Things I ponder

[Guest bertha]

During my many miles of travel I ponder quite a few things. The most recent and the most annoying is why do singers, who when they speak, have heavy accents but when they sing they have none? TIA

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

I think that you ponder quite interesting topics.

Really, I bet it's because they do all the voice training to sing well, so you skip the accent. You have to sing it well and clearly, so you don't want that annoying accent in there.

[Skye]

Probably also from emulating a variety of different singers accents.

[3rd Enigma]

I believe that most of it is making an image.

[atinymonkey]

How so? An image via vocal inclination?

[YT2095]

and the components that make up an accent (with a few exceptions) as also very difficult to vocalise whilst making it tonal

[Pinch Paxton]

People often change their accents on the phone too.

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

Either that or the phone just makes their voice sound funny.

[Guest bertha]

Thanks for the replies, but I was wondering if there is a medical reason behind this? I read recently that a doctor was going to insert a mini cam down his throat so he could show his interns how intibations (sp?) on patients helped them to breathe during a serious trauma. I am no medical doctor by any means but do you think this method could be employed to show what happens to the vocal chords during speech and then during a song with someone who does have an accent? I justfeel something happens within that allows the person to sing without an accent but I ahve no proof (

[Glider]

YT2095 said in post # :

and the components that make up an accent (with a few exceptions) as also very difficult to vocalise whilst making it tonal

 

Ian Anderson manages very well, so it can't be that hard not to sing like an American (which seems to be the default singing accent outside of classical).

[Guest bertha]

Glider said in post # :

 

Ian Anderson manages very well, so it can't be that hard not to sing like an American (which seems to be the default singing accent outside of classical).

 

So are you saying it has to be done conciously then?

"(which seems to be the default singing accent outside of classical)" And in Opera from what I have heard.

Anyone know of any good Doctor oriented forums that may help with this?

[alt_f13]

bertha said in post # :

Thanks for the replies, but I was wondering if there is a medical reason behind this? I read recently that a doctor was going to insert a mini cam down his throat so he could show his interns how intibations (sp?) on patients helped them to breathe during a serious trauma. I am no medical doctor by any means but do you think this method could be employed to show what happens to the vocal chords during speech and then during a song with someone who does have an accent? I justfeel something happens within that allows the person to sing without an accent but I ahve no proof (

 

 

 

You don't need to see what the vocal cords are doing when you can hear it... after all, the vibration of the air is a direct result of the vibration of the vocal cords... just think about how hard it would be to analyze the picture of the vocal cords in comparison to an osciloscope. Either way, what is projected, in terms of inflection and accent, have little to do with the delivery system when you think about it.  Use speakers instead of vocal cords and you get the same result, sound.

 

And many artists sing with their accents, it's just harder to detect.  Listen to Enrique vs the Beatles vs NSync, their accents become very apparent. 

 

Hmm.  Going to watch a Shakira vid.  Muted.

[Skye]

Accent is more to do with your mouth and nose than throat, most singers try to avoid singing through their nose, so they lose alot of their natural accent that way.

[YT2095]

when the american accent is broken down phoneticaly you`ll note many of the vowels are drawn out, the consonants are largely left alone, dragging of a consonat to match the lyric with the step time of a peice of music would not only be unnatural but difficult also.

and so you have a pre made american accent, as vowels are alot easier to extend in order for the words to fit the music time.

[alt_f13]

Skye said in post # :

Accent is more to do with your mouth and nose than throat, most singers try to avoid singing through their nose, so they lose alot of their natural accent that way.

 

 

 

Exactly.  I was making the point that vocal cords are a small part of the system.

 

 

 

"Sing from the stomach," my gr 4 music teacher used to say.  When you project sound you tend to use more mouth.