Storytelling in Music: Folk’s Influential Comeback
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When people consider the “folk” music genre, they might think of banjos and fiddles with old men dancing around. I’ll admit that folk as a genre has dissipated with the times as we move towards pop princesses and electronic DJs. However, the way that folk has manifested itself into popular music today is worth noting. Many artists have taken the genre of folk and made it their own.
The biggest characteristic of folk is its storytelling effect. Folk songs are often able to convey a message through music. For example, one of country music’s newest stars conveys emotion and narrative in a ballad-like way. Zach Bryan’s “Burn Burn Burn” tells his story. He narrates through the ups and downs of his life and what he holds dear to himself. He sings “My exes hate me and my friends all miss me, I wanna drown in rotgut whiskey” softly strumming a guitar behind his words. His song “28” highlights more vulnerability as he asks himself “How lucky are we?” and speaks on how he feels at age 28. He tells the story of how it took him this long to feel loved and lucky and how grateful he is that he got to that point. His songs express warmth, and passion, making the listener feel like they can connect to him.
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Another artist who has contributed to the folk revival is Noah Kahan. His music recently blew up and a once underground artist now has the spotlight for his cozy New England vibe. Noah’s music also tells the story of himself and his inner thoughts. He emphasizes important topics such as mental health and growing up. He relates to his audience by singing about these experiences so that we don’t feel as alone. His song “Growing Sideways” catches the ears of many young listeners because of the vulnerability he employs. He starts the song with “So I took my medication, and I poured my trauma out on some sad-eyed middle-aged man’s overpriced new leather couch.” Being open to talking about his experiences with therapy without shame is something that many of his fans can find comfort in. Having a celebrity get personal about their mental health struggles helps many people feel more confident in struggles of their own.
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Noah’s song “Forever” also tells an incredible story about unconditional and everlasting love. He sings about how the term “forever” once felt like a death sentence but now views it as something beautiful because he gets to spend it with the perfect girl. He recalls old times in his song, taking listeners through a beautiful relationship. The bridge starts with “Remember when we called the cops ‘cause you got too high and you got scared? The cops just laughed.” He uses elements of his life like this to form a story and emulate emotions through his works. He also utilizes the cheerful strumming of guitars in the background to maintain the light-hearted feel that folk can bring to the table.
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Another artist, who seems to have mastered every genre out there, is Taylor Swift. She’s already overtaken the pop and country world, but as she experiments with her recent albums, she’s leaned more into the folk influence. Her eighth album Folklore takes folk in a literal sense with its appropriate title. It embodies the storytelling effect in a literal sense as well. Her song “Betty” gives life to characters of her own making. She tells the story of a fictional love triangle between the characters Betty, James, and Augustine from James’s point of view. He begs Betty for forgiveness and claims he’s “only seventeen and doesn’t know anything but knows he misses her.” In the song “August” we get more from the story, but this time from Augustine’s point of view. The songs tell the story of Taylor’s making and create an experience for the audience that transports them into another world.
These popular artists are doing all they can to keep the legacy of folk alive. They tell stories of their own and others with the whimsical approach that folk music tends to have. Their spin on folk continues to make the music feel personal and vulnerable as it helps people view situations from other perspectives.
Strike Out,
Writer: Isabella Bowman
Editor: Layne Schulte
Graphic Designer: Cole Martucci
Tallahassee