The Songwriter Forum - songwriting reviews, tips and chat
Songwriter Forum => The Writing Process => Topic started by: habiTat on September 15, 2012, 09:50:35 PM
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I keep having to stop myself singing can't as "ka-ent" (ie American accent) as in real life, as an Essex boy, I say "cahnt". I therefore, where I can, try to stay true to my roots. What about you? Does it matter? or should we all just succumb to the American way?
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It is really funny you should post this now
I had some time this afternoon to record some vocals and had EXACTLY the same problem!
My word was "chance"
I am a Kent boy so my normal pronounciation would be "charnts"
I wanted to stick to my roots, and also had a nice internal rhyme with "heart" lined up, so I consciously used this pronounciation - as opposed to the "mid atlantic" "chaaaance"
However, no matter how many takes I did my "Kent" way just did not sit right within the track
I even kept takes of both pronounciations so I could make the final decision with fresh ears
I have just made the decision and the "Mid Atlantic" pronounciation won
I feel a little dirty but it just seems to fit
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It is really funny you should post this now
I had some time this afternoon to record some vocals and had EXACTLY the same problem!
My word was "chance"
I am a Kent boy so my normal pronounciation would be "charnts"
I wanted to stick to my roots, and also had a nice internal rhyme with "heart" lined up, so I consciously used this pronounciation - as opposed to the "mid atlantic" "chaaaance"
However, no matter how many takes I did my "Kent" way just did not sit right within the track
I even kept takes of both pronounciations so I could make the final decision with fresh ears
I have just made the decision and the "Mid Atlantic" pronounciation won
I feel a little dirty but it just seems to fit
I feel your pain ;)
What to do? Why is it that the American way sounds better sometimes?, too much sticking to your roots and you risk sounding a bit 'Chas and Dave' or 'Proclaimers' but, that said, why not? At least it's an identity...
A tricky one...
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Another thought on this...
By ignoring your regional accent are you subconciously aiming your material at a mass market?
If you sing everything in a regional accent, are you automatically reducing your chances of commercial success?
Almost every commercial act given airtime (in the UK at least) sings with an American accent, be they British, Swedish, or South American etc. Only a very small minority don't succumb to this.
Is Americanification the best route to success? ( p.s. I know that's not really a word ;) )
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I think you have hit the nail on the head there
I am trying to write for others to record my songs - so I need them to sound as much like existing stuff as possible - so I have no issue conforming to this norm (regardless of how annoying it is)
However, if you are trying to sell "you" as well as the music then I do agree that sticking to your roots can be a selling point
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Sing with emotion - feck the accent
It all works as long as you can hear your heart break :o
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If I'm singing a soul ballad I'll probably naturally go mid-Atlantic, but also if I'm singing folk, I'll probably naturally go back to traditional UK styles.
There are exceptions like Biffy Cliro that can sing in their local accent and get away with it. But I suppose even Gerry and the Pacemakers were singing in Scouse with shades of Americana.
If you have a definite style you're going for then stick with it. Otherwise, whatever suits the song goes.
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Oh god, Biffy Clyro, oh how I hate Biffy Clyro...
Anyway, The Fratellis and Glasvegas also sing in their native Scottish (I do suspect Glasvegas exaggerate a bit) so you have more options then just UK or USA. For a pop artist example look at Pitbull, he sings with a very noticeable Latin American accent (he's Brazilian I believe).
In New Zealand and Australia the accents are quite unflattering for singing so most will sing like an American (unintentionally though, if you asked them to imitate one in conversation it'd sound like a redneck being strangled by his own intestines). Then again the Maori and Polynesian singers have a very noticeable sound to their voices when singing. It's not enough to constitute an accent but it's definitely a way of identifying them and makes them obviously non-american.
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At the end of the day the voice is an instrument. It is capable of making many different sounds. I think that if the song or even just a word sounds better in one accent than it does another, then you should just go with what suits the song.
Only singing in one accent is just like only playing open chords on a guitar and refusing to play barre chords, you are putting limitations on yourself.
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Only singing in one accent is just like only playing open chords on a guitar and refusing to play barre chords, you are putting limitations on yourself.
I have to disagree with this. Only singing in one accent is like using a guitar, switching between accents is like switching between a guitar, a sitar, a harp, a violin and a ukelele. It gives your band (or you if you're a solo artist) so much less definition and you'd actually end up looking quite silly.
The voice is just like an instrument, but it's a very unique instrument and probably shouldn't be compared to instruments when discussing accent, inflection and pronunciation.
