# Most Irritating Weird/Affected Pronunciation In A Song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974 "2006-04-09T17:30:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Emeria](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@Emeria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emeria)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/61 "2006-04-10T12:46:20Z")
I definitely have to second Alanis Morissette - Is that supposed to be a Canadian accent?! Well, I’m from Canada, albeit it’s a big place with many local accents, but her “Canadian” accent **really** bugs me. _Shakes head_ so many mangled lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/62 "2006-04-10T12:51:32Z")
I always got tired of Johnny Rivers singing about “Secret **Asian** Man.” Also, Gladys Knight made my hair fall out with her soundtrack opus “License To Kil- **cha**.” ---
**Author:** ![Jacob\_Silj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Jacob\_Silj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jacob_Silj)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/63 "2006-04-10T13:17:04Z")
Even though I’m sure the pronunciation is common in the UK, it always irritated me to hear ELP say “not BEAN such a fool” in “From the Beginning”- an awesome song, btw. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/64 "2006-04-10T13:27:56Z")
Deep Purple sings “My Woman From **To-kee-yo** …” A friend of mine who knows a little Chinese and Japanese tells me this is entirely wrong. He says the correct parsing of syllables is To-KYO. Having the “ee” sound in the middle drives him nuts. Now that I am more aware of how it’s _supposed_ to sound, it bothers me, too. ---
**Author:** ![THespos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@THespos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THespos)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/65 "2006-04-10T13:57:34Z")
Look no further than Axl Rose. “Its so eeeeezay…” “You could be MIIIIIIIIIIYIIIIIIIIINEYIIIIIIIIIIINEYIIIIIIIINE…Yeah!” And don’t even get me started on that whack-ass cover they did of “Since I Don’t Have You.” ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/66 "2006-04-10T14:00:42Z")
How could I possibly have forgotten Chrissie Hynde’s retard-seizes-the-microphone elocutions on “Brass In Pocket?” "Goh uuus mah ahms Goh uuus mah legs Goh uuus mah stahl . . . " I think the “Goh” for “gonna” may rise to the level of worst phrasing ever. I guess she thought it sounded black, or sexy, or something. If you think Down’s Syndrome is sexy. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/67 "2006-04-10T14:05:51Z")
> [@Millit the Frail](#): > > Avril’s pronunciation is really unbearable. How you manage to rhyme “unannounced” with “something else” and stretch “you” into a 16-syllable word are beyond me. (And the stress in “frustrated” should not be on the second syllable! It just shouldn’t!!) Avril Lavigne and I are from pretty much the same place in southeastern Ontario - my best friend went to the same high school, actually, NDSS. Her accent’s 100% affected; nobody from there, including her, pronounces vowels that way. “I’m with you” sounds like “I’m with yeeee-ow,” which is certainly not central Canadian. To be honest, some of her weird vowels sound… just like the Green Day guy. I’ve never heard anyone from either California or Kentucky pronouce “September” as “Saiptember” or “Wake” as “Wike.” It’s like the pop-punk vowel shift or something. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/68 "2006-04-10T14:34:42Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > To be honest, some of her weird vowels sound… just like the Green Day guy. I’ve never heard anyone from either California or Kentucky pronouce “September” as “Saiptember” or “Wake” as “Wike.” It’s like the pop-punk vowel shift or something. I should have been clearer in my “Mancunian punk” dig at Billie Joe. I didn’t mean that he sounded Mancunian (or that there was such a thing as a Mancunian punk sound, which for all I know, there isn’t). I meant only that his weird vocalizations were (to my mind) most likely the result of an Anaheimite trying to blend together the Smiths and the Sex Pistols (what he might have heard on the radio) and failing. And given that the Sex Pistols were kind of poseurs to begin with, the levels of poseurdom are stacked onion-like upon each other in multiple layers, so it’s no surprise that his accent resembles nothing found elsewhere on Earth (except in the songs of other would-be punk poseurs). ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/69 "2006-04-10T15:29:33Z")
I’d like to toss Rob Thomas in the ring for his (intentional) mutilation of the phrase: _“…Like you do your girlfriends…”_ into _“…I can do your girlfriends…”_ ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/70 "2006-04-10T16:05:08Z")
I saw this thread when it had only two replies and almost posted, but then I figured someone witter than I would be sure to mention Lady Marma-lard and that I should just wait for them to come along… Imagine my surprise to find that no one has mentioned it! The Brandy and Monica duet from a few years back used to grate on my nerves because Brandy sang “I cannot excape” :::shudder::: > [@THespos](#): > > Look no further than Axl Rose. Hehe. I think the lyric sheet for Pretty Tied Up in the album cover had the line: Cool and stressing (\*pronounced: \*“Kool Ranch Dressing”). ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/71 "2006-04-10T16:15:22Z")
