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Thread started 01/21/07 7:29am

sexyAuntyFuka

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Does Prince Fake his accent

Considering where Minneapolis is in the United states its always seemed strange 2 me that P talks like he's from Alabama or some other place in the deep south




Is he putting on the accent 2 sound more cool...I remember his Dad being interviewed on radio and he didn't have a trace of that southern accent...so where'd he get it from...did P watch Gone with the Wind 1 2 many times or something? hmm

I heard in a documentary that Michael Jackson puts on his infamous high voice ...what next...Madonna's real accent is bomberclart Jamaican? neutral
Wake up children, dance the dance electric... there isn't much time.... who farted? whofarted ...was it u? disbelief
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Reply #1 posted 01/21/07 8:00am

XxAxX

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he doesn't speak with a southern accent at all
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Reply #2 posted 01/21/07 8:04am

wonder505

this thread is very odd.
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Reply #3 posted 01/21/07 8:18am

BeautifulOneJe
m

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Ive never heard him speak with an accent. rolleyes
Did you order a pizza ma'am? Prince- UTCM
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Reply #4 posted 01/21/07 8:30am

Graycap23

?????
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Reply #5 posted 01/21/07 8:33am

2elijah

lol ? From listening to him speak on television and at the shows...I never hear a southern accent at all
[Edited 1/21/07 8:37am]
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Reply #6 posted 01/21/07 8:39am

skywalker

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Follow me on this:

Prince is a performer. Sometimes he uses different, voice inflections, enunciations, pronunciations, and usage of grammar. He does this to convey humor, attitude,soul, etc. Sometimes he does is while singing, sometimes while talking during his performances. Sometimes he uses a haughty faux English accent, sometimes he uses street slang/ebonics. It depends what he is trying to convey.

Many artists/singers/performers do this. Do you think all country singers have a natural twang in their voice? No. Do all rappers have broken english when they use their natural speaking voice? Nope. In linguistics terms this is called "code switching". It's simply speaking/sininging differently for different situations. It's mostly about style.

Bottom line: I've never heard use a "fake accent" when speaking plainly (ala Madonna). However, Prince often employs different "voices" when performing/singing for theatrical effect.

[Edited 1/21/07 8:40am]
"New Power slide...."
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Reply #7 posted 01/21/07 8:52am

SexyBeautifulO
ne

WTF?

You've never actually talked to a real 'Southerner' have you?
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Reply #8 posted 01/21/07 9:04am

ufoclub

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Excellent topic that most people don't even think about.

On bootlegs during rehearsals, you can clearly hear the Minnosota accent on Prince. I remember listening to a bootleg in the car, and my friend heard this nerdy accented voice speak about something technical about the playing, and he cracked up. He was like "that's Prince?" laughing. From his persepctive Prince was always this super-reclusive, trying-to-be-uber-cool, mysterious guy... so hearing that voice was like a joke in a comedy movie to him, where when an iconic character speaks, it's a ridiculous voice.

You can barely hear his Minnasota voice at the beginning of Irristible bitch "turn down (or is it up?) the vocals" and his vocal styling on "Dead On It" is very much like his "natural" voice.

It seems to me that normally when Prince speaks and he knows he's being heard, he alters his tone and accent to sound more cool and hip, It used to be this kind of pseudo deep romantic euro tone, these days it's a very urban "with it" tone with tons of slang or euphamisms.

He's a performer. "Life ain't no fun without fantasy" - prince
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Reply #9 posted 01/21/07 9:13am

Giovanni777

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skywalker said:

Follow me on this:

Prince is a performer. Sometimes he uses different, voice inflections, enunciations, pronunciations, and usage of grammar. He does this to convey humor, attitude,soul, etc. Sometimes he does is while singing, sometimes while talking during his performances. Sometimes he uses a haughty faux English accent, sometimes he uses street slang/ebonics. It depends what he is trying to convey.

Many artists/singers/performers do this. Do you think all country singers have a natural twang in their voice? No. Do all rappers have broken english when they use their natural speaking voice? Nope. In linguistics terms this is called "code switching". It's simply speaking/sininging differently for different situations. It's mostly about style.

