It would seem the only way to kick start a new music career is to sing in your own accent. It's all to do with individuality and authentication, apparently - the sense that the singer isn't trying to fool all of the people all of the time with a voice that sounds like, well, everyone else's.
Blame, too, the homogenisation of product by an industry that just goes with the flow rather than initiating it. Hail, then, the new breed of singers that sound no more American than John Cooper Clarke (arguably the daddy of the Vernacular Vocalists) reciting You'll Never See a Nipple in the Daily Express. Which prompts us to ask the following question: what exactly is Ronan Keating going to do about it?
ARCTIC MONKEYS
They speak with the tongues of northern England; lead singer and songwriter Alex Turner is responsible for popularising the words 'summat' and 'mardy bum'.
JINX LENNON
Singular voice from Dundalk pitches his tent firmly in the anti-folk camp. It is said that people from west Cork haven't got a clue what he's on about.
DUKE SPECIAL
A soft tone and rounded vowels ensure this singer-songwriter makes the Belfast burr actually quite pleasant to listen to.
DAVID BOWIE
Started off as a vocal tribute to Cockney singer/actor Anthony Newley. Bowie still hasn't been forgiven for The Laughing Gnome, but we love him for Be My Wife.
LILY ALLEN
Love or loathe this London tyke, but she kickstarted the movement we now know as the New Wave of Vernacular Vocalists and Colloquial Chavs (© The Ticket).
DAMIEN DEMPSEY
He's from Dubb-a-lin Tow-en. Just in case you hadn't noticed.
