Battle of the Bands - FOLK

[Corki]

And the second genre for Week 2 is Folk. Below are the three nominations for the Folk category.

The Archers have nominated... BOB DYLAN

Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, author, musician, poet, artist, and, of late, disc jockey who has been a major figure in popular music for five decades. Much of Dylan's most celebrated work dates from the 1960s, when he became an informal chronicler and a reluctant figurehead of American unrest. While expanding and personalizing musical styles, he has shown steadfast devotion to many traditions of American song, from folk and country/blues to gospel, rock and roll and rockabilly, to English, Scottish and Irish folk music, even jazz and swing. Although his accomplishments as performer and recording artist have been central to his career, his songwriting is generally regarded as his greatest contribution.

We chose Dylan due to his lengthy career and his devotion and use of folk music/themes in his songwriting.

The Cavalry have nominated... SIMON & GARFUNKLE

Though not strictly Folk, Simon and Garfunkle (Simon and Gar Farkle for those of a certain age and familiar with the TV show Laugh In)  were the forefront of the Folk/Rock/Pop genre that was begun to encompass their music and that of The Byrds, The Mama's and Papa's, The Lovin' Spoonful  and others too numerous to mention.

Ethereal harmonies, introspective, prosaic lyrics by Paul Simon predominately and strife between Paul and Art marked their career. Among the most popular groups of the sixties, they have broken up and re-grouped many times since 1970 to the joy of millions of fans .... worldwide.

Sounds of Silence, I Am A Rock, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Homeward Bound and The Boxer (my 15 year old sister was scandalized by the phrase "just a come on from the whores on 7th avenue" .... lost innocence indeed) are just a handful of the countless songs of Simon and Garfunkle that cause fans to hum, sing along with and recall memorable happenings in their lives upon hearing. I guess I really am a fan, though I don't often admit it, for I find tears in my eyes writing this.
(courtesy of Auld Manriva

The Infantry have nominated... ANI DI FRANCO

Ani DiFranco  is a Grammy Award winning singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She is known as a prolific artist (having released nineteen albums) and is widely celebrated as a feminist icon. Although DiFranco's music has been classified as both folk rock and alternative rock, she has reached across genres since her earliest albums. DiFranco herself noted that "folk music is not an acoustic guitar — that's not where the heart of it is. I use the word 'folk' in reference to punk music and rap music. It's an attitude, it's an awareness of one's heritage, and it's a community. It's subcorporate music that gives voice to different communities and their struggle against authority."

Sample Song

There you go. There are the 3 nominations. All you now need to do is pick who you want to win (please highlight in some way or another) and go through as the Champion of Folk for the Grand Final! You have until Saturday 17th May 2008 to make your choice!

[Myndrunner]

ANi Defranco? NOT! Sorry, but lets get rid of the low hanging, unshaven armpit fruit here.  I can count on two hands and then borrowing Riva's hands, come up with 20 Folk singers better than Miz Defranco. Sorry, but she may be hot with the college flannel shirt wearing, Birkenstock crowd....but she is not Folk Music Royalty.....at all.  Brooke White is more of a Folk Singer than she his.  Who is Brooke White you ask?  See below....



Anyways, now we do have quite a challenge here...but let me tell you why Simon and Garfunkle ARE Folk Music more than Bob.  First off, only one of the two singers even played an instrument....he just sang.  No electric guitars, no amps, nothing.  They could have played on the street corner and sounded exactly the same.  Their MRS ROBINSON is a coming of age anthem that still resonates to this day.

Dylan had some folk edges to him, but he became more of a rocker and less of a folk singer. 

My Vote.....SIMON and GARFUNKLE

[el Nyn]

Well as I don't know Ani Di Franco and having spent part of my youth listening to my parents listen to Simon & Garfunkle (not something I care to repeat, ever!), my vote has to go to Bob Dylan. He is the only folk singer I can bearably listen to.

[Taymist]

Bob Dylan for me.

[Arrandion]

Simon & Garfunkelfor me! 

[Climhazzard]

I grew up with Simon and Garfunkle. So Simon and Garfunkle get my vote.

[Majsju]

Ani all the way. To me, Dylan will always be a rock artist, before he picked up the electric guitar, the songs were not quite as amazing as they would be later. And S&G? Lovely voices, lovely arrangements, but songs that does not mean a thing.

Ani has an amazing voice, she is a gfreat guitarist, and her lyrics would give folk-Dylan a boner...

Now, if I could only find a way to make her marry me...

[BridMorgan]

I like Ani, quite a bit, but to me she isn't Folk so my vote goes for Simon and Garfunkle. 

[Myndrunner]

Ani all the way. To me, Dylan will always be a rock artist, before he picked up the electric guitar, the songs were not quite as amazing as they would be later. And S&G? Lovely voices, lovely arrangements, but songs that does not mean a thing.

Ani has an amazing voice, she is a gfreat guitarist, and her lyrics would give folk-Dylan a boner...

Now, if I could only find a way to make her marry me...

Sorry Bro, I don't think you are her....type.  She likes....um....her more feminine fans.

[Samuraiflip05]

Dylan had some folk edges to him, but he became more of a rocker and less of a folk singer. 

In that regard S&G split up and Simon became something other than folk as well.   
I don't know what you would say about Garfunkel?   

And while he may not have remained true folk....his music, no matter what genre was always heavily influenced by his folk roots. 

Bob Dylan

[Majsju]

Ani all the way. To me, Dylan will always be a rock artist, before he picked up the electric guitar, the songs were not quite as amazing as they would be later. And S&G? Lovely voices, lovely arrangements, but songs that does not mean a thing.

Ani has an amazing voice, she is a gfreat guitarist, and her lyrics would give folk-Dylan a boner...

Now, if I could only find a way to make her marry me...

Sorry Bro, I don't think you are her....type.  She likes....um....her more feminine fans.

Actually, she leans both ways, which you would notice if you listened to her songs

[Myndrunner]

Ani all the way. To me, Dylan will always be a rock artist, before he picked up the electric guitar, the songs were not quite as amazing as they would be later. And S&G? Lovely voices, lovely arrangements, but songs that does not mean a thing.

Ani has an amazing voice, she is a gfreat guitarist, and her lyrics would give folk-Dylan a boner...

Now, if I could only find a way to make her marry me...

Sorry Bro, I don't think you are her....type.  She likes....um....her more feminine fans.

Actually, she leans both ways, which you would notice if you listened to her songs

You mean....she has more than one?