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I just feel that where you can, especially if you are writing songs for an album, or to perform as a live set, they should ideally be consistent. To have one song sung all Proclaimers style, followed by a bon jovi-esque american number may just seem silly. Whats wrong with deciding what your identity is, then, where possible, sticking to it? I try where I can to sing my songs in as 'english' a way as I can, hopefully without sounding naff. I am guilty of waivering from time to time, if the song seems to need a bit of a mainstream sound.
I've pretty much accepted that my style of music, at my standard and ability, will never be something that the masses will buy so I just try to stay true to my roots. There are millions of artists the world over who sing with an american accent, my aim is to be myself. :)
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Just to clear something up... I'm Brazilian, Pittbull isn't Brazilian, he's American but has a Cuban heritage. I know that many people think we speak Spanish here in Brazil, but no, we speak Portuguese. Off-topic, but anyway, carry on with the debate.
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all we are trying to do is not sound too Dutch ;D
i guess we are imitating what we hear in films, most of which (over here) are American
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all we are trying to do is not sound too Dutch ;D
:D haha, sounds familiar
Trying hard not to let the ugly German accent shine through ;)
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all we are trying to do is not sound too Dutch ;D
:D haha, sounds familiar
Trying hard not to let the ugly German accent shine through ;)
It's your accent that sets you apart though Michael, don't dilute it too much :)
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Dogs have accents. That is all.
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The american accent tends to drag the vowels out to a longer sound and is less abrupt than the brittish and down under accents and I beleive this makes the american accent imminently more useful as a vocal instrument.
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I can't sing in my own accent, I have to take on an accent which I find for each song I sing. The mrs says I sing best to Ed Sheeran / Nizlopi though, so I guess that's my "singing accent". I do have an interesting idea for a thread though - favorite accent... E.g I love the northern accent, for singing, people from Yorkshire etc, they sound really good to me (more often than not).
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ive thought about this do we sing in american accents cos evrybody hates there own accent
or becos america is the land of success & riches we aspire to
or becos its the land where rock n roll came from so the real rock n roll voice is american...end of story?
or do we sing in american accents so nobody recognises us at the job centre when we have a hit record ;D
anyway habby what part of essex are you from? i live in south essex
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anyway habby what part of essex are you from? i live in south essex
Really Tina? where in saaf essix?
I grew up in Hockley (near Rayleigh), then lived in good ol' Southend for years..
I'm in the midlands now, I escaped the traffic!
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im in wickford now but ive lived in laindon & on canvey & basildon
i would never have guessed you were from round here!
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im in wickford now but ive lived in laindon & on canvey & basildon
i would never have guessed you were from round here!
Canvey! Oh bad luck :D :D :D (only joking)
I never really fitted in, I'm not enough of a 'lad'. And all that Essex vagazzle stereotype crap annoys me too (I hate TOWIE with a passion)
It's a small world Tina. The company I work for used to have offices in Wickford and before that job I worked for a motor factor in Wickford. (Motex)
Is the Basildon 'Hollywood' sign still there on the A127?
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Hi, you do realise, i am sure, that many people
not living in the UK
or America
don't have the options
or possibilities
to even consider things like this
(which accent etc.)
trust me, i can sing better
in Dutch
so does Mrs. DB, but lyrics in Dutch
just sound absolutely terrible
i wish i could choose
sorry ::)
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Hi, you do realise, i am sure, that many people
not living in the UK
or America
don't have the options
or possibilities
to even consider things like this
(which accent etc.)
trust me, i can sing better
in Dutch
so does Mrs. DB, but lyrics in Dutch
just sound absolutely terrible
i wish i could choose
sorry ::)
Hey Dutch!
Never ever apologise for your identity. It is very often the accent that makes an artist so good. Think Abba, bjork, Enrique inglesias. Would they be better if they sang with American accents ?
No..
Look how good Michael is, he sings with a German accent and his music is fantastic, and so original.
I actively try where I can to avoid the American sound, just because it isn't MY identity.
More Dutch accents please, don't hide it :)
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Totally agree with Habitat - get those euro accents rocking :D
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Is the Basildon 'Hollywood' sign still there on the A127?
i think the bas sign is great ..i mean what else can you get for £40000...a playground that gets vandalised...new town centre toilets that get vandalised ...or a hollywood sign that makes you realy think how can i make a great anagram out of that when im vandalising that! ;D
& theres the answer to the singing with american accents thing ...when the home of chavdom puts up a hollywood sign ....its cos we all want to be american movie stars!
(http://www.pic4ever.com/images/cancan.gif)
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When speaking I can imitate just about any accent. Singing-wise my voice naturally goes a bit British. Of course, I don't sing. I still write with my internal voice on 'British' mode.
