Reversing the Numbness

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Random Thoughts Thursday

-If this crazy, messed-up world of ours had no coffee in it
I'd hop the first train out of here, I wouldn't stay a minute

-I'm happy to hear British singers actually sounding British. Sure, Billy Bragg always has, and there are others, but why do so many people seem to lose their accents when they sing? I'm thinking of Mick Jagger singing "I can't get no satisfaction." The last time I checked, Yanks and Brits say can't decidedly different, and Mick doesn't sing it like the Brits I know say it. Pop up-and-comers Lily Allen and Kate Nash, as well hip-hopper The Streets, sound properly British! Good on you, mates!

If there are any Brits still reading this blog, I'd love to hear your input into this. Paging Matt Allard. Come in, Mr. Allard.

-Speaking of singers, I'm totally into Mugison right now. Check him out and let me know what you think. It might make Rob Zero's ear's bleed. Try it, Rob!

-I left my cell phone out in the rain a couple of weeks ago, and while it still works, the backlight is broken. The only way I can see my address book, read texts, or look at my caller ID is to shine a flashlight on the display. Crazy but true.

I was at a race in Minnesota this past weekend and I needed to make a call, so I asked the people around me if anyone had a flashlight I could use. This guy David Bulmer proceeded to pull out his cell phone, which has a built-in flashlight. I used it to see my address book on my cell phone and make the call. I've been mulling it over ever since.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

The dude from 80's Canadian band Glass Tiger sounded like a Gallagher brother in interviews but yet sounded like he was from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan when he sung "Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone"

Its Matthes by the way, I couldnt remember my ID shit.

SleekPelt said...

matthes: If you can't figure out your ID, you could choose the 'Other' option and call yourself whatever you want -- including Matthes.

Wow, you bring up an interesting point -- I've never thought about Canadian singers losing accents when singing. Hmm. Leonard Cohen -- Ron Sexsmith -- Alannis Morisette -- Getty Lee -- I don't remember every hearing them sing "aboot" anything.

SleekPelt said...

Maybe we Americans lose our accent when we sing too? Matthes? Allard?

SleekPelt said...

Does anyone know a Bon Jovi lyric that includes the word 'water'? Does he sing it 'wooder'? My mind is reeling.

Anonymous said...

Theres that one about turning water into wine, but its delivered in an almost speaking way, really deep and throaty, really sexy....

Anyways, Ron Sexsmith is Canadian? I pride myself on knowing my home country bands. Thats a new one.

SleekPelt said...

Yep, he's Canadian.

Matt A said...

Sorry it’s taken me so long to reply. The three you talk about; Allen, Nash and the Streets are all London-based acts, with a real (I would say) South London twang.

From my perspective, I don’t really notice any American accents apart from in some country music. But that might be more because we are fed American TV/music etc all the time, and have just become immune to it.

The more I think about the more I don’t hear many accents in music at all. Off the top of my head, I would say Damon Albarn sang a lot of the early Blur stuff in what became known as ’Mockney’, because he actually was from a provincial town rather than London. John Power, who was the lead singer of a band called Cast, sang with a real Scouse (Liverpool) accent. Early Bowie was very London too. And then of course there’s The Proclaimers…

Interestingly a good friend of mine refused to listen to any music sung in what he considered to be “an accent” when we house-shared a few years back.

SleekPelt said...

matt a: Welcome back! We missed you here at RtN. Thanks for the English perspective on this matter, it's much appreciated.