Well, let's see, if we're talking about music that might be considered 'folk' or 'of the folk' a half a century or so from now, let me put forth a few candidates:

1) One or more ditties sung by Frank Sinatra;

2) One or more ditties sung by Dean Martin;

3) I Left My Heart In San Francisco as sung by Tony Bennett;

4) Anything ever sung by Nat King Cole;

5) Anything ever sung by Ray Charles;

6) Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree as sung by The Andrews Sisters;

7) Most of the songs from the WWII era that invoke longing by and/or for those far from home;

8) Probably one or two of the early songs sung by Bette Midler (but NOT that 'wind beneath my wings' pile of doo); and

9) Let us not forget the songs sung by Mel Torme, Aretha Franklin, and Judy Garland.

If the genre of 'folk' is supposed to be inclusive of the experience and history 'of the folk', then surely these could be considered candidates therefor in the coming century.

It surely will be interesting for those of us to reflect upon this a quarter century or so from now . . .

-- Áine

Just a few candidates from the 'romantic' genre of now classic 'popular' music.