Q for all english native speakers

[Achim L]

Hi all,

I produced this band this year, and now we got some label interest. But one thing came up more than once. That the singer got a strong german accent and that they see real problems in marketing the band europeanwide. I fully understand this argument, and I and the band are willing to redo the vocals, with a native speaker as a coach, and mix the whole album again. But first I wanted to ask you guys how bad it really is.
As you see my english is also not the best.

Thanks a lot and every opinion is welcome
Achim

heres the link to their myspace site
http://www.myspace.com/sepcys

[foxyloxy]

Achim

I've encountered a similar issue within the 'world' music community, although it stems from the singer's English being too good. She's an African who was born and brought up in the US. She likes singing in English as well as her native language (Shona - from Zimbabwe). When she sings in English, she sounds like an American singer- from her accent to her phrasing. Labels would rather have her sing exclusively in her own language which the vast majority of people on the planet don't understand - simply because it's easier for them to sell the product to a particular niche market that sees Africans singing in English as not 'authentic'.

Singing in English wasn't really a problem with her first album which we did several years ago, but owing to the effect that the download explosion has had on retail sales, it is understandable that labels have now become increasingly nervous and difficult to please. We're seriously considering putting the new record out ourselves - online.

The biggest irony of all is that she just got two songs into this year's International Songwriting Competition semi-finals, one of which is now in the finals - AND THEY'RE BOTH IN ENGLISH!

Good luck!

keith
www.chiwoniso.com

[guerillamixer]

I can't get that dang myspace player going...I'm such a luddite.


I listened to CALEIDOSCOPE - SNIPPET VOM ROUGHMIX from their site.


I'm not european, but speak english natively.

I can't hear a problem.

The guy is growling and screaming his lungs out, and he's supposed to think about diction?

Maybe its a problem on other tracks, but not this one.

[Achim L]

Caleidoscope is also one of the tracks

Mainly the more spoken verses. I´m gettin mad about it, every time I hear the songs. One time I think who cares, but on the other side I´m willing to do everything to put this guys a step further.
So I think it would be the best to just redo some of the vocals, and decide then.

Thanks. Anyone else?
Achim

[sssoundsss]

Native english here - listened to it - tell the record company to stop being such a bunch of dicks - native english speakers might hear it but will prolly like it - for my money a bit of Germanic-ness kinda suits the style and makes it cool - non native speakers won't hear the accent.........good luck!

[guerillamixer]

Doesn't the guy from rammstein have a thick accent?

Are are huge internationally?

[Achim L]

Yeah, they also got this old accent in german

and they sing in german, or did they translate their stuff for the international market. I don´t know?

[guerillamixer]

No translations of the stuff I've heard.

IMHO its kinda pointless to translate a teutonic metal song...

A pop market with a pop song makes sense though..

[Achim L]

Rammstein is AFAIK the only successful german band in America (speakin rock). And I would have wondered if they translate their stuff to english. The rollin rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr is probably what you guys wanna hear

[kats]

Barely bloody noticable. Where I do notice it, I like it. If you redo it you'll ruin it IMO. Adds character.

But then, you sound like a sell out willing to bend over for label interest. So I;d redo it, sound like everyone else and get swept under the rug.

Ok scenario 2. Tell this label that "I" said if they were actually decent "marketers" they would figure out how to use this as a marketing tool as opposed to a handicap.

It's a ****en natural if you have half a brain.

[Achim L]

Originally Posted by kats

Barely bloody noticable. Where I do notice it, I like it. If you redo it you'll ruin it IMO. Adds character.

But then, you sound like a sell out willing to bend over for label interest. So I;d redo it, sound like everyone else and get swept under the rug.

Ok scenario 2. Tell this label that "I" said if they were actually decent "marketers" they would figure out how to use this as a marketing tool as opposed to a handicap.

It's a ****en natural if you have half a brain.

Kats,

thanks for your open words. Perhaps I couldn´t make my thoughts clear enough. There is no bending over or a will to sell out (OK moneys not that bad ). When an A&R tells me that he can´t sign the band because of the accent of the singer, I know that he will never sign them.
My only intention was to get some statements to the topic, to make sure for me and the band, how bad it really is for native speakers.
All you guys say, **** it, it doesn´t matter. That´s what I needed to go on.

Thanks Achim (still tryin to awake the other half of his brain )

[Alécio Costa]

I prefer to sing in english over my native language, concerning the music style I am doing.

I have never lived in the USA or England but started studying english at the age of 10, up to 18.

I hope you guys can understand what I am singing at the song "3x Love".
http://www.audiostreet.net/artist.aspx?artistid=38915

It has reached top charts recently. The other songs are in portuguese. You may not understand the lyrics, but be my guest!!

thanks for the attention!

[Mindcore]

My gut tells me to say don't change it. Personally if given that choice, I would leave it and let the chips fall where they may.

Rammstein released at least one song in english Du Hast. "I Hate" if I recall.

Edit: I forgot to mention, the english version sucks compared to original

[Achim L]

Thanks guys,

on the weekend we decided to change some verses. Because now it become so obvious to everybody that we really hate it. I´m sure it´s the right decision, the guys from the band would never be happy with it, and so we redo it. It´s not that much work. I have printed a lot of different stems, intrumentals, playbacks, PB with bgv and so on. So it´s easy to put the new parts in. My old-fashioned way of total recall

Thanks a lot for your input
Achim

[opentune]

Hey Achim,

the world´s a small place! I can clearly remember the name
of your studio (schaltraum) on your business card...
We met at a show you did for the band "Pfeffer". It´s quite
a while ago... I was the guy that did the "FOH Betreuung"...

Man, i don´t remember the date... 4 years ago...???

Best Regards
Stephan

ps. i hope i don´t confuse you with some one else

[Achim L]

Hi Stephan,

that´s right. pm´d you.

[Alécio Costa]

has anyone listened to my stuff?
thanks