False Accents

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What do you people think about English or Australian
singers who affect an American accent (while singing) ?
Or, rarely, the other way around? Then you hear their
speaking voice in an interview and think "wow, they're
faking alright."

― masta ace (Squirrel_Police), Saturday, 17 May 2003 23:36 (twenty-two years ago)

FWIW, this seems like a shallow and disrespectable thing to
do, but many otherwise intelligent people have done it, so
I'm confused.

― masta ace (Squirrel_Police), Saturday, 17 May 2003 23:37 (twenty-two years ago)

When I first heard Shirley Manson (from Garbage)and Brian Molko (from Placebo)speak on interviews I was kind of dissapointed and shocked , but it didn't really bother me.

― A. Garcia, Sunday, 18 May 2003 00:11 (twenty-two years ago)

hearing for a first time Sharleen Spiter's 'interview voice', i could understand a goddamn word

asking the question, "Why the accent?", from Georgie Fame,
i got the answer: "Otherwise these songs just wouldn't sound right!"

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Sunday, 18 May 2003 00:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought Brian Molko was American?

I think Georgie Fame's response is pretty typical of the raionale behind this. I must say I feel uncomfortable with it. Why would a rock song sound wrong in an non-US accent?

The most famous faker would be Mick Jagger? And from Down Under, perhaps Michael Hutchence or Nick Cave.

Heavy rock sounds great with an Aussie accent in my opinion - eg, Cosmic Psychos. Melodic psychedelic pop like the Church (though Steve Kilbey sings in a cutured English new wave accent!) maybe less so, because the Aussie accent is a little rough and nasal for such things.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Sunday, 18 May 2003 04:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Stiv Bator (Dead Boys/Lord of the New Church) used to affect a pseudo British accent circa the Lords, but it was almost endearing in a way. Likewise Joey Ramone.

People used to accuse Billy Joe from Green Day of doing it, but it never struck me as such. Sounded more to me like he was affecting (effecting?) Leonard from the Dickies' particular cadence, not a Brit/mockney accent.

Madonna, however, should never be allowed to live it down, even years after the fact.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 18 May 2003 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Brian Molko's from Luxemburg I think.

What about American rappers adopting Jamaican accents on their Sean Paul, Beenie Man guest spots? See Lil' Kim on "Fresh From The Yard"?

― Nick H, Sunday, 18 May 2003 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Referring back to the Nick Hornby thread, what about Celine Dion doing patois on her attempt at dancehall!!!???

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Sunday, 18 May 2003 16:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I put on a fake Scottish accent when I sing, which is all the more perverse because I am actually Scottish.

― Momus (Momus), Sunday, 18 May 2003 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

What about fake southern (USA) accents? Mick Jagger on "Let it Bleed" and any number of other songs.

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Sunday, 18 May 2003 18:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Momus, excuse me, how can we let that pass? If you ARE Scottish, please explain how you're faking a Scottish accent.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Monday, 19 May 2003 00:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Brian Molko is Scottish-American (American-Scottish?). I thought, anyway.

― David A. (Davant), Monday, 19 May 2003 02:25 (twenty-two years ago)

he lived in Luxembourg during his youth though.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 19 May 2003 02:36 (twenty-two years ago)

the new lilys has even more fake brit accent than the last two records. well except for the one where he sounds like eric matthews. this time is is more xtc than kinks. sorta.

― keith (keithmcl), Monday, 19 May 2003 02:39 (twenty-two years ago)

What about Sting's pretend Jamaican accent? Surely the most embarrassing and dire example of all!

― M Carty (mj_c), Monday, 19 May 2003 10:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I put on a fake Scottish accent when I sing, which is all the more perverse because I am actually Scottish.

I do that too. When I began singing, I used to be so scared of sounding like The Proclaimers that I faked an English one. A diabolical Brummie-ish one. Now I do the opposite. All singing accents are fake.

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Monday, 19 May 2003 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Robert Pollard's English accent is pretty groovy - not that he actually sounds English, just an entertaining American attempt at it.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 19 May 2003 14:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Nothing can beat the yankee-ish on Ian Astbury's voice...

― JP Almeida (JP Almeida), Monday, 19 May 2003 14:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I've spent many an hour wondering what exactly Donovan's accent is supposed to be on "Atlantis" - he sounds more Welsh than Scottish but I've come to the conclusion that he is attempting a kind of generic Celtic accent... either that or Atlantean. Talking of which - what planet's accent is Marc Bolan's from?

― Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 19 May 2003 14:59 (twenty-two years ago)

'What about Sting's pretend Jamaican accent? Surely the most embarrassing and dire example of all!'

Also,

Colin Hay (Men at Work)
Joe Strummer (Guns of Brixton)
Gary Clail
Ari Up

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Monday, 19 May 2003 23:17 (twenty-two years ago)

three years pass...

colin s barrow,

just so you know, that wasn't joe's voice on guns of brixton, it was paul simonon's (the clash's bass player)

paul simonon sang and wrote 3 Clash songs:
guns of brixton (off of London Calling)
the crooked beat (off of Sandinista!)
red angel dragnet (off of Combat Rock)

― phoebe schroder (aussie girl), Wednesday, 11 October 2006 05:09 (nineteen years ago)

shane mcgowan's irish accent when he sings is surely false, though probably comes naturally
he speaks with a bit of a london accent to these ears. but irish and british people here are welcome to correct me. :)

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Wednesday, 11 October 2006 06:09 (nineteen years ago)

'What about Sting's pretend Jamaican accent? Surely the most embarrassing and dire example of all!'
Also,

Colin Hay (Men at Work)
Joe Strummer (Guns of Brixton)
Gary Clail
Ari Up

let us not forget k.r.s. one

― Godfrzej Ljang (godfrzej), Wednesday, 11 October 2006 22:11 (nineteen years ago)

shane mcgowan is a public school-educated londoner with a full-on cockney speaking voice but a broad irish brogue singing voice. go figure...

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 11 October 2006 23:00 (nineteen years ago)

let us not forget k.r.s. one

-- Godfrzej Ljang (godfreisfamou...), October 11th, 2006. (godfrzej)

yeah, but his was...

nevermind, i can't actually defend it.

x-post

― Hoosteen (Hoosteen), Wednesday, 11 October 2006 23:03 (nineteen years ago)

What do you people think about English or Australian singers who affect an American accent (while singing)?

I don't think that they all actively affect a certain accent...there's a linguistic science behind it. Basically, one's accent is displaced by the melody, and most vocalists reach neutral territory, which perhaps is closer to American than British. Accents are recognized by listeners mainly by vocal quality and by patterns of intonation, which tend to be leveled when singing. I'm sure there are people who actively co-op an accent or purposely exaggerate their own, but I don't think it's fair to say that a Brit who doesn't sound British on a record is faking an accent.

― musically (musically), Thursday, 12 October 2006 01:46 (nineteen years ago)

http://myspace-059.vo.llnwd.net/00907/95/08/907728059_m.jpg

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Thursday, 12 October 2006 03:02 (nineteen years ago)

true story bartender irish accent one night new friend knew bartender called him out on it no accent embarrassed bartender shocked us

― Butt Dickass (Dick Butkus), Thursday, 12 October 2006 03:04 (nineteen years ago)

I thought Donovan was a Jamaican man. Imagine my confusion!

― FACEBRACE (FACEBRACE), Thursday, 12 October 2006 12:01 (nineteen years ago)

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