The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

It Ain't Got a Thing If It Ain't Got That...Rhythm

        Every almost every time I hear a singer from England or Australia or France or any other foreign place, I am always amazed by the fact that any trace of an accent has disappeared. (The most recent time, it was Chris Martin of Coldplay, who's married to Gwyneth Paltrow; he's the son-in-law of the late Bruce Paltrow, the man who brought us "St. Elsewhere," one of my favorite TV shows.)

        And then I contemplate that the rhythm is the king. The rhythm of the song dictates what the voice does.

        It's like that with writing as well. Sometimes a slow, meandering flow is appropriate for the story/article/poem.  Other times, an intense, more hammering rhythm is called for.

        I'm leaving you with a Ruthie Foster video, and giving you a link to Jennifer Brown Banks' blog, 'cause in a comment she (Jennifer, not Ruthie) reminded me of how much I love Foster's singing.


 
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11 comments:

  1. Lisa Ricard ClaroApril 24, 2013 at 4:53 PM

    Drat. I couldn't get the video to load. I, too, have wondered about the whole accent disappearing thing. Your theory is as good as any. Although if you've ever heard Luke Bryan sing you know that some accents just hang on tight. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sioux RoslawskiApril 24, 2013 at 7:34 PM

    Lisa--I haven't heard Luke Bryan...He's somebody I should check out?

    Look up Ruthie Foster. She's phenomenal.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Linda O'ConnellApril 25, 2013 at 4:02 AM

    That Jen is so multi-talented and helpful, like you, Sioux.

    ReplyDelete
  4. PearlApril 25, 2013 at 6:05 AM

    I love Ruthie Foster's singing as well!!

    Off to check out the blog...

    Pearl

    p.s. The soft green scarf. :-) Fringe or no fringe? No fringe is fine! :-) I'm so excited. Please send it to:
    P. Vork-Zambory
    1206 Jefferson St NE, #2
    Minneapolis, MN 55413

    This is such a fantastic way to start the day!! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. FireblossomApril 25, 2013 at 5:40 PM

    Singers are one thing, but actors who do it are even more amazing to me, like the guy who plays "House" on tv, who is from England but you'd never know it, and there was a black woman on "Without A Trace" who also has an accent, but her character didn't.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sioux RoslawskiApril 28, 2013 at 6:09 PM

      I agree. When actors can get the rhythm and accent spot-on, it's amazing. There is an actress and actor in the show "Nashville" (a guilty pleasure) who are--respectively-- Australian and British, and they sound southern.

      Delete
  6. ValApril 25, 2013 at 8:15 PM

    Then there was Mel Tillis, who lost his stutter when singing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sioux RoslawskiApril 28, 2013 at 6:10 PM

      I think it's always that way with stutterers. Incredible, isn't it?

      Delete
  7. Jennifer Brown BanksApril 27, 2013 at 11:41 AM

    How awesome! Thanks for the video and for the link love--from one "phenomenal woman" to another. :-)

    ReplyDelete

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