Should an American sing Celtic music with an Irish accent?
Hi Someone Special, Actually either way may be fine. It depends somewhat on the medium. However, if there’s a definite “cultural association” with the particular song, it is a way to honor that culture by providing an authentic reproduction of it. For example, I’d always have a lyric baritone or tenor who is singing “On the street where you live” from My Fair Lady, sing it with an English brogue, and I’d have a female singer who sings “Show Me” from the same Musical do the English brogue with the Cockney accent in the appropriate place. If you’re singing Celtic music and it’s your intention to project something intentionally “Irish” then perform it convincingly with the accent. Just take care that you sound authentic. The very best singers are able to do this, and do it effectively. Obviously, there’s “art music” written by composers from Britain for example, that would not need to be sung with a British accent in America, because the music and poetry transcend a single culture. So, yo
