What Is Folk Music? 10 Popular Folk Music Examples

Folk music is a genre of music that typically uses acoustic instruments and often tells stories of the everyday lives of common people. In this article, we’ll explore 10 popular examples of folk music from around the world.

What is folk music?

Folk music is a genre of music that is typically passed down orally from one generation to the next. The music is usually about the lives of the people in the culture where it originated. Folk music is often used to tell stories or to express emotions.

Origins of folk music

Folk music has been around since the beginning of time. It is the music of the people and is passed down from generation to generation. Folk music is usually associated with acoustic instruments, such as guitars and mandolins, but can also be played with electric instruments.

The origins of folk music are very difficult to trace. It is believed that folk music originated in Europe during the Middle Ages. This type of music was often played at fairs and markets. During the Renaissance, folk music became more popular and was often used for entertainment at royal courts.

In the United States, folk music became popular during the 1800s with the rise of minstrelsy. Minstrelsy was a type of theater that featured performers who would sing and dance while wearing blackface. Folk music also became popular during the Civil Rights Movement as African Americans used it to express their struggles and triumphs.

Folk music has continued to be popular in the United States and around the world. In recent years, there has been a resurgence in interest in folk music with the popularity of artists such as Bob Dylan and Mumford & Sons.

Here are 10 examples of popular folk songs:

“Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan
“The Times They Are A-Changin'” by Bob Dylan
“We Shall Overcome” by Pete Seeger
“Goodnight Irene” by Lead Belly
“I Ain’t Got No Home” by Woody Guthrie
” house of the Rising Sun” by The Animals
“All Along the Watchtower” by Bob Dylan
“The Weight” by The Band
“Hey, Good Lookin'” by Hank Williams
“I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow” by The Soggy Bottom Boys

Characteristics of folk music

Folk music is a genre of music that is typically passed down from generation to generation orally. It is usually based on the traditions of a certain culture, and it often has a religious or spiritual meaning. Folk music often has a simple structure and is often based on traditional chord progressions.

There are many different characteristics of folk music, but some of the most common ones include the following:
-It is typically passed down from generation to generation orally.
-It often has a religious or spiritual meaning.
-It often has a simple structure.
-It is often based on traditional chord progressions.
-It usually features acoustic instruments.
-It often tells stories about the lives of everyday people.

10 popular folk music examples

Folk music is a genre of music that is typically passed down orally from one generation to the next. Folk music is usually about the stories and experiences of the common people, and it is often passed down through the generations by being performed at social gatherings. Folk music often has a strong connection to the culture and traditions of a community.

“The House of the Rising Sun”

“The House of the Rising Sun” is a traditional folk song, sometimes called “Rising Sun Blues”. It tells the story of a young man who is lured into a life of gambling and debauchery in New Orleans. The song is thought to be based on actual events that occurred in the city’s notorious Roaring Twenties-era French Quarter.

“This Land Is Your Land”

“This Land Is Your Land” is a song written by Woody Guthrie in 1940. It is one of the most famous folk songs, and has been covered by many artists. The song is about the beauty of America, and how everyone is welcome here.

“Blowin’ in the Wind”

“Blowin’ in the Wind” is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962 and released as a single by Peter, Paul & Mary in 1963. It went on to become an anthem of the 1960s civil rights and anti-war movements.

“The Times They Are A-Changin'”

Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin'” is one of the most well-known and influential folk songs ever written. The song was released in 1964, during a time of great social and political change in the United States. The lyrics of the song reflect the changes that were taking place in society at that time, and the song has become an anthem for social change.

Other popular folk songs include “We Shall Overcome,” “This Land Is Your Land,” and “The House of the Rising Sun.” Folk music has been a part of American culture for centuries, and it continues to be popular today.

“Make You Feel My Love”

“Make You Feel My Love” is a song written by Bob Dylan that appeared on his 1997 album Time Out of Mind. The song was first released commercially by Billy Joel, under the title “To Make You Feel My Love”, in 1997. It has since been covered by numerous performers and has become one of Dylan’s most popular and well-known songs. The lyrics to “Make You Feel My Love” are reportedly inspired by a love letter Dylan wrote to his first wife, Sara Lownds.

“The Wanderer”

“The Wanderer” is a popular folk song that was first published in 1857. The song is about a man who wander from place to place, never staying in one place for very long. The song became popular during the Civil War, when many people were displaced from their homes and had to wander the country in search of work or food.

“I Will Always Love You”

“I Will Always Love You” is a song written and performed by American country music artist Dolly Parton. It was released on June 6, 1974, as the second single from the soundtrack album to the film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982). The song was Parton’s fourth number one on the country chart as a solo artist.

The song was ranked number eight on Billboard’s Greatest Country Songs of All Time list in 2002. In 2013, Rolling Stone ranked it number four hundred and ninety-eight on their list of the five hundred greatest songs of all time. The song has been recorded by many other artists including Whitney Houston, who recorded a cover version for the film The Bodyguard (1992).

Parton wrote the song in 1973, intending it to be a farewell to her one-time partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, with whom she was working at the time. She left his show to pursue a solo career, and “I Will Always Love You” was released as her first single. It was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming one of Pop music’s all-time classics. Houston’s cover version topped charts worldwide in 1992 and became one of the best-selling singles of all time.

“You Are My Sunshine”

“You Are My Sunshine” is a popular folk song that was written by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell. The song was first recorded by Davis in 1939 and has since been recorded by many different artists. “You Are My Sunshine” is a happy and upbeat song that tells the story of a person who loves another person very much. The lyrics of the song are very simple, but they are very effective in conveying the message of the song.

“Over the Rainbow”

“Over the Rainbow” is a classic folk song written by E.Y. Harburg and Harold Arlen. It was first performed by Judy Garland in the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.” The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, and Willie Nelson.

0. “Danny Boy”

1. “Down in the Valley”
2. “The Erie Canal”
3. “Frog Went A-Courtin'”
4. “Greensleeves”
5. “(Oh, My Darling) Clementine”
6.”She’ll Be Comin’ ‘Round the Mountain”
7.”Shenandoah”
8.”Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
9.”This Land Is Your Land”
10.”Wild Mountain Thyme”