Quick English lesson

[Brinty]

Originally Posted by 371

anyone know why most singers have an American-sounding accent when singing, but have a non-American accent when speaking??

Two reasons . . .

1. If the singer is doing a cover version of a song sung by an American, they've listened to the original version so many times, that they unconsciously 'absorb' the accent along with the words.

2. Some people, regardless of nationality, have difficulty understanding lyrics sung in a dialect or accent different from their own. If non-Americans wish to sell their songs in America, then it is of advantage to them to sing in an accent that will be understood by the majority of prospective buyers.

As an example of this last reason, I once emailed to an American friend a song by an Australian singer. My friend, replied that he couldn't understand it "because of the thick Aussie accent". I had no trouble understanding it - but my wife pointed out that the reason for this was because I was a thick Aussie!

I fixed her