Ever heard of a group called The Beatles? And less well known, Lindisfarne.
I’m from Maryland, and I do the same thing.
See also the Television Personalities, most British punk bands (Buzzcocks, Sex Pistols, the Clash, X-Ray Spex, etc).
Of course, then you have it the other way–some singers “thickening” their accents while singing (for whatever purpose). A bit like country singers putting on country accents when they don’t naturally have one or heaping on the twang to stress they’re country.
I’m not sure that I have herard of Lindisfarne. But as for the Beatles, I don’t think I’ve heard them sing with an accent. Of course, this could be because I’m American and if I were British, maybe I’d notice it. But from my point of view, I only noticed an accent when they talked, not when they sang.
It seems like only yesterday…
In “Another Brick in the Wall” the children are “sinning?” Damn, that song is creepier than I ever realized. 
Loch Nest! That is so cute! It makes me feel like the Nessie has a cozy little home made of enormous twigs and hair and scraps of things. And maybe he tweets! 
There’s a part of the Beatles Anthology videos where Paul McCartney does an American accent. Something about it just tickled me; he sounded British except sort of bold and brash or something. . . I think I find it so amusing because it says so much about how people view America.
what about “Emma”? (just curious)
Yeah, I have that as well. If I’ve been chatting with Brits I seem to pick it up, especially if alcohol is involved. (Actually, the Brits aren’t strictly necessary if there’s alcohol involved. It just happens.)
Now, I’m a native Southern Californian so I have no accent. But I met the family of a girl I was dating (never you mind how long ago this was!) and one of her sister’s asked if I was Irish. I admitted to some distant Irish ancestry, and she said she could tell by my “accent”. Weird, eh? I hadn’t even been around any Irish people.
Another girl I dated, from St. Louis, said I had a “surfer” accent. (Which I definitely don’t.)
We were talking about accents at work, and I mentioned that I pick up the accents of people I’m around. My workmates said they could see how I could fall into a British-like accent. (Apparently my speaking syntax reminds them of it.)
I know this is the opposite of what the OP is asking, but there it is.
Additionally, when I intentionally do an English accent it is Python-esque and for comedic effect. Same reason I do German, Russian (badly), and southern rural American accents.
I definitely suffer from the chameleon effect. What with my dad’s whole family being from Fort Worth, I so much as think about Texas and I start talking with an accent, causing major eye-rolling amongst my family. I really don’t do it on purpose!
The Westbank New Orleans accent, however, is a really, really difficult one to pick up; I’ve got a few phrases down (“He’s from out dah Paahrish”) but since it’s generally a cross between Mississippi and the Bronx, it’s a bit of a challenge. Even osmosis hasn’t worked on this one.
I will also confess to sounding surprisingly Irish after spending a few weeks there some years back. I blame it all on my heritage; I never realized how Irish my mom’s side of the family was until I realized that everyone in Ireland looked like my close relatives.
You want to hear really, REALLY bad faked accents? Watch an episode of Cafroll O’Connor’s post-All In the Family show, In the Heat of the Night. The collection of phony accents on that show is almost too painful to contemplate.
Two that sound very Liverpuddlian to me are Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (the “picture yourself…” part) and Lovely Rita, Meter Maid.
By the way, does anybody know the difference between a Brooklyn accent and a Bronx accent? I can’t tell the difference.
The next time I hear those songs I’ll look for an accent.
And what do UK Buffy fans think of Spike’s diction? For the longest time I had no idea that James Marsters was an American doing an accent?
As a scouser in Wales, I can tell you that the song you’re really looking for is The Ballad of John and Yoko, especially the “Christ” in “Christ, you know it ain’t easy”.
…And us Brits reckon you lot over the pond don’t understand irony.
I can’t remember the film, but Michael Caine played A Southerner (US) and was even worse.
Revenge for Dick Van Dyke…
Don’t understand irony?
Isn’t EastEnders a cockney accent? For some reason, I’ve gotten this fascination with teaching myself the different British accents - and I’m getting quite good at the East End London accent. I think deep down I’m hoping that the next time I visit England, I’ll be offered a bit part on the show :D.
I’m also currently trying to learn the Northumberland accent. I’ve pretty much got the ‘posh’ accent and the regular old British accent down pat. I don’t think I’d be brave enough to try and fool anyone over in England with it - I’d probably be seen through immediately, but I did fool a few Americans at Disneyland a couple of years ago - I just did it for fun, there was nothing harmful in it. I got really good treatment, too - I’ve decided that Americans are so enamored of the British accent that they treat them better in stores :D.
Ava
That would only be ironic if eg. Michael Caine was actually born in Alabama.
What is ironic is that many British people who say that Americans don’t understand irony don’t understand irony.
Having heard Bob Hoskins’ attempt at an American accent I was assuming Joel’s post was irony/sarcasm…