Urban Folk Music that Ignores Politics

If you’re looking for some urban folk music that completely ignores politics, then you’ve come to the right place! We believe that music should be a force for good, and that means staying away from the divisive topics that can often tear people apart.

So come on in, sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the best urban folk music around!

The Roots of Urban Folk Music

Urban folk music has its roots in the songs of working-class people who were living in urban areas. These people were often living in poverty and their songs reflected their struggles and hard-lived experiences. Urban folk music often has a strong sense of community and is passed down from generation to generation.

The blues

The blues is a genre of music that came out of the African American experience in the United States. It is characterized by a feeling of sadness or hardship, and it often has a complex and interesting history.

The blues began in the southern states, particularly in the Mississippi Delta, and it was first popularized by African American musicians in the early 20th century. The genre has since spread to other parts of the world, and it has been influence by a variety of other genres, including jazz and rock.

The blues is known for its simple, catchy melodies and its often-provocative lyrics. Many famous blues songs deal with topics like love, loss, and heartache, but there are also many humorous or upbeat songs in the genre.

The blues has been an important influence on many other genres of music, including rock and roll, country, and jazz. Some of the most famous blues musicians include Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf, and Willie Dixon.

Jazz

Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, United States. It emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and developed from roots in blues and ragtime. Jazz is characterized by swing and blue notes, call and response vocals, polyrhythms and improvisation. Jazz has roots in West African cultural and musical expression, and in African-American music traditions including blues and ragtime. As jazz spread around the world, it drew on different national, regional, and local musical cultures, which gave rise to many distinctive styles. New Orleans jazz began in the early 1910s, combining earlier brass band marches, French quadrilles, biguine, ragtime and blues with collective polyphonic improvisation. In the 1930s, heavily arranged dance-oriented swing big bands became the dominant style in mainstream commercial jazz. The term “swing” refers to the “syncopated rhythm common to both ragtime and early jazz”.A typical song played in swing style would feature a strong chorus or melody section which was introduced by one or more artists playing an instrument solo or improvising melodic lines.The basic format of a song played in this style consisted of several sections: an Intro (32–64 bars), Chorus (8–32 bars), Solos (1–16 bars each), Minor Swing (8+ bars) Introductions were important because they gave the soloist time to orient themself with the melody while also allowing time for listeners to get familiar with it as well.

Rhythm and blues

Urban folk music is a musical genre that refers to the music of the urban working class. It is usually characterized by its use of traditional instrumentation, such as guitars and drums, as well as its focus on storytelling.

The roots of urban folk music can be traced back to the blues, a style of music that developed in the American South in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Blues music was originally performed by African American musicians who were often poor and rural. Over time, the blues began to be popularized by white musicians, particularly in the North. This led to the development of new styles of music, such as rhythm and blues (R&B).

R&B is a type of urban folk music that emerged in the 1940s and 1950s. It is characterized by its use of electric guitars, pianos, and horns. R&B was originally performed by African American artists who were influenced by the blues. However, it soon began to be popularized by white performers, such as Elvis Presley.

In the 1960s and 1970s, another type of urban folk music emerged: hip hop. Hip hop is a musical genre that is characterized by its use of rap lyrics and beats. Hip hop was originally developed by African American youth in inner-city neighborhoods. It soon became popular with young people all over the world

The Political Climate of the Late 20th Century

The late 20th century was a tumultuous time for the United States. The country was embroiled in a series of wars, both hot and cold, and domestic politics were in a constant state of flux. Against this backdrop, a new type of music was rising in popularity: urban folk.

The Civil Rights Movement

The late 20th century was a time of immense social change in the United States. The country was coming out of the Civil War, and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution had finally ensured basic civil rights for African Americans. However, discrimination and violence against black people were still common, especially in the South. In response to this continued oppression, the Civil Rights Movement began to gain momentum in the 1950s.

