Print

Print
The World Routes programme on BBC Radio 3 recently did a three parter field recording trip in the Appalachians, a concept which included north Georgia, where you still get people continuing styles of singing that combine Afro-American with what had been British 17th century popular singing or folk. Churchy folk at that. At least on Sundays. It survived there because the region was 'backward' and didn't adopt new fashions, unlike New England (or old). So British singers of the record collection epoch, when they weren't pretending to be paintings by Peter Blake,  were imitating a descendant of their own largely lost tradition.
I hate to use bad language (except with good cause) but another sibling of this scattered family is Country & Western. From Amy Winehouse to Dolly Parton is but a small step.

On 5 October 2010 06:34, Jim Andrews <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
i wonder if amy winehouse's 'accent' is of the language of her record collection?

jon pareles says, in the nytimes, that

"Ms. Winehouse is English, and British soul singing has always been at least once removed from its African-American sources. It doesn't have the foundation that American singers often get by singing in church, since British singers are more likely to learn soul style from their record collections."

in that case, i'd say score one for the record collection rather than church.

ja
http://vispo.com



--
(David Joseph) The Brothers Bircumshaw
"Every old house was scaffolding once/And workmen whistling"
Website and A Chide's Alphabet
http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk
The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/david.bircumshaw
twitter: http://twitter.com/bucketshave
blog: http://groggydays.blogspot.com/