Michael Jackson’ _Billie JEan_ has the line “She says that I am the one But the child is not my son.” Except it sound like “She says I am the one But the the Chad is not my son” And I even remember Lettermen so many years ago doing a bit on it where he thought it sounded like Jackson said Chair. Then he played the song, but they had dubbed over the word child with some one who was clearly not Michael Jackson saying (not singing) “Chair”. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/72 "2006-04-10T16:27:57Z")
I _love_ the Google ad at the bottom right now, exhorting us to buy the book “How Democrats Can Take Back Congress” today! Apparently, a Dem government would never allow such abominations in the music of America! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/73 "2006-04-10T16:29:26Z")
I don’t know the band name for sure, because I dismissed them from my brainspace after this. Perhaps it was the Fixx. Back when MTV was new, there was a song that came on quite a lot in which the credited title did not match the pronunciation in the song. As a horse fell over in the video, the band clearly enunciated “Stanitor Fall!” One could clearly hear the “it” sound in the middle of the word. But when the credits rolled at the end, for some unknown reason the song was named “Stand or Fall”. I was bothered enough to listen to it a few more times – and there could be no mistaking it; the singer(s) indeed said “STAN-it-tor FALL”. Neither the rhyme scheme nor the rhythm seemed to require it; they could easily have made “stand or Fall” fit if they’d cared to, so it was doubtless intentional. Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/74 "2006-04-10T16:47:55Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Can there be any doubt? > … It’s that “Goodnight Song” from “The Sound of Music”, as rendered in the 1964 film. Specifically, it’s the line: > > “Adieu, adieu > to yieu, and yieu, and yieu…” :smack: Winner. Game over. ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Incongnito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4af34b/32.png) [@Guy\_Incongnito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Incongnito)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/75 "2006-04-10T16:50:56Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > most likely the result of an Anaheimite trying to blend together the Smiths and the Sex Pistols Green Day are from Berkeley. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/76 "2006-04-10T16:55:13Z")
I’ve got the oldest nominee, I believe. The First Noel and its pronunciation of Is-RYE-el has always annoyed the bejeezus out of me. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/77 "2006-04-10T16:56:05Z")
Loreena McKennitt’s _pie-gun_ in “All Soul’s Night” never bothered me until I heard her speak. She sounds about as Irish as I do. Now the whole thing bugs me. Rolling _heelsides_? ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/78 "2006-04-10T17:00:54Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > I don’t know the band name for sure, because I dismissed them from my brainspace after this. Perhaps it was the Fixx. > > Back when MTV was new, there was a song that came on quite a lot in which the credited title did not match the pronunciation in the song. > > As a horse fell over in the video, the band clearly enunciated “Stanitor Fall!” One could clearly hear the “it” sound in the middle of the word. > > But when the credits rolled at the end, for some unknown reason the song was named “Stand or Fall”. > > I was bothered enough to listen to it a few more times – and there could be no mistaking it; the singer(s) indeed said “STAN-it-tor FALL”. Neither the rhyme scheme nor the rhythm seemed to require it; they could easily have made “stand or Fall” fit if they’d cared to, so it was doubtless intentional. > > Sailboat Your ears and mine must work completely differently because I’ve always heard it as “stand or fall”. I might have given you a pass if you said “Stan door fall”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/79 "2006-04-10T18:07:21Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > This site [http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/articles/051114ta\_talk\_seabrook](http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/articles/051114ta_talk_seabrook) says “Brooklynese” is spoken in some communities in New Orleans. I can’t find a better cite, but I went searching because I feel so certain that I’ve heard this usage in New Orleans jazz before. Though, again, I have no better cite than my certainty. > > -FrL- Dr. John is another NO singer who clearly has that same ‘oi’ in stead of ‘r’ thing going on. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974/80 "2006-04-10T18:27:47Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > Michael Jackson’ _Billie JEan_ has the line > > “She says that I am the one > But the child is not my son.” > > Except it sound like > > “She says I am the one > But the the Chad is not my son” > > And I even remember Lettermen so many years ago doing a bit on it where he thought it sounded like Jackson said Chair. Then he played the song, but they had dubbed over the word child with some one who was clearly not Michael Jackson saying (not singing) “Chair”. I always thought it was: “but the KID is not my son.” Mary J. Blige: "for seven years I was your _sec a terry_ working every day of the week. She corrected it the second or third time she sang it, but man - it irks me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-irritating-weird-affected-pronunciation-in-a-song/351974.md?page=5)