Genre bending?

Subject: RE: Genre bending?
From: Kelida
Date: 07 Apr 00 - 10:13 PM

I'm mostly into traditional folk songs and I love instrumental music (mostly jigs and reels), but unfortunately the only instrument I play truly proficiently right now is clarinet. I guess you could call it genre bending to play "Strayaway Child" on clarinet, since as far as I know that is NOT a traditional instrument (baroque maybe).

In any case, it's really easy to switch music between genres. Metallica and the Misfits did it with "Whiskey in the Jar," and it sucked, but then again, it's way easier to switch an electric song to acoustic and have it sound good then it is to switch acoustic or traditonal music to electric--imagine "Strayaway Child" on an electric guitar!

Subject: RE: Genre bending?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 Apr 00 - 09:25 PM

Well, I used to throw in Les Amants d'un Jour (Edith Piaf) and Down in the Park (Gary Numan), both using octave mandola (baritone mandolin).  Nobody thought twice about it, except to say, "That'd be a Richard Thompson song, yes?"

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Genre bending?
From: Mooh
Date: 07 Apr 00 - 08:48 PM

Stones-Hundred Years (from Goats Head Soup), Dead Flowers, Paint It Black.

Johnny Winter-Stranger and Love Song To Me

If blues ain't folk then lots of blues tunes...

A couple of hymn tunes that are old folk tunes...

Others I guess, but none come to mind at the moment.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Genre bending?
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 07 Apr 00 - 08:12 PM

It seems to me that whether a song fits into a "folk" set depends on the strength of the tune itself. The melody and lyrical sense of the song need to be strong for the song to endure. A lot of the recordings that we hear are all fuss and feathers - weak songs made (barely) palatable by good arranging and imaginative playing. If you can strip a song down to its bare bones and perform it with one instrument stating the melody (and I consider the voice an instrument in this context) and another the chord leadings, and still reach people, you have a song that will last. And songs that last without the benefit of recorded cataloging - that pass from one person to another and still retain their essence - seem to fit the folk genre.

Examples from pop: - Blackbird, Many Credence Clearwater songs, Smokey Robinson songs - when slowed down a bit (Tears of a Clown, Tracks of My Tears), even some of the stuff by the Stones (Beast of Burden, As Tears Go By)

Subject: RE: Genre bending?
From: GUEST,JenEllen
Date: 07 Apr 00 - 06:51 PM

All the time Jim. It's amazing how accepting audiences can be. I've done "Sctoch and Soda" for a nipple ring and tattoo crowd, and "Girl Don't Go Away Mad, Just Go Away" at a nursing home. I think music can indeed be blended to introduce audiences to music they may not normally listen to.

Subject: RE: Genre bending?
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 07 Apr 00 - 06:49 PM

Bob Seegers "Turn The Page" IS a folk song if I've ever heard one... Plenty of so called rock music, when done accousticaly are folk songs.... Like nearly everything written by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull...

But i believe that there is plenty of good MODERN folk music being written....

{~`

Subject: RE: Genre bending?
From: Ebbie
Date: 07 Apr 00 - 06:46 PM

We sometimes do 'Never on Sunday'as an instrumental- or is that folk? In any case, it soundsdifferent! Ebbie

Subject: RE: Genre bending?
From: Mbo
Date: 07 Apr 00 - 06:43 PM

Jim, I do it ALL THE TIME! I'm creating a kind of Celtic/orchestral rock combo. As you may know, or maybe not, I am a HUGE fan of the band Electric Light Orchestra, and am also a fan of folk music, and I play both--at the same time. ELO sounds great in my folky arrangement with just acoustic guitar and fiddle. There are several that are folky enough already that after my arrangements, people CAN be led to believe they are, in fact, folk. You'd be surprised how well it works!

--Mbo

Subject: Genre bending?
From: GUEST,Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Apr 00 - 06:36 PM

Do you bend (or blend) genres?

I am interested in hearing from singers and musicians who perform MOSTLY folk music--however you define it--but who occasionally slip something into their gigs that is not of that genre.

I'm NOT interested in philosophical discussions about whether something is or is not folk music--I know that topic has been beaten to death in other threads. And I'm NOT asking what other kinds of music you listen to--that list could be endless. And I'm NOT asking (in this thread anyway) whether, in addition to your folk gigs, you sometimes perform in a rock band, church choir, or chamber music group.

I want to know what particular songs and tunes, although they clearly are not folk music, nevertheless (1) sound good when played on acoustic instruments with simple arrangements, and (2) blend well with folk music and are generally pleasing to "folkie" audiences. How much genre bending do you/can you get away with?