by Nick Smith (of LA Filkharmonics)
Well, it's sort of like folk music. It is a mixture of song parodies and original music, humorous and serious, about subjects like science fiction, fantasy, computers, cats, politics, the space program, books, movies, TV shows, love, war, death. . .
Filk music started off forty or fifty years ago, at science fiction conventions, where people got together late at night to have good old-fashioned folk music song circles. Well, late night circles being what they are, some folks got a little silly and started singing song parodies about their favorite SF books and authors. Fans started writing song parodies about themselves or each other. Some started composing serious songs about favorite topics. Some authors started composing original songs for their books. If the author didn't list a tune, fans made up one. Sometimes two. Sometimes several.
Eventually, Filk songs were written for just about every major science fiction or fantasy work. Some of them were actually good enough that people wanted to learn them, or just listen to them more than just at conventions. At that point, song books and recordings started being made.
Over the last decade, Filk Music has reached the point where there are entire Filk Music gatherings, conventions, recording companies, and publications. Filk Music includes song parodies, original songs, and slightly musical poetry. It's a fun way to indulge in a little musical creativity, especially if you are a science fiction or fantasy fan as well as musically inclined. If you are only a fan, but not musical, you can still listen. Filk circles aren't pushy about requiring you to play or sing. If you are only musical, but not a fan, no one will hold it against you. Remember, we're in this thing for fun!
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What Nick didn't tell you is that the name started out as a typo of "folk" and was gleefully adopted by all and sundry as a term for what is after all a somewhat unusual subset.
Here's an example of a filk lyric. In fact, it's the first filk lyric we ever wrote and winner of the coveted Pegasus award (sort of a filkish Grammy).
Knight's in White Satin
words by Jeff and Maya Bohnhoff
to the tune of Nights in White Satin by the Moody Blues
1. The knight's in white satin
Lace teddy and pearls.
He was guarding the princess,
Became one of the girls.
Silk things she'd always hid
From his eyes before.
They now know the truth is
They both wear size four.
If the King knew... If the King knew...
Oh, if the King knew!
2. Gazing through peepholes
At gowns of all brands.
Just what he's going through
They won't understand.
The maidens are wearing
Outfits they cannot defend.
While ensembles he'd love to wear
May be his own end.
If the King knew... If the King knew...
Oh, if the King knew!
Bridge
3. The knight's in white satin
Lace teddy and pearls
When the King comes to bid goodnight
To his sweet little girl.
The poor knight's imagining
His neck in a noose.
But the King's wearing nylons
And black spike-heeled shoes.
If the Queen knew... If the Queen knew...
Oh, if the Queen knew!