Does Anyone Know Why People Who Speak With An Accent Don't Sing in One?
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
November 2, 2007 1:41pm CST
I've always wondered about this. We hear singers from all over the world singing in English. Yet when we hear them speak, some of them have such thick accents you can hardly understand them.
I've heard that the music industry is centered around America, so bands that want to break into the US market want to sound "American" to better their chances.
This would make sense, except that most local bands in other countries are working hard enough just to get noticed locally, breaking into U.S. markets may be a dream or goal, but it's not much on their minds when practicing and performing in bars and bar mitzvahs.
Then you have Irish and Scot bands that sing in wonderful Irish and Scot accents. Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits retained his British accent so well it became a trademark sound for them.
So why is it that when I'm listening to a band from Germany, singing in English, the singer sounds like he's from somewhere in the American Midwest?
2 people like this
5 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
5 Nov 07
But when Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits , it was in the middle of the British invasion so his British accent was great to hear.But now , you still want to have an American accent when you sing.America is still a big part of the music industry and today's artists lok up to American artists, so they want to sound like their heroes.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
5 Nov 07
But rarely do they care about the American music scene when they are playing the bars and bar mitzvahs in their hometown.
Believe it or not, most local musicians aren't that interested in breaking into any international anything. It's the minority who want to be superstars, not the majority.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
5 Nov 07
Then it must be that they like singing with an American accent.Bands can and do change for each audience. I can see playing local music at a bar mitzvah and the turning around and covering their favorite U.S. band at another gig.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
11 Nov 07
I've heard the recordings of a lot of bands before they made it big. Very few of them changed the sound of their voices.
What is also interesting is, many of the singers who sing in very clear English can't even force themselves to speak it that clearly.
1 person likes this
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
3 Nov 07
i have noticed and wondered about that too. but i doubt if its because they want to go platinum in the usa. i have always thought that singing eliminates most of an accent. i come from a very musical family. we have an accent too but it all disapears when we sing. examples of people with heavy accents but none when singing are celine dion, westlife, and michael learns to rock. you can hardly understand what they are saying when they speak.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
3 Nov 07
That's what is interesting to me, it seems if you want to retain your accent while singing, you have to work at it.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
3 Nov 07
You may be right with the African and Rastas, but most country singers do make it a point to keep their accent intact when they sing.
@Zorrogirl (1502)
• South Africa
3 Nov 07
some dont have to try. like jamaican or rasta singers, some country singers, and most africans sing like they speak.
@littlefranciscan (18327)
• United States
11 Nov 07
I am not too sure..but I know this also applies to "stuterers" ..A person may have a speech impediment and even stutter..but they can sing like they had no problem at all.
@LightninStrike (5915)
• Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
3 Nov 07
actually i had noticed that myself too. And frankly, I have no idea. When you see the typical english guy with a strong cockney or geordie accent singing in their CD's with a perfect clean accent you wonder, how the hell that happened...I'd like someone to explain it to me lol.
I guess they make a big effort not to sound like locals and try to reach the maximum number of people.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
3 Nov 07
That's the thing, I've found that the singers WITH accents are the ones who seem to have to work at it.
@Monkeyrose (2840)
• Canada
11 Nov 07
This is not always true. Think of celine dion... She still has the french canadian accent when she sings.
The thing is, I took singing lessons for many years. As a singer you learn how to control you voice and breath. Basically its an instrument you learn to manipulate. I've sung many songs in other languages that I have no idea what I'm saying. Its about the notes, vowels, and pitches.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
11 Nov 07
You have a point with people who have had voice lessons. The thing is though, most pop, rock and country singers have never had a voice lesson.
@Monkeyrose (2840)
• Canada
11 Nov 07
I think you'd be surprised at how many people have singing lessons. Some people though can just naturally sing without lessons. These people would have these skills naturally.
