Foreign folk music. Classic folk masterpieces and recommended popular songs.
What kind of image comes to mind when you hear the term “folk song”? Some of you might think of singer-songwriters performing solo with an acoustic guitar, or perhaps consider it somewhat old-fashioned music.
Originally derived from traditional styles like folk and ethnic music, folk songs have evolved across eras and continue to be loved to this day.
This time, we’ve researched and selected a wide range of folk songs, from classic masterpieces to recent hits! We hope you’ll find a new favorite.
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Folk Songs in Western Music: Classic Folk Masterpieces and Recommended Popular Tracks (1–10)
RivermanNick Drake
Nick Drake was a folk musician who was active in the UK from the late 1960s.
The folk boom spread from the United States to the rest of the world, including Japan.
While British folk hasn’t been particularly mainstream in Japan, there are many outstanding musicians, and he was one of them.
Though his musical career was not long—he died at the young age of 26—he created many masterpieces.
His song Riverman is known as a gem with understated guitar and string arrangements that carry a certain sadness and a floating sense of melancholy.
Personally, I’d recommend him to fans of early Quruli.
The Sound of SilenceSimon&Garfunkel
A song by the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, who were active in the 1960s.
Since it’s famous worldwide, many people have probably heard it at least once.
It begins with a melancholic acoustic guitar arpeggio, and the vocal harmonies instantly draw you into the world of the song.
The finely balanced, soothing choral work allows the piece to stand on its own with just acoustic guitar accompaniment, making it a quintessential folk song that greatly influenced later generations of folk singers.
Fast CarTracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman is an African American female folk musician.
She has many appealing qualities, but the strength of the messages embedded in her music is essential.
Each song carries its own message, and many people have surely been saved by the power of her words.
Fast Car, released in 1988, is a song that satirizes the poverty issues in 1980s America from a woman’s perspective.
“Fast Car” refers to the wealthy, and just knowing this can change how you interpret the translated lyrics.
Like the folk songs of the 1960s, it is a heartfelt message song that sings of social ideas.
HoloceneBon Iver
Bon Iver is an American folk-rock band.
They’ve been nominated for the Grammy Awards multiple times, and were formed in 2006—well after the heyday of folk music.
Amid the crowded landscape of rock, EDM, and many other genres, their folk songs resonate beautifully.
In an era where bold, powerful music is popular, their simple, evocative ensemble offers a touch of calm and comfort.
Savor this wonderful folk-rock that feels especially worth hearing in the modern day.
The Sweetest GiftLinda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an indispensable musician in the history of American folk and country.
Active since 1969, she has produced countless classics, ranging from America’s traditional genres like country and folk to pop and rock.
Another is Linda Ronstadt, also a beloved American icon.
The two collaborated on the folk piece “The Sweetest Gift.” It’s a folk duet sung by two women—an exceptionally compelling work born from the collaboration of two artists with near-mythic status.