Why is it that vocalists when singing loose any accent that they may have when speaking?

Answer 1

My wife is a very good amateur singer and she tells me this is an intentional thing. First of all, she says that when they teach you to sing, they teach you to sing without an accent. She says that the language (English, French, Spanish, etc.) doesn't matter and whether you understand the language or not doesn't matter. You are taught to sing the language in it's most accepted form. Second, she says that if you are trying to be professional and sell your music, the language in which music sells the most Cd's (or albums or tapes) is what is considered "mid-western" American style English which is a very "non-accented" style of English at least in the ears of a lot of the world.

There are exceptions. Celtic music is sung like it's supposed to sound. But when you listen to money making singers like Celine Dion and others who would normally have an accent that distinguishes their place of birth, these singers all strive to sing without an accent.

Answer 2

Not all of them, what about The Cure, The Macc Lads and The Proclaimers! But yes, most singers have American accents whilst singing these days.

Answer 3

The Arctic Monkeys sing in their Sheffield accent

Answer 4

I really don't know the reason but back in the late 60s, early 70s, I saw/heard this Korean guy. He sang country/western. He sounded like he was from the southern U.S.A. but when not singing, had to have an interpreter speak for him. It was really strange.

Answer 5

They dont always - listen to cerys from Catatonia singing road rage - sounds Welsh to me. One thing I don't understand is why British vocalists often adopt American accents when singing (e.g. lovurr instead of lover).

Answer 6

Always wondered the same, thanks for asking the question!

There are a couple of bands that sing in their accent but the majority can't

Similar to laughing in another accent- can't be done lol

Answer 7

That has always amazed me, like two Scottish singers (The Proclaimers) thick Scottish accent an when they sing, it sounds normal English.

Answer 8

Someone in the music world told me that they remember seeing Catatonia back in their pre-fame days, and Cerys did NOT have an accent! Add a gimmick (i.e. her Welsh accent) and voila! Instant hit.

Answer 9

I'm not exactly sure, but i think it's the same reason people who stutter stop when they sing. It probably has something to do with the fact that when you sing, it's purely air and vocal chords

Answer 10

I do not really know the answer. I do know that people who studder are able to sing without studdering. My oldest son was a studderer early in life. We took him to a speech therapist and among other things they had him learn to sing. When he would start struddering we would say "slow done and sing it (what ever he wanted to say)" and he could sing it without studdering.