Why did the Beatles sing with an American accent?

HalfManHalfBiscuit

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Fri Mar-04-05 01:15 PM
Original message

Why did the Beatles sing with an American accent?

Were they ashamed of their country? Lamely trying to sell more records? Was it all lip-synching?

Major problem. I know that real British bands like The Jam and Oasis and even the weenies Blur have no problem singing for real.

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Lavender Brown

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Fri Mar-04-05 01:17 PM
Response to Original message

1. They sang with American accents?

:shrug:

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drumwolf

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Fri Mar-04-05 01:19 PM
Response to Reply #1

4. during the first part of their career, yes.

Not so much during their later years, by which time they were branching out beyond their initial American rock'n'roll and R&B influences.

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drumwolf

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Fri Mar-04-05 01:17 PM
Response to Original message

2. Because they were heavily influenced by American rock, R&B and blues

...as were most of the British Invasion bands of the time.

No different from American punk or '80s new-wave bands that sing in British accents.

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Zuni

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Fri Mar-04-05 01:22 PM
Response to Reply #2

6. yep

They were singing American style music

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Burma Jones

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Fri Mar-04-05 01:18 PM
Response to Original message

3. Because they were singing American Music

They had almost no Brit influences

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tigereye

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Fri Mar-04-05 05:41 PM
Response to Reply #3

36. it was skiffle in Britian, rock and roll in Germany

Brit music- hall style amusements in the late 60's and early 70s and then a bit of Indian influnced raga, right? That's my quickie and admittedly not obsesssive take on it. :)

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Spider Jerusalem

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Fri Mar-04-05 01:21 PM
Response to Original message

5. I never thought they did.

They WERE from Liverpool, and the Liverpool accent is probably closer to "American" than the stereotypical south-of-England public-school/BBC English "British accent" (there are "R"s, for one thing).

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emulatorloo

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Fri Mar-04-05 01:23 PM
Response to Original message

7. Because they loved U.S. Rock and Roll and R&B

Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and so on.

You are looking for a problem where there isn't one.

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bif

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Fri Mar-04-05 01:40 PM
Response to Original message

8. People sing pretty much accent free

Usually you have to try extra hard to sing with an accent. It was a long time before I knew Van Morrrison was Irish. And I don't think he sang with an"American accent" on purpose.

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LoZoccolo

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Fri Mar-04-05 01:47 PM
Response to Reply #8

10. "Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you."

You mean to say that when you hear that line, you can't tell what roughly kind of accent it is?

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elperromagico

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Fri Mar-04-05 04:02 PM
Response to Reply #10

26. You know what? You're right. I know what accent it is.

It's John Lennon's!

Do I win a prize? :P

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LoZoccolo

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Fri Mar-04-05 01:44 PM
Response to Original message

9. Why does Michael Jackson keep lightening his skin?

I imagine it's about the same reason.

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HalfManHalfBiscuit

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Fri Mar-04-05 03:12 PM
Response to Reply #9

12. Exactly

And that is also why Michael Jackson bought all of the Beatles' songs.

At least Michael does not fake his accent.

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elperromagico

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Fri Mar-04-05 03:55 PM
Response to Reply #9

24. Jacko keeps lightening his skin because he feels

that resembling a Punch and Judy doll is preferable to being a perfectly attractive African-American.

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Shakespeare

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Fri Mar-04-05 01:56 PM
Response to Original message

11. Why does Greenday sing with an English accent?

Who cares? It's all good music, and it's all good.

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democracyindanger

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Fri Mar-04-05 03:40 PM
Response to Reply #11

20. A friend of mine almost got in a fight with Green Day about that

He was walking through the lounge of a hotel in LA. Green Day was sitting there, minding their own business, and when my buddy passed by he mocked, "I'm talking in an English accent."

Boy, were they pissed.