Bottom line: I've never heard use a "fake accent" when speaking plainly (ala Madonna). However, Prince often employs different "voices" when performing/singing for theatrical effect.

[Edited 1/21/07 8:40am]


2 this I'd like 2 add that Prince is very flexable linguistically, and can switch character voices in an instant. The poster is reffering 2 the times in interviews, etc, where Prince dips into some street, that's all. Alot of us do this... it's very common, and especially with someone like Prince who, as an artist, and one who expresses, and perhaps thinks in characters, also has a sharp sense of humor.
"He's a musician's musician..."
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Reply #10 posted 01/21/07 9:17am

Imago

Prince absolutely hates his fans, and we love him for that!
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Reply #11 posted 01/21/07 9:20am

Handclapsfinga
snapz

sexyAuntyFuka said:

Considering where Minneapolis is in the United states its always seemed strange 2 me that P talks like he's from Alabama or some other place in the deep south

not surprising, as you gotta take into account that both of his parents were originally from louisiana. i can definitely hear that in his voice sometimes.
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Reply #12 posted 01/21/07 9:22am

Imago

I always thought that his current slick street vernacular was a bit fake--kind of like when Justin Timberlake talks--Justin, give it up! You're an Orlando kid!


I think his voice is most authentic in Purple Rain when he yells to his dad "Where are you? Answer me motherfucker!!!!"
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Reply #13 posted 01/21/07 9:27am

FruitToAttract
Bears

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His Minnesotan accent is really good...listen to Zannalee

I'd say his regular voice isn't really Southern or Minnesotan or what have you...it's just "nerd." That's prolly the best way to describe it...
"18 years old, and she knows her funk!!! headbang"
~ funkpill
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Reply #14 posted 01/21/07 9:37am

Graycap23

Giovanni777 said:

skywalker said:

Follow me on this:

Prince is a performer. Sometimes he uses different, voice inflections, enunciations, pronunciations, and usage of grammar. He does this to convey humor, attitude,soul, etc. Sometimes he does is while singing, sometimes while talking during his performances. Sometimes he uses a haughty faux English accent, sometimes he uses street slang/ebonics. It depends what he is trying to convey.

Many artists/singers/performers do this. Do you think all country singers have a natural twang in their voice? No. Do all rappers have broken english when they use their natural speaking voice? Nope. In linguistics terms this is called "code switching". It's simply speaking/sininging differently for different situations. It's mostly about style.

Bottom line: I've never heard use a "fake accent" when speaking plainly (ala Madonna). However, Prince often employs different "voices" when performing/singing for theatrical effect.

[Edited 1/21/07 8:40am]


2 this I'd like 2 add that Prince is very flexable linguistically, and can switch character voices in an instant. The poster is reffering 2 the times in interviews, etc, where Prince dips into some street, that's all. Alot of us do this... it's very common, and especially with someone like Prince who, as an artist, and one who expresses, and perhaps thinks in characters, also has a sharp sense of humor.



There u go.....exactly RIGHT.
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Reply #15 posted 01/21/07 9:39am

Imago

God I would love to hear David Bowie talk street. It would be a life long dream.
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Reply #16 posted 01/21/07 9:44am

ufoclub

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FruitToAttractBears said:

His Minnesotan accent is really good...listen to Zannalee

I'd say his regular voice isn't really Southern or Minnesotan or what have you...it's just "nerd." That's prolly the best way to describe it...


true, it's a nerdy, almost beady voice, but I clearly hear the Minnesotan accent on bootlegs... not as heavy as Fargo, but it's there...
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Reply #17 posted 01/21/07 9:47am

Giovanni777

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Graycap23 said:

Giovanni777 said:



2 this I'd like 2 add that Prince is very flexable linguistically, and can switch character voices in an instant. The poster is reffering 2 the times in interviews, etc, where Prince dips into some street, that's all. Alot of us do this... it's very common, and especially with someone like Prince who, as an artist, and one who expresses, and perhaps thinks in characters, also has a sharp sense of humor.



There u go.....exactly RIGHT.