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Is the Basildon 'Hollywood' sign still there on the A127?
& theres the answer to the singing with american accents thing ...when the home of chavdom puts up a hollywood sign ....its cos we all want to be american movie stars!
(http://www.pic4ever.com/images/cancan.gif)
I think you've cracked it :) What with the Festival leisure park (known locally as BAS-VEGAS) and all that fake tan. It's a whole county of people who wished they lived somewhere else haha..
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Having a thick yorkshire accent is very limiting for me. always compared to the artic monkeys
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Is it sounding American though , or is it stretching out and changing words just to make them fit better ?
Or is it Irish ?
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Trust me, the only act to have sung in a west country accent withj any success are The Wurzels. If I couldn't put on this accent I'd be going nowhere!
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To me there are no rules but it should sound authentic, interesting and appropriate to the subject matter. American places, driving down the the freeway etc always sounded cool when I was growing up but I love the variation of English language and regional/national differences. I mean drive down the M1 from Leeds to London from the Artics to The Kinks and Dizzee..
;D
Neil
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I usually sing/write with an American voice because of the sheer amount of Gaslight I listen to. In some of my own songs, though, I sing only in Estuary English. It's essential to the (fictional) character of the guy the album's based around.
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Only singing in one accent is just like only playing open chords on a guitar and refusing to play barre chords, you are putting limitations on yourself.
BUT BARRE CHORDS ARE SO DIFFICULT! Like seriously my hands aren't that big- I literally hate the person who invented a B major
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Play an F on your seventh fret Jess. That'll do it.
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Play an F on your seventh fret Jess. That'll do it.
Thank you! Life saved!
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Here's a song about using your own accent from Vinnie Whitehead a singer/songwriter from Hull.
I was responsible for the filming only. I had nothing to do with the song. The beginning is film of a protest march against changing the name of my football club from Hull City AFC to Hull City Tigers/Hull Tigers.
I hope you enjoy the video.
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Aahhh god I was talking about this with my mate the other day.. I usually stay true to my roots and sing in my accent.. but someimtes theres just some words that do not fit with it.. so I succumb to the american way.. :(
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American culture is the dominant one and very strongly associated with all forms of entertainment, music included. Other accents have very strong associations too. Latin, Reggae, hip-hop, opera and country all have a preference for certain accents born from their history and public image. It's partly historic norms and partly audience acceptance. That being said, these are not static. Certain trailblazers can carve a path for new accents to become desirable within a genre but when and how that happens is uncertain.
I'm sure some accents sound better sung than others too. Any language heavy on the consonant sounds isn't going to work well in music. Singing is all about the vowels so languages and accents that emphasize vowel sounds might be preferred. That also means some accents will lose much of their character when sung. But it's really dependent on your audience.
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American here.
I love hearing the natural voice of the singer, it adds personality to the songs, so I say sing how you speak 90% of the time. Only if the dialect interferes with the flow of the song should you adapt the pronunciation.
A comment above (somewhere) said 'you risk sounding like the Proclaimers...(etc.) I can tell you that if the song is sung with an accent, listeners singing along also sing the accent. Accents are wonderful. People listen closer to someone with an accent - because the accent is musical. It gives the same old words wonderful new spice.
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I try to stay true to my own voice and accent without making any effort to sound English as opposed to anything else. I think the American accent lends itself to singing a bit more... there are lots of words that can be stretched out endlessly when pronounced as the Americans do, but that can't be stretched out the way we say them.
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i started off american.. copying what i listened to. when i started writing songs i tried making it sound more english... then i found a way of singing i was comfortable with.. since then my voice has changed and developed over time. the forced englishness has fallen back a bit as i've become more at ease with how i sing.
it's a constantly changing thing.. finding what you're comfortable with seems to be the most important thing.. once you've got a car that goes you can drive it anywhere.. doesn't mean you can't keep tinkering with it though.
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When some folks hear me sing for the first time they say they didnt expect me to sound the way i do.
I have only been conciesly singing a couple of years and it took me about a year of that to find my voice. before i used to sing in quite a high register, it was quite whiny and pitchy and i didnt like what i heard. i later realised i was singing an octave above my comfortable range, when i learned to bring it down and practiced with it my voice developed character and depth that i didnt have before. but i had am American accent going on and i felt a fraud for it. the style of music i like is mainly American roots based so i felt stuck as to what to do. I now sing in an accent that isnt my speaking accent and isnt american either, it to me is my singing accent and now feel much more authentic for it.
for me it was finding my voice. - of course i am still critical when i hear it back but that i s my nature but i can at least feel myself.
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I tried to sing with a British accent, gave up and went back to my native Derbyshire twang.