It's not every day that one reads Bruno Nettl's name... anywhere. Way to go, Sandy!What is folk song? There is no mystery or debate about it. Folk song is the representative expression of a community, almost always the work of an unknown composer, work that has been transmitted aurally during which time text and melody that have been altered,B> as successive singers have both consciously and unconsciously reshaped the song. Hence Art's apprehension at the title of this thread.
What is contemporary song? Presumably, the kind of songs Joely writes.
Is this a value statement? No.
Using the academic definition assures that everybody is talking about the same thing. That's good.
All the best,
Dan