I know U know, Gray... in fact, we talked about this.
"He's a musician's musician..."
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Reply #18 posted 01/21/07 10:06am

babynoz

Giovanni777 said:

skywalker said:

Follow me on this:

Prince is a performer. Sometimes he uses different, voice inflections, enunciations, pronunciations, and usage of grammar. He does this to convey humor, attitude,soul, etc. Sometimes he does is while singing, sometimes while talking during his performances. Sometimes he uses a haughty faux English accent, sometimes he uses street slang/ebonics. It depends what he is trying to convey.

Many artists/singers/performers do this. Do you think all country singers have a natural twang in their voice? No. Do all rappers have broken english when they use their natural speaking voice? Nope. In linguistics terms this is called "code switching". It's simply speaking/sininging differently for different situations. It's mostly about style.

Bottom line: I've never heard use a "fake accent" when speaking plainly (ala Madonna). However, Prince often employs different "voices" when performing/singing for theatrical effect.

[Edited 1/21/07 8:40am]


2 this I'd like 2 add that Prince is very flexable linguistically, and can switch character voices in an instant. The poster is reffering 2 the times in interviews, etc, where Prince dips into some street, that's all. Alot of us do this... it's very common, and especially with someone like Prince who, as an artist, and one who expresses, and perhaps thinks in characters, also has a sharp sense of humor.




So true. I do the same thing myself depending on who I'm speaking to and what I'm trying to express. P has a great ear for linguistics and a vivid imagination for characters. I've heard him do everything from hillbilly to wise guy and he cracks me up because he's really good at it. Like handclap said, having roots in Louisiana, southern speech probably comes easily to him.

If you wanna hear Minnesota, ask him to say "water" and there it is. cool
Prince, in you I found a kindred spirit...Rest In Paradise.
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Reply #19 posted 01/21/07 10:08am

VenusBlingBlin
g

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FruitToAttractBears said:

His Minnesotan accent is really good...listen to Zannalee

I'd say his regular voice isn't really Southern or Minnesotan or what have you...it's just "nerd." That's prolly the best way to describe it...


How the heck is his regular voice/accent nerdy?? To me it's the opposite of nerdy.... confuse
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Reply #20 posted 01/21/07 10:12am

FruitToAttract
Bears

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VenusBlingBling said:

FruitToAttractBears said:

His Minnesotan accent is really good...listen to Zannalee

I'd say his regular voice isn't really Southern or Minnesotan or what have you...it's just "nerd." That's prolly the best way to describe it...


How the heck is his regular voice/accent nerdy?? To me it's the opposite of nerdy.... confuse


Have you heard many boots? Go listen to the one where he's teaching the band Another Lonely Christmas and he's like "Didja warm your voice up before you came? 'Course ya did. Trust me I'm a musician! *nerdy laugh*" <<< NERD!

Or the Lovesexy rehersals where he's telling the band about Weird Al's "I'm Fat" video, "OMG and he was wearing this giant fatsuit LOLZ!" <<< NERD!
[Edited 1/21/07 10:14am]
"18 years old, and she knows her funk!!! headbang"
~ funkpill
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Reply #21 posted 01/21/07 10:20am

sexyAuntyFuka

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VenusBlingBling said:

FruitToAttractBears said:

His Minnesotan accent is really good...listen to Zannalee

I'd say his regular voice isn't really Southern or Minnesotan or what have you...it's just "nerd." That's prolly the best way to describe it...


How the heck is his regular voice/accent nerdy?? To me it's the opposite of nerdy.... confuse



I wonder if this is the real reason he uses that deep voice over in songs on the Rainbow Children, Bob George, In all my dreams etc..cos sub-conciously Prince is a bit embarrassed of his accent and voice tone and changes both accent and tone deeper and deep south to sound and feel more macho...it seems 2 me that P had 2 deal with being shorter than every1 else in school...his change of accent probably helped him appear bigger, more masculine.

Its the same in the UK...we used 2 have even the poshest Londoner talking with an East end 'cockney' accent 2 sound tough...then when Oasisd were big in the 90's everyone pretended to have a Northern accent like there were from Manchester..

