Quote:
Originally Posted by anticipation
folk music usually varies from culture to culture, and is heavily influenced by regional identity. Folk incorporates native instruments, like the kora in Africa or the Guitarron in Mexico, and uses established rhythms that occasionally derive from religious customs or spiritual ceremony. Subject matter tends to relate to local mythologies or come from a period of great suffering, like slavery in America or pogroms in eastern europe.
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^ This excellent answer picks up most of the elements that I think of as fixing the folk style. I would maybe add that the music or the words should also have a certain simplicity that make them easy to emulate. The great folk-songs have been passed around between musicians for years and to survive they`ve needed a robust structure and a certain universality of lyric. So, for me, I wouldn`t call Jack Johnson a folk singer - his songs are too quirky and individualistic - he falls into the singer-songwriter category that
starrynight just mentioned.
I`d also say that it`s axiomatic that every country in the world has folk music, which these days seems to be called "world", mainly for marketing reasons, I suspect.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger
Beards & chunky knit sweaters
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^ Absolutely essential, of course, although a female singer, with a note from her doctor, is now exempt from needing a beard in most countries.