Genre Research: Folk Rock

Ed Sheeran’s music is generally put under the hybrid genre of ‘folk rock’, therefore in order to really grasp his style of music I researched into it more thoroughly.  By doing this, I will be able to understand more of the conventions of the genre and so our music video will be more fitting to the ‘folk rock’ genre.

Initially, the genre was started in the US, when Los Angeles based band ‘The Byrds’ began playing traditional folk music, but with rock instrumentation. US music press first used the term ‘folk rock’ to describe the bands music in June 1966, when their debut album was also released. Folk rock became hugely popular in the UK and US in the mid-late 1960’s, especially after The Byrds released their cover version of Bob Dylan’s ‘Mr Tambourine Man’. Dylan himself played a huge role in the progression of folk rock, especially with his various collaborations with electric rock bands and electric backing bands for many of his songs.

Folk rock has various subgenres; country folk, celtic folk, electric folk, medieval folk and British progressive folk. Each of them include their own music/lyrical coventions as well as their different recurring iconography features and themes. In a very general sense, folk rock is very simple instrumentally. Many folk rock artists merely have themselves playing the guitar for many of their songs. Artists who do this are; Bob Dylan, Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) and even Ed Sheeran for many of his musical performances. The guitar itself could be seen as a regular icon for folk rock. 

BOB DYLAN - MR TAMBOURINE MAN

        

CAT STEVENS - PEACE TRAIN 

                           

ED SHEERAN - SMALL BUMP

Folk rock doesn't really have a particular 'fashion' style, the artists usually just dress in casual, everday clothes.

Ed Sheeran himself is rarely seen wearing anything but hoodies, jeans, tee shirts etc.

The lyrics are usually about everyday or relatable things, for example the song 'Father and Son' by Yusuf Islam, the lyrics of which is merely a heartfelt conversation between a father and son. 

Or even 'Be Like you' by Ed Sheeran, a song about somebody who realises too late they lost the love of their life, and everybody has lost somebody they loved therefore the lyrics are very relatable to for audiences.










The genre has had a long life span, and even now continues to be popular. Folk rock is easy to listen to and as I mentioned before, many folk rock songs are heavily relatable and so there will always be an audience for the music.