singing my song
I caught myself singing along to an English song. again.
*stop*
I can't go on. Once I realize that I am singing, i must stop. Well, its not that I am a terrible singer (not to my own ears anyways) or that i have any social qualms (quite on the contrary, I might sing loudly in crowded places just because I can) but its simply the fact that it sounds weird coming out of my mouth. You see, my English and the American/British English is wildly different from each other. Inadvertently I find myself trying to ape an accent that's not mine and I feel ridiculous.
*stop*
So while Indian English is almost my first language, i don't have a single art/ cultural reference to it apart from some stand up comedy. (and none of them unconscious of the accent. instead, more often than not, they are conscious jokes on the accent) I have no songs to sing in my natural English accent and language.
I can sing truly to Hindi or Marathi songs. but half the lyrics would be lost on me due to my shallow appreciation of these rich languages.
Its like I am culturally orphan (that I was not until a while back, until English edged out Marathi from my conscious, from my thought language). I have a whole world in front of me to appreciate and I do. But there's some emptiness because a song doesn't play easily on my lip in my daily language. Its weird, the fact that the language that lends 'upward mobility' and a sense of self worth to millions of our generation can't use the same language convincingly to celebrate the joy of 'having arrived'.
Correct if i am wrong. Is it easy for you to flex those accent muscles in your tongue? Or even if it is easy, do you do it without any qualms?
_____
Another peeve
I get pissed when I write correct English spellings and the spell check asks me to correct them in favour of American English spellings. Guess I hate American imperialism more than the dead British one.
*stop*
I can't go on. Once I realize that I am singing, i must stop. Well, its not that I am a terrible singer (not to my own ears anyways) or that i have any social qualms (quite on the contrary, I might sing loudly in crowded places just because I can) but its simply the fact that it sounds weird coming out of my mouth. You see, my English and the American/British English is wildly different from each other. Inadvertently I find myself trying to ape an accent that's not mine and I feel ridiculous.
*stop*
So while Indian English is almost my first language, i don't have a single art/ cultural reference to it apart from some stand up comedy. (and none of them unconscious of the accent. instead, more often than not, they are conscious jokes on the accent) I have no songs to sing in my natural English accent and language.
I can sing truly to Hindi or Marathi songs. but half the lyrics would be lost on me due to my shallow appreciation of these rich languages.
Its like I am culturally orphan (that I was not until a while back, until English edged out Marathi from my conscious, from my thought language). I have a whole world in front of me to appreciate and I do. But there's some emptiness because a song doesn't play easily on my lip in my daily language. Its weird, the fact that the language that lends 'upward mobility' and a sense of self worth to millions of our generation can't use the same language convincingly to celebrate the joy of 'having arrived'.
Correct if i am wrong. Is it easy for you to flex those accent muscles in your tongue? Or even if it is easy, do you do it without any qualms?
_____
Another peeve
I get pissed when I write correct English spellings and the spell check asks me to correct them in favour of American English spellings. Guess I hate American imperialism more than the dead British one.
Comments
Bwahahahaha!
unfair. there are very very few people who can sing as well as you do. its like comparing Teachers scotch to Royal stag. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PFURM9eA_Q 'if you come today'.
'my heart is beating' from Julie..
any more ? :P