Folk Rock Music: 5 Classic Examples
Folk rock emerged in the mid-1960s as a fusion of folk music and rock music. This list explores five of the most classic examples of folk rock music.
What is Folk Rock?
Folk rock is a musical genre that combines elements of folk music and rock music. It originated in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and quickly spread to the United States and other countries. Folk rock is often characterized by its use of acoustic instruments and close harmonies.
Origins of Folk Rock
Folk rock is a musical genre that combines elements of folk music and rock music. It originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the mid-1960s. Folk rock often utilises traditional folk instruments such as acoustic guitars, banjos, and mandolins, and blends them with elements of rock music, such as electric guitars, drums, and bass.
The earliest known use of the term “folk rock” was by the British rock band The Byrds in their song “Mr. Tambourine Man”, which was released in 1965. The song became a hit single in both the United States and the United Kingdom. In the wake of The Byrds’ success, other bands began to experiment with folk rock, including The Beatles, who recorded several folk rock-influenced songs on their album “Rubber Soul”.
Folk rock continued to evolve in the 1970s with artists such as Bob Dylan and Elton John adopting elements of the genre into their sound. Folk rock reached its commercial peak in the 1980s with artists such as REM and The Pogues achieving mainstream success. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in folk rock with artists such as Mumford & Sons and Bon Iver finding success.
Characteristics of Folk Rock
Folk rock is a musical genre that combines elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest form, it was an American genre that arose in the mid-1960s. The term “folk rock” was initially used to describe certain rock bands who incorporated traditional folk instruments and sensibilities into their music, but the genre soon spread beyond the United States and became a global phenomenon.
There are a few characteristic that are defining of folk rock:
-The use of traditional instruments such as acoustic guitars, banjos, and violins
-Songs with plaintive lyrics about love, loss, and other topics drawn from the everyday lives of ordinary people
-A hybrid style that blends the sound of folk and rock music
While there is no one definitive sound of folk rock, the genre is often associated with a laid-back, relaxed feel. This is perhaps best exemplified by Simon & Garfunkel’s classic 1966 song “The Sound of Silence.” Another excellent example of folk rock is Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde album, which features a number of seminal folk rock songs including “I Want You” and “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat.”
5 Classic Examples of Folk Rock
Folk rock is a musical genre that emerged in the 1960s. It combines elements of folk music and rock music. Folk rock was a reaction against the dominant form of popular music at the time, which was folk music that had been “sanitized” for mass consumption. Folk rock was a way to return to the roots of folk music and make it more relevant to the times. Here are five classic examples of folk rock.
Simon and Garfunkel – “The Sound of Silence”
Originally written and performed as an acoustic folk song by Paul Simon in 1964, “The Sound of Silence” was later given a rock treatment by Simon and Garfunkel, becoming one of the most successful folk-rock singles of all time. The new arrangement added electric guitar, bass, and drums to the original acoustic guitars and vocals, giving the song a more anthemic sound that fit in perfectly with the countercultural zeitgeist of the 1960s.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – “Ohio”
“Ohio” is a protest song written and composed by Neil Young in response to the Kent State shootings of May 4, 1970, and performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. It was released as a single on July 20, 1970, reaching No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song’s power lies in its simplicity, with a spare guitar melody and Young’s anguished vocals conveying the horror of the shootings.
Bob Dylan – “Like a Rolling Stone”
“Like a Rolling Stone” is considered one of the most influential songs of all time. It was released in 1965 as a single from Dylan’s sixth studio album, Highway 61 Revisited. The song is over six minutes long, which was unusual for radio at the time, and it features multiple key changes and instrumentation that was unusual for Dylan’s previous folk recordings. The lyrics are written in the first person from the perspective of someone who has lost touch with their former life and is now a “rolling stone.” The song has been covered by numerous artists, including the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and Santana.
The Byrds – “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)”
The Byrds – “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)”
One of the early and most successful attempts to fuse folk and rock was The Byrds’ 1965 cover of Pete Seeger’s “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season).” The folk music boom of the early ’60s dovetailed nicely with the rise of the counterculture, and The Byrds took advantage of both trends. With its 12-string jangle, Bob Dylan-esque harmonica, and countermelodies played on organ, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” sounded like nothing else on the radio at the time. The track struck a chord with listeners and spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Joni Mitchell – “Big Yellow Taxi”
“Big Yellow Taxi” is a song written by Joni Mitchell in 1970, and it is widely regarded as one of the classic examples of folk rock music. The song is about the destruction of the natural environment, and it was inspired by a trip to Hawaii, where Mitchell saw firsthand the effects of development on the landscape.
The original version of “Big Yellow Taxi” was released on Mitchell’s album Ladies of the Canyon, and it features a simple arrangement of acoustic guitar and drums. The song became a hit when it was covered by Judy Collins in 1970, and it has since been covered by many other artists, including Bob Dylan, Amy Grant, and Vanessa Carlton.
While “Big Yellow Taxi” is not necessarily representative of all folk rock music, it is an excellent example of how the genre can be used to address social and political issues. Folk rock songs often make use of traditional folk melodies and instruments, but they typically have a more modern sensibility and lyrical outlook.
Conclusion
In conclusion, folk rock music is a unique and interesting genre that has produced some truly classic examples over the years. If you’re a fan of folk music or rock music, or just looking for something new to listen to, give folk rock a try. You might just find your new favorite band.
