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Posted by gidarmy (U7627527) on Thursday, 2nd April 2009
Hello,
Tonight (thursday the 2nd April) in between the records I'd like, among other things, to discuss the American Accent in popular song. In particular when used by someone who clearly is not from the USA or Canada.
Who has the most pronounced accent of them all. Is it Mr Jagger, is it one of the young pups of today?And what is it all about? Do you sing in American accent and if so, why?
Anyway.. thoughts here if you wish.
I seem to recall the "Mack" himself Mark Morrison affecting a rather strong American accent, even in conversation, with no justifiable reason.
Perhaps he was from the Brooklyn area of Leicester?
How about the immortal words of Lonnie Donegan: "WHATCHA GOT ON BAWD THERE BOY?"
"Eggplants"
Surely no real North American has an American accent as strong Stan Ridgeway's?
American accents? We have no accents at all...don't know what you're talking about.
My ex-drummer was not much of a songwriter, but on the rare occasions where he'd written something, he would sing with this zangy american accent, it was so irritating.
As for well known performers - there was that influx of 'punk' bands around 2000 - 2003, including manufacted pop groups like Busted that sang like they were from sunny California. It was disgraceful.
And the most irritating accent in popular music award goes to .... The Kooks.
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by MidnightsChildren (U13906924) on Tuesday, 7th April 2009
Funnily enough, I brought up this very topic at a gig last week. Two British singer songwriters, one in her early twenties and the other in his early thirties, sang in 'American' accents very far removed from their speaking voices.
Unfortunately, I found it highly irritating and moaned to my fellow attendees - but this is an interesting phenomenon. It does not seem, on the surface anyway, to have any reciprocity (is this a word?!) - i.e. no American singers adopt British accents?? Although you do find singers whose first language isn't English or, perhaps more accurately, who speak English in non-UK accents standardising their words to sound more British, I think.
However, this still does not account for the Americanisation of vowel sounds by many British singers and what is more interesting the impication that they are more emotionally engaged than if they were to sing in their natural accent or that it makes what they are singing in some way more meaningful - where did this tradition start?
, in reply to message 7.
Posted by nowayisit_billyliar (U13870159) on Wednesday, 8th April 2009
midnights it does happen..
(yanks singing in english accents)
Jeffrey Novak recently released an lp called "after the ball", a few americans took the dislike to his Kink'sish vocal sound.
personally love the lp myself
Perhaps flat American vowels simply lend themselves to being sung more easily...is there a linguist in the house??
, in reply to message 7.
Posted by sehr_gotisch (U13917448) on Wednesday, 15th April 2009
an american singer that comes to mind that tries to sound english is billie joe armstrong from green day...especially in his earlier material. i think it's more prevalent in american "punk rock" bands (term used very loosely) to try to sound english or irish...the dropkick murphys struggle to sound like the pogues.
things always look greener across the pond. the english want to sound american, the americans want to sound english.
i think the film the commitments is a great example of this...
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by dingobiscuits (U13253025) on Wednesday, 15th April 2009
Hands down winner - The Magic Numbers. Utterly ridiculous. Unlistenable.
, in reply to message 11.
Posted by Cyril Benson in Penrith (U2611279) on Monday, 27th April 2009
This thread will do.
Those of you hanging on Shaun Keaveney's every word this morning will have missed Gideon's appearance on R4's Today programme, at 7.45, discussing Bob Dylan's "Judas" moment and his recent work, with Gavin Martin of the Daily Mirror. Prodding the highbrow beard-sroking to another level, Gideon mused on the merits or otherwise of Bob's 33th album, at which the Martin person took flight, and had to be cut short. Who knows where we could have gone, had time permitted? A whole Bob Dylan hour on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio, a sort of theme, if you will? We'll never know.
What next - Thought For The Day with Marc Riley? (Bet he's never been on Today).
Riley's been on. Talking about lyrics. He was also in line to take over the difficult 3 minutes to 8 weather slot.
I was in the green room with Thought for the Day man. Where do I go from there? I intended to give love to Dylan but warn against going overboard with the new album, or indeed generally. I hope that aim was achieved.
I had no idea they were going to start with the Judas moment and wish they'd played the whole of Like a Rolling Stone afterwards. Though they'd have to edit what he says to the Hawks immediately before it kicks in.
, in reply to message 13.
Posted by Cyril Benson in Penrith (U2611279) on Monday, 27th April 2009
You did give love, you said Dylan's was the best music radio show, thereby diminishing yourself, and didn't even mention it was on Radio 6th - such restraint!
you sounded wide awake
x
That would be the shower and the rain. And the water cooler.
Water generally.
, in reply to message 16.
Posted by Cyril Benson in Penrith (U2611279) on Monday, 27th April 2009
Like A Rolling Stone might have made an apt Thought For The Day, at the risk of offending the complete unknown who had already been booked for the slot.
The 7.57 weather, the latest Quality Item from the Palace Of Glittering Delights.
7 pm to midnight? That's a long day. I do hope radio 4 sent a car.
They did. I'll offset it next time by getting on the 220 bus... If there is a next time.
Who else will explain a "mojo" to the breakfasting middle classes?
, in reply to message 20.
Posted by Cyril Benson in Penrith (U2611279) on Monday, 27th April 2009
"Today" starts at 06:00 you know, if there are any music/farming issues that need explaining, it will be a very early start. Surely 6th could field another musicologist? One with a show earlier in the day?
Talk about Gideon's show and Freak Zone on the 6 Music Message boards.
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