Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Dulcet Tones


Dulcet Tones

If one chances to catch what passes for television entertainment these days, one cannot help but be exposed to the sad virus that seems to have grievously infected the voices of a great percentage of American females.  In what is perhaps best labeled “The Kardashian Effect”, scores of young women seem to have sacrificed any attempt at mellifluous speech for the odd and infinitely annoying noise that emanates from these three, oddly Macbethian, sisters that rule the realm of celebrity from atop their lucrative mound of inanity.  Once, the sound of these three (which can only be described as a quacking of sorts, blended liberally with a painful rasping whine that is powerful enough to strip paint off any passing vehicle)  seemed to be an anomaly, heard only if one chanced upon their “reality” television show by accident and was unable to move one’s fingers quickly enough to change the channel before one’s ears were assaulted.  These days though, I’m sorry to report, this newfangled squawk is being heard with more frequency, from the lowly commercial to the six o’clock news.  It’s practically rampant on the Home and Garden channel.

Now I realize I am walking perilously close to the edge of that suspect set of opinions that tend to define one’s age.  If I say Justin Bieber possesses not a scintilla of talent, for instance, you know automatically I am well past my teen years.  Or if I tell you I think Miley Cyrus should be jerked off her current tour and thrown into a strict gruel-serving boarding school for the next twelve or so years, you would guess I am out of my twenties.  So it’s possible, I suppose, that the current fingernails-on-chalkboard sound with which so many young women are attempting to communicate is actually appealing to other, younger, people.  But before they slide all the way into this cacophonous pit, I beg to remind them of some of the more individual, silvery,  harmonious voices; voices that have managed to successfully communicate with sound as well as words.  Think of Lauren Bacall’s sultry tones.  Or Billie Burke’s whimsical lilt, see the end of my last post for that.  Cate Blanchett, Grace Kelly, Annette Bening, Joanne Woodward.  Each voice distinct; each voice captivating.  

I suppose what I lament more than the disappearing honeyed tone of voice is the encroaching  homogenization in our culture. Everyone wants to be like everyone else.  This is nothing new of course, it just seems a bit more prevalent these days.  As someone who revels in individuality in all its technicolour forms, I think a person’s voice should be as unique as their opinions.  Growing up in the South I was privileged to hear many varied accents, some as thick as sorghum syrup on a cold day. Women would tend and cultivate a voice in the same way they honed a personal style. There were ladies whose speech sounded more like music than lyric; teachers who could render my three syllable first name into something much longer and grander than  what appeared on the page.  One rarely hears such accents today and I must confess that I miss them.  After all, none other than that bulldog of a Brit, Winston Churchill, once said, “The most beautiful voice in the world is that of an educated Southern woman”.  

Of course I myself think I have no true Southern accent anymore.  But I was proved wrong one bright September morning in the tiny village of Ballantrae, Scotland.  I’d come into the local post office to mail some letters and the young man working there asked me where I was from.  I told him and he remarked on my “Southern accent”.  I told him I didn’t think I had an accent, to which he replied, in the thickest Scottish brogue imaginable, that he didn’t have one either.  We both looked at each other in amazement for a long minute, then fell about laughing.  

In celebration of the truly original voice, 
here’s one of the most charming ones I’ve ever heard,
 and such a delightful example of a true Yorkshire accent. 
 Eat your heart out, Kim Kardashian.



33 comments:

  1. This is a great post, and I agree with your ideas for Beiber and Miley Cyrus. She needs help! I have not heard the Kardashians but I am sure you are right. Ah for dulcet vocal tones to return.

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  2. Took all the kids to Boston once on the way to the Vineyard and my son-in-law remarked, "do you think we should try to talk and sound different?" I laughed and told him I'm sure they'll notice our Okie lilt anyway. Before long, someone asked us if we were southern; from Mississippi or somewhere like that. We thought we didn't have much of an accent. Like Kristen Chenowith, we can still talk like Okies when we want to. PS - the lady singing Frozen at the academy awards was my chalkboard moment.

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  3. What a smashing little film, I watched it all the way through. Such a sweet little girl from up t'north.
    I'm a Southern girl myself, from England though not America.

    Jean x

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  4. Absolutely love every one of your posts, so beautifully written! My husband and I owned radio stations for years and once you are in the radio business you're always hoping to "hear voices" of the kind that tell you the voice was just made for radio. I myself don't happen to have one of those voices and always wanted to take speech and singing lessons to improve but never found the time or the finances to do so but remain in a sort of admiring enviousness of those who have lovely speaking voices. A twenty-something in my current office (not radio related!) has adopted the Kardashian style and it is utterly cringe-worthy especially if that person happens to answer a phone call from a client - but I like to think it's a voice quite discouraging to telemarketers!

