[neilep (OP)]

Hello Lovely Scientists/Academics/Clever People of Different Accents,


I was listening to some music today and the singer is a scottish lass with a strong accent when speaking...but, it was almost gone when she sang her delicate beautiful voice.

I have noticed this a few times when hearing singers and then have been shocked at the strength of their accents when hearing them speak. Now I realise there is still some accent there when singing but:

WHY does singing dilute accents ?

Your Dialetical Regional Orientated answers will be most welcome and hugged.

Thanks

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[Ultima]

It's because singers are singing to the notes of the music, so to be spot on they have to go against what thier accent is screaming out for them to do. It's even more noticable when you hear people singing in english but they dont speak a word of it... impressive really []

wOw the world spins?

[neilep (OP)]

MATT...Love your piccy matey.......Of course !!..silly me....your answer makes total sense, and you're so right about non english speaking people singing in English.......but...(sorry for the but)...what does accents have to do with musical notes ?.........could we then expect to say that music has no accent ?...or is music the holy grail of 'lack of accent '

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[Corbeille]

Sometimes its better not to use your own accent. I once had to endure a Lancashire lass on the karaoke singing "I got you burb!" (Sonny spinning at 45rpm in his grave).
I think pop songs are traditionally sung in American accents e.g. the Beatles and Stones did so due to their American influences. Posh songs , operas and the likes ( sung in English) don't seem to have an accent at all.  I reckon its just traditional since the 1950s to sound American.



 Nah pop no style, a strictly roots!

[neilep (OP)]

hmmmmmmmmmm...I've never really noticed the american accents in songs hence my query, and I listen to a lot of music in my trade and it's my passion.....perhaps I've been brainwashed y'hear ?...ya'll come back now and have a nice day[].....rootin tootin yeeee harrr !!

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[Ylide]

Americans don't have accents, Brits do. [:p]

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[neilep (OP)]

quote:Originally posted by Ylide

Americans don't have accents, Brits do. [:p]

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Sorry...I couldn't understand your diction there Jay...can you post a little slower please ?[]

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[Ylide]

Har har.  

I wonder who's harder to understand....American deep inner city residents or the Welsh.



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[Bored chemist]

I'm not sure accents go away when you sing. Can anyone imagine this in any other accent?
Where hast thou been since I saw thee, I saw thee
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at
Where hast thou been since I saw thee
Where hast thou been since I saw thee
Where hast thou been since I saw thee
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at, on Ilkley Moor bar t'at
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at

I've been a courting Mary Jane, Mary Jane
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at
I've been a courting Mary Jane
I've been a courting Mary Jane
I've been a courting Mary Jane
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at, on Ilkley Moor bar t'at
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at

Then thou will catch thy death of cold, death of cold
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at
Then thou will catch thy death of cold
Then thou will catch thy death of cold
Then thou will catch thy death of cold
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at, on Ilkley Moor bar t'at
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at

Then we shall have to bury thee, bury thee
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at
Then we shall have to bury thee
Then we shall have to bury thee
Then we shall have to bury thee
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at, on Ilkley Moor bar t'at
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at

Then worms will come and eat thee up, eat theep up
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at
Then worms will come and eat thee up
Then worms will come and eat thee up
Then worms will come and eat thee up
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at, on Ilkley Moor bar t'at
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at

Then ducks'll come and eat up worms, eat up worms
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at
Then ducks'll come and eat up worms
Then ducks'll come and eat up worms
Then ducks'll come and eat up worms
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at, on Ilkley Moor bar t'at
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at

Then we shall come and eat up ducks, eat up ducks
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at
Then we shall come and eat up ducks
Then we shall come and eat up ducks
Then we shall come and eat up ducks
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at, on Ilkley Moor bar t'at
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at

So we shall have eaten thee, eaten thee
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at
So we shall have eaten thee
So we shall have eaten thee
So we shall have eaten thee
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at, on Ilkley Moor bar t'at
On Ilkley Moor bar t'at.

Also, since Welsh is an entirely different language I think it might be harder to understand than any accented English. OTOH if the American Deep Inner city folks are talking Spanish or Italian...

[neilep (OP)]

WOW !!..yes yes.....indeed !!


What does ' bar t'at ' mean ?

.....I can imagine Bryn Terfel (who is fantastic) singing that !

[Bored chemist]

Without a hat.