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Observations and Comment
Folk isn't proper music... (August 19, 2009)
Back from a
holiday and raring to go - into the local pub to sample some meaningful beer
after a few weeks of what our continental brethren laughingly call beer.
There I was steadily getting round to the outside of yet one more pint when the
casual conversation around me takes a turn to music.
Obviously, the radar goes on to high gain -
just to see what's what, what's up for discussion and has the world changed while I've been away.
"Of course folk music is just not proper music. Some gormless idiot
strumming a guitar and droning on with one chord about the plight of farm-labourers
in the 19th century..."
I listen intently - even at the risk of appearing slightly distant to the
friends I'm drinking with.
"There's only one true music and that's jazz. I suppose you could add
blues to that if you really have to but in reality that's as far as it goes..."
"Excuse me," says I, "but I couldn't help overhearing your views
on folk music. I think there's a little more to it than your last
summation."
The conversation then wanders around his views on music but with special
emphasis on folk music in general. We explore 'folk rock', which seemingly has
no more value to an educated musical ear than that rubbish played by Led Zeppelin,
U2, or The Who. At a pinch the Rolling Stones are halfway decent but everything
else is rubbish. (And I thought I had harsh views.) I'm then told that without a classical musical education Joe Ordinary simply cannot understand music and is therefore immediately disqualified from discussing it or having an opinion.
No matter how hard I try I cannot convince Mr W.Q Bigot that much musical
expression has merit and purpose even if it doesn't ring your own particular
bell. All to no avail.
Then another anti-folk diatribe kicks off - this time he's also taking a
sideways swipe at the profession that has bought me beer, bread, a home - and
one or two other little comforts.
"Of course as a journalist you may well appreciate the lyrics, just
because you 'do' words I suppose, but the musical content is pathetic. Folk
music has nothing to offer and people that waste their time listening and
pretending that they appreciate it are really at the bottom of the musical
pit..."
I'm starting to dislike this opinionated twat with a vengeance. However, I
persevere hoping to find a reason to say that at least we could amicably agree
to disagree.
Then the final blow arrives - "Of course, folk music may be the music of
the common people - in reality it's the so-called music of the
uneducated."
By now my wife has lent an ear and realises that I am about to forget my
usually laid-back stance and tell this xenophobic brained slice of bigotry what I truly think about his views and his manner. She lays a soft hand
on my shoulder and drags me back into the fold of my friends.
So we uneducated musical midgets spend another happy evening blissfully unaware
that we are the manure of the musical world as we discuss folk music. We even plan a few gigs to attend in the future along with all the other untermensch.
Meanwhile Mr W.Q Bigot sups his pint in righteous ignored silence.
What a git!!
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