Big Blog No. 1: Folk Rock

 Hello there besties, we are back this week with something different...

I will be teaching you about my favorite genre of music, folk rock! Some of my favorite artists are included in this genre, such as, the Lumineers, Simon and Garfunkel (familiar? lol), Carole King, Mumford and Sons, and the one and only Gordon Lightfoot! Here is some Lumineers content because I can: 

Awesome, so good. Anyways, where did this all start? 

So this is where we get down to the nitty-gritty, the true origin of folk rock. The folk music we know today can be traced back to around the 1920s and fell into the genre of country when Jimmie Rogers released "T for Texas" (then known as "Blue Yodel") and became the Father of Country Music. When up-and-coming folk singers, like Woodie Guthrie, began using similar melodies, ideas, and music styles, a new era of country music was born. Artists during this time were affected by the Great Depression, just like everyone else, and therefore wrote music about it. You know, as one does in times of national/international crisis.

"T for Texas"

The Dust Bowl era and Great Depression turned the tides for musicians. As we saw in class, the Blues originated from the lowlands of society in the early 1900, as did folk music during the 1920s. During Prohibition in the 1920s, jazz, gospel, and folk all had their spot in the limelight, making way for Jimmie Rogers to release his "T for Texas" in 1927, perfect timing for the sadness and famine of the Great Depression to put its own spicy twist on life. Jazz was performed in speak easy bars and private concerts, gospel stayed in the church, and folk came from those in the rural areas and working parts of society. Woodie Guthrie's "Dust Bowl Blues" (link below) and many of his other Dust Bowl ballads are a mix of blues and country, making him one of the very first folk music performers in history. 

Well now that you feel like you're back in high school American History, can we please bring this back to folk rock?

According to Masterclass, folk rock emerged in the 1960s when traditional folk music combined with rock 'n' roll. Bob Dylan and Roger McGuinn, considered to be traditional folk artists at the time, are some of the most prevalent musicians to adopt this new form of music in the era of rock and roll dividing into different genres. This led to many rock bands turning to traditional artists for inspiration, such as the Animals. "The House of the Rising Sun" by the Animals was a cover of you classic traditional folk song. For those of you with dads/grandparents like mine that sing random old songs for no reason anytime someone says a word that is in the lyrics of said song, you will know this one by the Animals:

Don't say anything about houses or New Orleans around my dad, you will get a very poorly-performed concert. 

Many consider the Beatles part of this movement of modern folk rock, but I think they fall into their own category since they practically created an empire and dominated their side of the music industry. Today, we catch many of these elements in modern folk rock music, like my heroes the Lumineers. They sing songs that tell stories like the blues with musical undertones of country. To those of you with TikTok, this one is for you. 

Dr. Dog is folk rock??????? Yes, yes they are. 

Modern folk rock elements include electric instruments and five-piece drum kits, diatonic harmonies, rock 'n' roll with folk traditions, and melodic singing with frequent harmonies. Already familiar with the acoustic 12-string guitar, introducing the electric 12-string guitar in the mid-1960s was a no-brainer. The electric version of this classic instrument added a clean and crisp feel to the rustic-sounding folk music, enhancing the rock genes of the sub-genre. In terms of diatonic harmonies, open chords leave room for the profound vocals to shine through and gift us with their presence. The vocals in folk rock are what really seal the deal because it is a very distinct style that differs from rock but doesn't have the same melancholy of the blues or old country. After doing my research I have dubbed this the "personality" of folk rock because it's just so different from everything else. Some may argue and put it in the Indie category of music, but folk rock just has its own flavor that can only be described by its different vocals. 

While this blog gave me an excuse to listen to my favorite music, I hope I was able to teach you something along the way. Thank you for joining me!

Resources:

Claire and Casey. "Dust Bowl Era Music." 19 November 2015. Accessed 26 March 2022. Received from https://medium.com/the-thirties/dust-bowl-era-music-d9b0bb33524b

MasterClass staff. "Folk Rock Music Guide: What Does Folk Rock Sound Like?" 24 February 2022. Accessed 26 March 2022. Received from https://www.masterclass.com/articles/folk-rock-music-guide#5-characteristics-of-folk-rock-music. 

Ott, Kevin. "Folk Rock History." 2022. Accessed 26 March 2022. Received from https://music.lovetoknow.com/Folk_Rock_Music_History.