk, when in reality much of it is acoustic Pop. Modern songs that seem to be accepted as Folk seem to follow-on from the tradition in that they tell of peoples lives. Think Ewan McColl, early Dylan, Ralph McTell, Richard Thompson for example. My view of Country music is that it is a commercialised version of American folk music. I am fortunate to attend quite laid-back Folk song sessions where if occasionally someone performs a rock, pop or Showtune they are appreciated. The "Folk Police" are mellowing.
|
|
|
Post by ararat66 on Nov 29, 2013 10:15:52 GMT
This is as good a definition as I have ever read, brilliant and clearly a lot of punk etc wouldn't go near this. I would say there are therefore 'folk' elements to many 'genres' ... 'Oliver's Army' and 'Shipbuilding' by Elvis Costello spring to mind although now in the distant past, and much more if you think about it.
Leon
|
|