I like what Shirley does. I thought my Mum used to put on a weird sort of (UK)South-West accent thing that I thought was very embarrassing when I was little-sort of curling her "r"s a bit, I suppose it sounded more country to her. I don't think she did it on purpose, she doesn't do it any more. Dad's 60s/70s nasal, slidy thing makes me laugh and him cringe in a corner, but people still like it and see it as highly technical and authentic. Is it an accent, or a mannerism? Whatever it is, I prefer a person's singing accent to be as close to their speaking one as possible-one of the problems I have always had with Nick Cave, though I like his songs. I fondly imagine Tom Waits speaking like he has marbles in his voice box...!!
Someone said that Shirley's voice conjured to them someone singing from 1790-but who's to say there weren't operatic or declamatory singers around then? Singing is such an emotional experience, even for wee milkmaids back then...?
x eliza c