Foreign folk music. Classic folk masterpieces and recommended popular songs.

United HealthJesse Welles

United Health

Released in December 2024 by American singer-songwriter Jessie Wells, this track is a protest song packed with sharp criticism of the health insurance industry, with UnitedHealthcare at its center.

Set to a folk melody reminiscent of John Prine, it incisively calls out the problems of insurance companies.

Spreading rapidly on social media and racking up millions of views, the piece has even drawn praise as a “modern Bob Dylan.” Wells’s music tackles social issues with precision, carrying on the folk tradition while offering insights into contemporary society, resonating with those who question the U.S.

healthcare system.

A Song For The StoneRyan Bingham

Ryan Bingham – “A Song For The Stone”

This is a song written by American singer-songwriter Ryan Bingham for the TV series Yellowstone.

It was released in December 2024 and first featured in Season 5, Episode 9.

The lyrics are striking for their depictions of the Yellowstone region’s natural landscape, cowboy life, and the history and culture rooted in the land.

Bingham’s emotive vocals and simple acoustic guitar accompaniment further highlight the deeper meaning of the lyrics.

For fans of Yellowstone and country music lovers, it’s a special track that lets you savor the lingering resonance of the story.

A Century of FakersBelle & Sebastian

Belle and Sebastian – A Century of Fakers

Crafted by the Glasgow-based indie pop band Belle and Sebastian, this song offers a sharp critique of society’s hypocrisy and insincerity.

While it coolly portrays a world full of pretension, its lyrically rich lines evoke deep empathy.

Featured on the 1997 EP “3..

6..

9 Seconds of Light,” the track epitomizes their early musical style.

The warm tones of the acoustic guitar and the delicate, emotive melody are striking, beautifully conveying the complexities of life and human relationships.

Shining a light on everyday, ordinary moments and offering profound insight, this piece is perfect for listeners who want to immerse themselves in the world of its lyrics.

Like a Rolling StoneBob Dylan

Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone (Official Audio)

Starting with the warm timbre of an acoustic guitar and gradually adding electric guitar and organ, the sound seems to symbolize a turning point in the times.

Released in 1965, this song vividly reflects the shift in the music scene from folk to rock.

Its length of over six minutes was unusual for the era, making it an innovative work that upended the norms of pop music.

Bob Dylan’s youthful, sardonic voice sharply questions social contradictions and the meaning of individual existence.

Hailing from Minnesota in the United States, Dylan left an indelible mark on music history with this track and has continued to exert a profound influence on subsequent generations of artists.

Fire & RainJames Taylor

James Taylor – “Fire & Rain”

James Taylor is a quintessential American singer-songwriter who helped lead the singer-songwriter boom of the 1970s.

His gentle voice and the sound of his acoustic guitar have continued to soothe the hearts of many.

Released in February 1970, this song was written based on Taylor’s personal experiences, chronicling hardships in his life such as a friend’s suicide and his struggle with drug dependency.

Its calm melody and deeply moving lyrics strike a chord with listeners and evoke empathy.

Reaching No.

3 on the Billboard Hot 100, it became a turning point in Taylor’s career.

It’s a profoundly resonant masterpiece—highly recommended for listening alone on a quiet night.