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Shakespeare

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Fri Mar-04-05 04:52 PM
Response to Reply #20

32. ROFL! Great story. n/t

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Wat_Tyler

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Fri Mar-04-05 03:15 PM
Response to Original message

13. Are you LoZoccolo?

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HalfManHalfBiscuit

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Fri Mar-04-05 03:23 PM
Response to Reply #13

15. No. I am an attorney.

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Susang

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Fri Mar-04-05 03:50 PM
Response to Reply #15

21. Interesting response

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LoZoccolo

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Fri Mar-04-05 04:53 PM
Response to Reply #15

33. "Why do you wanna sue /me/?"

"For punitive damages that you're giving me."

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no name no slogan

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Fri Mar-04-05 05:04 PM
Response to Reply #33

35. Yes. Punitive Damages. That you're giving me.

I had a terrible accident sir.

(didn't know anybody remembered those old Jerky Boys routines) :P

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LoZoccolo

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Fri Mar-04-05 04:10 PM
Response to Reply #13

28. He is not me.

Just someone who knows a good thing when he sees it.

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HEyHEY

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Fri Mar-04-05 03:17 PM
Response to Original message

14. I think when singing it's hard to pick up an accent

Edited on Fri Mar-04-05 03:17 PM by HEyHEY

I bet there's a guy on UK website asking why the doors sang with a British Accent.

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HalfManHalfBiscuit

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Fri Mar-04-05 03:24 PM
Response to Reply #14

16. BTO also sang with an American accent

But at least BTO kicked ass.

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Wat_Tyler

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Fri Mar-04-05 03:35 PM
Response to Original message

17. Blur weren't singing for real.

Posh boy Damon Albarn affected a cockney accent.
They only got away with it because they were genuinely good.

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Borgnine

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Fri Mar-04-05 03:35 PM
Response to Original message

18. Why do people find the smallest things to rip the Beatles for?

I couldn't care less if their music was actually the sound of them making wet farts... it worked.

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HalfManHalfBiscuit

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Fri Mar-04-05 04:30 PM
Response to Reply #18

31. Wet farts do not work for me

But, even for a Beatles fan, I would say that you are setting the bar pretty low.

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Jokerman

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Fri Mar-04-05 03:39 PM
Response to Original message

19. Why doesn't Jim Nabors sing like Gomer Pyle? N/t

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elperromagico

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Fri Mar-04-05 03:53 PM
Response to Original message

22. George damn sure sang with an accent.

A very heavy Scouse accent. "You'll nevah know how mooch I really loove you/You'll nevah know how mooch I really cah.."

As for John and Paul, I suppose they sang like the musicians who influenced them. And those influences were almost entirely American. But even John and Paul don't sound distinctly American - not to my ears anyway. Bits of the Liverpudlian accent creep in rather frequently.

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catzies

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Fri Mar-04-05 03:57 PM
Response to Reply #22

25. How do you pronouce "Scouse?" I've always wondered

Where George's adorable (to me) accent really comes through is in the Christmas Fan Club records, especially (IIRC) 1965, talking about the making of "Help!" the movie.

He never completely lost that Scouse accent, either.

I still miss him terribly. :cry:

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elperromagico

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Fri Mar-04-05 04:05 PM
Response to Reply #25

27. I think it's "skous."

You can even learn to speak Scouse here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/localhistory/journey/scouse/talk/scouse.shtml

Then, if you put out any records, people here can accuse you of selling out. :D

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catzies

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Fri Mar-04-05 04:26 PM
Response to Reply #27

29. Does that rhyme with "mouse?" or "mousse?"

It it "skooze?" It is "skowse?"

Still scratching my head...

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elperromagico

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Fri Mar-04-05 04:29 PM
Response to Reply #29

30. Rhymes with "mouse."

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catzies

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Fri Mar-04-05 05:01 PM
Response to Reply #30

34. Thank you!!!!!

I can now die a happy woman.

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Joe Power

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Fri Mar-04-05 03:54 PM
Response to Original message

23. They were trying to be better than Oasis

:P~

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billyskank

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Fri Mar-04-05 05:45 PM
Response to Reply #23

37. That shows foresight.

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Joe Power

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Sat Mar-05-05 09:36 AM
Response to Reply #37

38. Indeed

Does the incoherent brilliance that is the Gallagher brothers know no bounds?

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