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  5. Oh Pamela, I love your phrase "their lucrative mound of inanity". What a hoot! Working at home, I listen to the radio all day and find myself frequently annoyed at the childish sounding voices emanating from the mouths of grown women. The other unattractive "trend" in young women's voices --- and this was discussed not long ago on NPR --- is a kind of elision which results in the final consonant of some words being lost in a sort of croak.

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  6. I so enjoyed the video - what an adorable child!
    We just had this discussion (about women's voices) at our home, last week. The high-pitched whine is exceedingly hard to listen to. I've also noticed that people, in general, are not enunciating their words and I will, sometimes, have to ask them to repeat what they said. No, I am not hard of hearing -I've had it checked :)

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  7. As the proud owner of a very Southern accent it amazes me how even relatives, who grew up in Georgia, have worked so hard to erase their drawl. My accent is ME! Friends of relatives will ask me to talk so they can hear my "cute' accent and often I feel that they equate a Southern accent with stupidity. It is a shame that being a individual is out of style.

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  8. Really enjoyed reading this post, thanks Pamela.
    But then my educated Yorkshire grandmother worked hard to ensure that neither she nor my mother spoke with a Yorkshire accent. When I was a child, regional accents were relatively rare on the BBC. Granny had a colour TV before my parents did and my brother and I used to visit her to watch the cricket. Whenever the well known cricketer Freddy Trueman, came into the commentary box and offered opinions in his distinctive Yorkshire voice, Granny would tut disapprovingly and say "I don't know why they allow that man on television. People will think everyone from Yorkshire talks like that!"
    Thus proving the truth of George Bernard Shaw's famous quote: "It is impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without making some other Englishman hate or despise him."
    Cheers! Gail.

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  9. This subject is one of my pet peeves. Is it just me, or is everyone in America becoming more and more nasal? Men and women...painful. I listen to the BBC news now because I can only tolerate so much scraping on the chalkboard...and I was born and raised in Texas! For pure delight, I recommend Lisa Eldridge (a famous British makeup artist). Not only is she amazing, but her voice is just lyrical. Here is a sample- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZUBXuJfXh4#t=33

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  10. OH MY, THIS POST IS WONDERFUL, AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU WROTE IS RIGHT ON! LOVED IT

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  11. oh good grief charlie brown!
    i care not one whit if it ages me... i think it more a matter of taste. there is none! no uniqueness. no softness. only hard.
    and scraping. and a cross between 'valley girl' and slutty celebrity. sad in the extreme.
    you hit the grinding nail right on the head! LOLOL. a wonderful post.

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  12. I have a southern accent + trying to keep it! love this post + can't think of a better way to describe kardashian voice than “The Kardashian Effect”. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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  13. Pamela, you are not alone in mourning the loss of substance in many aspects of society. Quality television has been replaced with tawdry, repulsive reality shows....and I don't give a hoot how old that makes me sound. Angela Muller

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  14. Wonderful post and I agree with every word. We have lost so much of value over the past few decades in our society, including the "art of speech". I am enthralled when I hear a soft, soothing voice on a woman OR a man. I often listen to audio books from Librivox just to hear a reader whose voice is particularly calming. A nasal screechy voice is as disturbing to me as rap music.. so I guess you can predict my age, as well. As far as southern accents, some of the nicest voices on earth come from Richmond Va. By the way, You are a fantastic writer.

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  15. I wouldn't know how the Kardashians sound because I haven't paid them the slightest attention ever. However, I can't help but notice, since we watch a lot of Turner Classic Movies mostly from the 30's, 40's, and early 50's, that the women actors' voices sounded so much more, well, cultured, for lack of a better word. Watched "Laura" recently with Gene Tierney, who had such a lovely voice.

    That video clip was priceless. Reminds me of my granddaughter who at two likes to talk and has facial expressions very reminiscent of this. I can see her being like this in a couple of years - without the Yorkshire accent, but, hopefully a southern one (Daddy's southern, but Mommy isn't). Also hoping she'll learn to control the volume some by then.

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  16. I always enjoy reading your posts. I was a northerner up until 20 some years ago and then moved to the south. A few years ago I was afforded the luxury of visiting my old friends from back home and the first thing they all commented on was my southern accent to which my reply was, "I do?!" It's interesting how others hear us but we really don't hear ourselves. I seldom watch TV, so thank you for reminding me of what I am not missing.

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  17. You my dear are SPOT on with EVERYTHING YOU SAY!I couldn't agree with you more...............please please lets find some old world talent that is not consumed with themselves!TODAYS STARS.............are the bottom of the pit!

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  18. Is there any other accent as lovely as a Southern one ?

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  19. Love that Yorkshire accent! And yes, I find the accent of so many young women today annoying as well. I've especially noticed the froggy croak that so many use. What's with that? I've never heard of anyone else mentioning this. Do you think the Kardashians and their ilk will still be speaking the same way when they're 80? That would be pretty bizarre - "Oh my gawd!!!! This nursing home food is, like, grrrrosss!"

