MovieChat Forums > This Is Spinal Tap (1984) Discussion > What is it about the English accent...

What is it about the English accent...

posted 12 years ago by HelveticaFont
10 replies | jump to latest

...that makes any parody of rock n roll so much more natural?

I'd say British accent but the Welsh and the Scots just don't quite get there. Although the Welsh accent does lend itself as a great substitute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReT3s0siI_Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClgtoM2RwQY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_7kg5ZzDZo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91C9h_Yd_3o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3XTqSHS_70&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhtLoA3X21s&feature=fvwrel

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] HelveticaFont 12 years ago

A Brit would say zero too.

The 'arnt' vs 'ant' thing is interesting depending on how you read it.

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

English accents worked well for a movie about rock musicians. Michael McKean as David St. Hubbins, Christopher Guest as Nigel Tufnel and Harry Shearer as Derek Smalls were all Americans speaking with English accents. Manager Ian Faith, drummer Mick Shrimpton, keyboard player Viv Savage, David's girlfriend Jeanine and Polymer Records President Sir Denis Eton-Hogg were played by real English actors.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] nephihaha 9 years ago

"I naturally expect rock stars to be American. Unless they're punk or heavy metal. In which case it is English and Germanic respectively. "

Really? Could start with the Beatles and Rolling Stones right down to the present day. AC/DC are rock stars and they're Australian/Scottish. U2 are Irish. Bryan Adams is Canadian. I could go on... there's plenty of more recent examples too.

--
It's not "Sci-Fi", it's SF!

"Calvinism is a very liberal religious ethos." - Truekiwijoker

[–] nephihaha 9 years ago

You are aware that there's at least half a dozen distinct English accents, which are quite different - compare Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and Bristol for example.

--
It's not "Sci-Fi", it's SF!

"Calvinism is a very liberal religious ethos." - Truekiwijoker

[–] mmsbk 9 years ago

I know I know, drives me crazy when people say 'the English accent' Or worse 'the British accent'.
Not only huge regional differences too, also class-based, ie the difference between, say, Benedict Cumberbatch and David Beckham.

[–] nephihaha 9 years ago

Yep, and there's a big difference. A thick Birmingham accent is nothing like a working class London one (Cockney)... at least as much difference as Bronx vs Texas, if not more.

As for Beckham and Cumberbatch... different, but examples Americans may relate to are the Beatles (Liverpool) vs the Queen, or Ozzy Osbourne (when he's not putting on an American accent) vs Ridley Scott.

--
It's not "Sci-Fi", it's SF!

"Calvinism is a very liberal religious ethos." - Truekiwijoker