"Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pronunciation Help: Scottish Traditional
From: Lighter - PM
Date: 27 Apr 13 - 04:01 PM

Yeah, but don't forget that unless you're singing to real Scots, your audience will only have their fading recollection of old movies to judge your accent by anyway."

Not true. I am no kind of a Scot, but I can easily spot a fake Scots accent. I have heard enough genuine Scots singing and speaking throughout my life that I know the real thing when I hear it. In any case, a contrived accent will sound wrong no matter how familiar the audience is with genuine Scots speech.

It isn't impossible for a non-Scot to sing in a Scottish accent, but it's usually wrong. You have to start with a very good ear, which you may or may not have. You also need to have listened to a lot of Scots singers. Also, some songs are much harder than others. It sounds like the OP has picked some of the hardest repertoire possible.

You can't really compare what Isaiah is trying to do with classical singing. By the time an operatic singer steps on the stage to sing something from Carmen or Eugene Onegin he or she will likely have had years of intensive vocal training and listening to the very best native singers. A wonky accent also won't matter as much with opera. Listen to Franco Corelli sing in French for example.

Don't give up on Scots folksongs but pick repertoire that you can sing in your own voice, and that you can make your own.