African Americans started to demand their constitutional rights through nonviolent protests and civil disobedience. The Montgomery Bus Boycott, sit-ins at lunch counters, and Freedom Rides were all part of this movement. But it wasn’t until 1963 that the Civil Rights Movement reached its apex with the march on Washington D.C., led by Martin Luther King Jr. Here, King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, which called for an end to discrimination and racial segregation in America.

The success of the Civil Rights Movement led to other social movements in the late 20th century, including the Women’s Rights Movement, the Gay Rights Movement, and the environmental movement. Together, these movements helped create a more just and equal society in America.

The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a conflict that lasted for more than two decades, with major involvement from the United States. The war began in 1955 and ended in 1975, with the fall of Saigon to communist forces. Though it is sometimes referred to as America’s Forgotten War, the Vietnam War had a significant impact on the country and its people.

Urban folk music of the late 20th century often ignored the political climate of the time, including the Vietnam War. This type of music was more interested in personal stories and emotions, rather than the larger political landscape. However, there were some folk singers who did address the war and its ramifications.

The Cold War

The Cold War was a period of time where the US and the Soviet Union were in a state of political tension and military competition. This “war” was “cold” because it never turned into an actual hot war, or a conflict with physical fighting. Instead, it was mainly a war of ideas, with each side fighting to spread its own political and economic system around the world. The Cold War had a huge impact on music, especially in the US.

During the Cold War, the US government used music as a way to promote American values around the world. The State Department sponsored tours by American jazz groups, and the US Information Agency produced albums of American music that were sent to embassies and broadcast on Radio Free Europe. The government also worked with private companies like Columbia Records to produce ” LP records that would be given away or sold very cheaply in order to spread American culture.”

Not all musicians went along with this plan, though. Some folk singers started producing songs that were critical of US foreign policy, and country musicians like Johnny Cash spoke out against racism and poverty. These artists weren’t trying to undermine the US government, but they believed that music should be about more than just promoting American values. They wanted their music to be honest and reflective of the reality of life in America, even if that meant critiquing some aspects of society.

The Resurgence of Urban Folk Music

In the past decade, there has been a resurgence of interest in urban folk music. This music is often based in the realities of city life and can be a form of social commentary. It can be used to ignored the politics of the day and focus on the humanity of the people who live in the city. This type of music often has a strong beat and can be very catchy.

The folk revival

The folk revival was a movement in the United States and Europe that began in the 1940s and peaked in popularity in the mid-1960s. Its roots were in the protest music of artists like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, who were influenced by traditional folk music of the American South and Britain. The revival led to the emergence of new genres like folk rock and acid folk, and influenced popular culture through folk festivals and the commercial success of artists like Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel.

The British Invasion

In the 1960s, a new wave of folk music began to sweep across the United Kingdom, led by groups like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. These groups, known as the British Invasion, brought a new sound to the folk music scene that was heavily influenced by rock and roll. The British Invasion would go on to have a massive impact on the American folk music scene, which had been dominated by artists like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger.

The Decline of Political Folk Music

The counterculture of the 1960s

The counterculture of the 1960s was a social, political, and musical movement that rejected the values of mainstream American culture. The counterculture embraced diversity and championed the rights of minorities, women, and working-class Americans.

One of the most visible aspects of the counterculture was its music. Political folk music became popular among young people who were opposed to the Vietnam War and other social injustices. This type of music often had lyrics that were critical of the government or called for social change.

However, as the 1960s came to an end, political folk music began to decline in popularity. This was partly due to the fact that many of the issues that had inspired such songs—such as the Vietnam War—had come to an end. But it was also due to changes in the folk music scene itself.

As folk music became more popular, it began to be commercialized. This meant that Folk musicians were no longer primarily interested in making political statements—they wanted to sell records and make money. As a result, many Folk musicians began to ignore or downplay the political aspects of their music.

This focus on commercial success led to a decline in the quality of Folk music overall. Much of the Folk music that was being produced in the early 1970s was bland andGeneric “middle-of-the-road” Music designed to appeal to as many people as possible. As a result, Political folk music lost its urgency and its edge, becoming little more than background noise for a complacent generation.