Now and most embarrassingly annoying of all we have 'Jafaican'..A mix of USA, Cockney and Jamaican ebonics that has 2 be heard 2 be belived.. got Prince Harry 3rd in line 2 the thrown asking his gran mama the Queen "Wha Gwan" and shit lol


.
[Edited 1/21/07 10:22am]
Wake up children, dance the dance electric... there isn't much time.... who farted? whofarted ...was it u? disbelief
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Reply #22 posted 01/21/07 10:27am

sexyAuntyFuka

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No offence Handsclap & co. but if you want street cred there aint much in announcing y'all from Minneopolis..

Can U imagine Eazy E and Ice Cube back in the day rapping..."Straight outta St. Paul crazy muthafuka named Ice Cube from a gang called middle-class afro-Americans with Attitudes" neutral


Wake up children, dance the dance electric... there isn't much time.... who farted? whofarted ...was it u? disbelief
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Reply #23 posted 01/21/07 10:32am

VenusBlingBlin
g

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sexyAuntyFuka said:

VenusBlingBling said:



How the heck is his regular voice/accent nerdy?? To me it's the opposite of nerdy.... confuse



I wonder if this is the real reason he uses that deep voice over in songs on the Rainbow Children, Bob George, In all my dreams etc..cos sub-conciously Prince is a bit embarrassed of his accent and voice tone and changes both accent and tone deeper and deep south to sound and feel more macho...it seems 2 me that P had 2 deal with being shorter than every1 else in school...his change of accent probably helped him appear bigger, more masculine.

Its the same in the UK...we used 2 have even the poshest Londoner talking with an East end 'cockney' accent 2 sound tough...then when Oasisd were big in the 90's everyone pretended to have a Northern accent like there were from Manchester..

Now and most embarrassingly annoying of all we have 'Jafaican'..A mix of USA, Cockney and Jamaican ebonics that has 2 be heard 2 be belived.. got Prince Harry 3rd in line 2 the thrown asking his gran mama the Queen "Wha Gwan" and shit lol

.
[Edited 1/21/07 10:22am]


falloff
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Reply #24 posted 01/21/07 10:33am

VenusBlingBlin
g

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FruitToAttractBears said:

VenusBlingBling said:



How the heck is his regular voice/accent nerdy?? To me it's the opposite of nerdy.... confuse


Have you heard many boots? Go listen to the one where he's teaching the band Another Lonely Christmas and he's like "Didja warm your voice up before you came? 'Course ya did. Trust me I'm a musician! *nerdy laugh*" <<< NERD!

Or the Lovesexy rehersals where he's telling the band about Weird Al's "I'm Fat" video, "OMG and he was wearing this giant fatsuit LOLZ!" <<< NERD!
[Edited 1/21/07 10:14am]


No, I haven't... Thanks for the info wink

But there it is him acting, fooling around. In all the interviews I've seen him he doesn't sound nerdy at all. He's got a deep voice, that's all I notice.
[Edited 1/21/07 10:51am]
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Reply #25 posted 01/21/07 10:45am

JonnyApplesauc
e

Wow, although hes had alot of fun knowing people are hanging on his every word its not nearly as contrived and methodical as yall think. I dont believe anyway. Listen to Jimmy Jam, Jerome, Pepe, Jellybean, Andre, Terry, Morris, Sheila, even Monte Moir speak. Same click, same flow. Please stop, and take off that tin foil hat you messing up my dsl
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Reply #26 posted 01/21/07 11:52am

Negritaluvyu

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Prince has an accent ?
Your lips would make a lollipop too happy.
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Reply #27 posted 01/21/07 12:14pm

2elijah

In the past and just recently when I seen him perform, Prince had absolutely no problem telling the audience "Shoo...I don't care...I'm from Minneapolis!"...and he had no problem giving us some of that Minneapolis sound with his guitar and of course he gave it to us good..... guitar
[Edited 1/21/07 12:17pm]
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Reply #28 posted 01/21/07 12:14pm

powerfantastic
2000

Oh Yah I'm From Minnesohtah
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Reply #29 posted 01/21/07 1:11pm

dearlybeloved

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His minnesota accent is adorable. What fake accent??
1 Thessalonians 5:23
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