The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #109502 Message #2294578
Posted By: Brian Peters
21-Mar-08 - 01:25 PM
Thread Name: Singing Affectation?
Subject: RE: Singing Affectation?
MacColl is a case in point. His Scots accent never sounded particularly convincing to me, and although it could be very effective when understated, it veered towards ludicrous when overdone. Compare his rivetting 'Lay the Bent to the Bonny Broom' with his horribly over-the-top 'Lord Randal'. And what about his 'Country Yokel' accent, affected for certain English songs?
But a lot depends on exactly how regional the song is. To whoever said in an earlier post: "Seven Drunken Nights".... would not sound right without the accent", I would reply, "Which accent?" The song was collected numerous times in England and North America, even though the best known version is the Dubliners' hit record. On the other hand, songs using - say - a lot of Scots language are going to sound daft if sung in an English accent, but clumsy and unpoetic if 'translated'. There's no one rule.
To Don Firth, who suggested: "I have heard that in many of the folk clubs in the British Isles, one is not allowed to sing.... songs that are not from his or her own background" I can offer the reassurance that this attitude has never been detectable even once in my thirty years experience of folk clubs, and is a misconception based on the reputation of the old 'Singers Club'. For interest, here's
what Peggy Seeger had to say on the subject.