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  20. Delightful Pamela - of course I am surrounded by this accent every day! I do agree with you. When I read articles about so-called 'stars' these days, I have never heard of any of them!

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  21. After a long day at work today I'm sitting at my laptop. Something told me to check out your writing and I am so glad I did (as usual). You brought up something that I've not heard any one write about and you have hit the nail on the head so perfectly (oh and a big I agree regarding Miss Cyrus!). My husband & I had a similar conversation a few weeks ago about the Scottish accent. I have noticed that young adults here in Aberdeen do not have the same thick Scottish brogue (yes, like that man you met in Ballantrae!) like their parents, grandparents. My husband and I had the conversation as to why his siblings do not have a strong accent like his parents. He thinks it is because they work in the business world (oil and investments); the fact that a person will not go far not speaking the true 'Queens English'. This I understand, but it is also sad that once gone those accents will be forgotten by most going forward. When at work I often get told by people that they love my accent. Coming from the West Coast I really never thought I had one, at least not a beautiful Southern accent like you must have Pamela. Thanks for the great read tonight and yes, we are becoming a world of people that are homogenized. Cheers!

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  22. I loved the video, I wish if I had an accent it could be Yorkshire accent. I agree with you, it's a sad comment that so many "celebrities" sound so much alike. I don't watch programs like the Kardashians...too annoying...I don't care if that makes me sound old or not. :-)
    Karen

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  23. I do despair of the inanity of some of the "younger set." It does make me wonder about the future but one just has to live their own life. I have found that the best thing is to read, read, read and keep the television off as much as possible. This keeps my blood pressure down. The knowledge of history and geography are lacking in an abundance in the United States. Europe, being older and having been through so much more, seems to delight in the simplicities of books, art, music, and a bouquet of flowers. The materialism is so rampant here among the "haves." I have noticed as I have grown older that less is more. I wish I had know this at a younger age but I guess wisdom comes with living. Celebrities last a heartbeat and then they are gone. I have never figured out what the Kardashians have done to make them so famous. You wrote a beautiful post.

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  24. I am Catherine from Sydney. I so agree with your posting. I am afraid I have taken to call the three said sisters, "The Californian trollops", which prompted my much younger colleagues to ask "What's a trollop?". I am also showing my age.
    This week I have noticed on Australian television, that young(er) women have taken to say, at the drop of a hat and for some widely various & obscure reasons, "OMG, I think I am going to cry". Why, oh why is everybody crying, no backbone in the younger generation!!!!

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  25. After a surfeit of Kardashians, relax with -- THE BBC SHIPPING FORECAST! Little more soothing than that, and the music ("OMG I think I am going to cry" might be appropriate in describing the music but likely little else!) From Sarahkate in Oregon USA (listening to the BBC Shipping Forecast online every night)

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  26. The only thing I can say to this post is AMEN !

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  27. I have managed to escape hearing the Kardashians themselves.

    My Scottish-accented daughter was told in Canada that her accent is that of a rich Canadian. Unfortunately the rich part isn't true, although since she intends to emigrate the Canadian part might be in due course.

    The Shipping Forecast is sheer poetry. I wrote a post about it: http://occasionalscotland.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/cosy.html

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  28. Great post! I was born in Derbyshire in the UK (very near Yorkshire!) but don't have a regional accent as such. But loved Bouncing Bertie's comment (incidentally, my spaniel is called Bertie). I now live in Melbourne, Australia, where I stand out as having a British accent. And, truth be told, I hang on to it rather than go all nasal and try and sound ocker. As Pamela pointed out the likes of Cate Blanchett have beautiful voices, but if you want to hear Australian at its worst, tune into Kath and Kim. Unlike the Kardashians, K and K is a fictionalised version of a 'Bogan' family in suburban Melbourne.

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  29. I could not agree with you more! A few months ago I heard a report somewhere, don't remember where, maybe NPR, about young women's voices nowadays. Something about how the voice has a sort of guttural rolling finish to it. I wish I could be more specific.

    I know exactly what you mean about HGTV. The voice of the woman who announces programs is very offensive. I have to mute it immediately. It seems to be the voice of the shopping, consuming populace today. Now, I won't get into the often offensive voices of the women on House Hunters International, either. They whine and expect everything to be their way. Once in a while there is a lovely woman
    who is not that way, but not often.
    I also have not experienced hearing or seeing the K's. just by avoiding it as much as I can.
    Sometimes I really want to get rid of my satellite TV. I think I am almost there.
    On a much more pleasant note, your doggie Edward is just adorable. What breed is he? His ears make me think of a Skye but he's much bigger than they usually are.

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  31. I had to correct some missing letters! I just Googled "guttural voice in young women." It's called "vocal fry" and was inspired/caused by
    pop stars.

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  32. The top of my list is......No problem! Excuse me, I'm purchasing something from this establishment you're not doing me a favor. When I do something as a favor for someone and they say OH thank you! Then I say Your more than welcome it's no bother at all. That really annoys me.

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!