The commercialization of folk music

In the early part of the twentieth century, folk music was primarily an oral tradition, passed down through the generations by word of mouth. With the advent of commercial radio and recording technology in the 1920s, folk music began to be disseminated more widely, and by the 1930s it had become a significant force in American popular culture. In the decades that followed, folk music underwent a number of important changes. Perhaps the most significant of these was its increasing commercialization.

In the years after World War II, a number of factors contributed to the commercialization of folk music. One was the growing popularity of television, which created new opportunities for performers to reach a wide audience. Another was the rise of the civil rights movement, which led to a renewed interest in African American folk music and created a market for political folk songs. Finally, commercial record labels began to take an interest in folk music, and they began to sign Folk musicians to recording contracts.

The commercialization of Folk music had a number of important consequences. One was that it helped to bring about the decline of traditional Folk music. As Folk music became more commercialized, it became less authentic and more watered-down. Traditional Folk musicians found themselves increasingly displaced by commercially successful but less talented performers.

Another consequence of commercialization was that it helped to create a new genre of Folk music known as “Urban Folk.” This type of Folk music was characterized by its focus on personal emotion and experience, rather than on political or social issues. Urban Folk performers such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez were hugely popular in the 1960s, but their success came at the expense of traditional Folk musicians.

The commercialization of Folk music also had an important effect on the lyrics of Folk songs. In the past, most Folk songs had been about love, loss, work, or other personal topics. But as Folk music became more political in nature, its lyrics began to reflect this change. Songs about civil rights, Vietnam War protests, and other social issues become increasingly common in the 1960s and 1970s. This trend reached its height with “We Shall Overcome” and other protest songs that were sung duringthe Civil Rights Movement.

Today, Folk music is no longer as commercially successful as it once was. But it remains an important part of American culture, and its influence can still be seen in many genres of popular music.

The New Urban Folk Movement

performers of the new Urban Folk Movement (NFM) Urban Folk music has been defined in a variety of ways, but at its core is the idea of music performed by people living in cities that often incorporates traditional folk music forms but is not limited to them. This type of music often has its roots in the working class and can deal with a wide range of topics, from love to loss to politics.

The punk rock revolution

Punk rock was a musical and cultural movement that emerged in the mid-1970s. The punk rock revolution rejected the mainstream values of the time, such as peace, love, and freedom. Instead, punk rockers advocated for anarchy, violence, and chaos.

The punk rock movement influenced many different genres of music, including urban folk. Urban folk is a genre of music that is based in the folk tradition but has been adapted to fit the urban lifestyle. Urban folk musicians often sing about their everyday lives, rather than about politics or social issues.

While the urban folk movement may seem apolitical, it is actually a form of resistance against the mainstream values of society. By refusing to sing about political issues, urban folk musicians are making a statement about the importance of everyday life and the need to resist conformity.

The hip-hop revolution

In the 1970s, a revolution in music known as hip-hop emerged from the urban ghettos of New York City. This new style of music, which blended elements of funk, soul, and Jamaican reggae with the techniques of DJing and MCing, quickly spread to other cities across the United States. By the early 1990s, hip-hop had become a global phenomenon, with artists such as Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg becoming international superstars.

While hip-hop has always been political in nature, in recent years there has been a trend among some artists towards what has been termed “conscious” or “positive” hip-hop. This new strand of urban folk music often ignores the traditional topics of gang violence and drug dealing in favor of messages of social justice and equality. Artists such as Kendrick Lamar and J Cole have become popular figures in this movement, using their music to raise awareness of issues such as police brutality and racism.

With its mix of positive messages and catchy beats, conscious hip-hop is quickly gaining popularity among young people around the world. It remains to be seen whether this new Urban Folk Movement will be able to make a lasting impact on society or whether it will simply be a passing fad.