english/uk/british accents in 'proper' pop music...

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had an argument with canadian pal of mine about why we brits have basically failed to express our gritty-yet-interesting array of native accents (none of which, apparently, sound anything like austin powers) through the medium of 'serious' popular music since sid vicious went tits up. i pleaded 'smiths', but this was rebuffed as an exception... and most other things disqualified in terms of being too retro (that spate of nineties guitar bands, 'pop-brit' i think it was called), too genre-specialised (folk, uk garage) or just too crap (embarrasing now-forgotten stable pop). we couldn't decide what accent robert smith 'sings' in so that went down as a moot point.

even pj harvey sings in an american accent. needless to say, my friend wasn't swayed by my drunken rendition of 'where's me jumper' by the sultans of ping fc. and i don't think suggs counts as a viable point in any real debate.

help?

emma

― emmakjones, Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Most distictive regional accent i've heard recently is The Futureheads.

― Hari Ashurst (Toaster), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Sons and Daughters.

Pulp.

Streets.

Um...

― jed_ (jed), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Sophie Ellis Bextor?!

― jed_ (jed), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

i think ruling out anything 'genre-specialised' is an immediate stumbling block. are you looking for songs/artists that retain distinct awareness and inclusion of pop sensibilities in every song?

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

> ... my friend wasn't swayed by my drunken rendition of 'where's me jumper' by the sultans of ping fc

... with good reason: the Sultans of Ping were Irish, not British.

― Palomino (Palomino), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:29 (twenty-one years ago)

The Proclaimers?

Why not Suggs? He totally counts.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Where are The Futureheads from? The whole Gruff Rhys/Kevin Rowland thing really grabs me I must admit.

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Also Cerys Matthews owns this thread.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Echobelly! er, Wiley and Dizzee too.

― Gear! (Gear!), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

The Proclaimers

xposts

― jed_ (jed), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Jez Williams of Doves retains his accent on most songs.

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

As does Louise Wener.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Futureheads are from somewhere around sunderland i believe. The vocals have the same accent as that stalker from big brother, michelle.

― Hari Ashurst (Toaster), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Unfortunately, Louise Wener's accent is indistinguishable middle class dribble.

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:35 (twenty-one years ago)

But it is an accent which shows her roots. Which is what I thought this thread was about.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, agreed ailsa. Just couldn't resist an opportunity to hate on the talentless git.

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Me or Louise Wener?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Louise Wener. I'm not that rude.

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Robert Smith definitely sings in a British accent, though I don't know which one.

Also Neil Tennant's accent usually shows through; he seems to pronounce better than most singers too, which makes his (thankfully great) lyrics more audible.

― Seb (Seb), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 21:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Mania.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 24 August 2004 23:27 (twenty-one years ago)

rachel stevens sounds very english on 'some girls'

― pete b. (pete b.), Wednesday, 25 August 2004 07:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Paul Weller

― Tim Dixon, Wednesday, 25 August 2004 07:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Depeche Mode

― Hari Ashurst (Toaster), Wednesday, 25 August 2004 08:39 (twenty-one years ago)

At the time, singing in British accents was presented as one of the primary USPs of 76-77 punk rock - right up there with short hair and straight-legged trousers. All of sudden, adopting an American accent was seen as deeply suspect. I thought this was simply marvellous.

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Wednesday, 25 August 2004 09:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Most Liverpudlian bands of the past decade to thread...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 25 August 2004 09:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Viv Stanshall pwns this thread...

― Jack Battery-Pack (Jack Battery-Pack), Wednesday, 25 August 2004 09:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Arab Strap
Alex Harvey
That useless Belle & Sebastian offshoot, something-Boy
Super Furry Animals
Anrehfn
Lapsus Linguae
Dawson
Stretchheads

― mzui, Wednesday, 25 August 2004 09:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Wouldbegoods, Talulah Gosh, Robert Wyatt, Billy Bragg...

― Jez (Jez), Wednesday, 25 August 2004 13:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Gedge
Paul Heaton
Roots Manuva

― paulhw (paulhw), Wednesday, 25 August 2004 14:01 (twenty-one years ago)

LEMMY.
also,Mark E Smith....

― m0stly clean (m0stly clean), Wednesday, 25 August 2004 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

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