Oh, dear. I can’t help noticing that British singer-songwriter Kate Nash has been taken to task elsewhere on Mog “for singing in her accent”. Allow me to retort.It’s not _her_ accent, it’s _somebody else’s_.That’s right, darlings, she’s faking it. Just like Bono’s American TV evangelist, Damon Albarn’s posh boy turned Essex lad, and, most recently, Alex Turner’s ongoing tongue-in-cheek impersonation of a miserable Sheffield steal worker (oh wait...that's his real personality).Kate’s a nice suburban girl who wants to sound like an working-class ne’er-do-well. And being a former student of drama, she’s doing a bang-up job. How can I be so sure? ‘Cause I accosted Ms. Nash, along with her sister and her parents, at her April gig in Dublin. And very lovely _thoroughly middle-class_ people they were, too. We all know that image is important in music. Kate is simply following the tried and true tradition of creating a public persona that people can identify with. But it doesn't mean her songs aren't 100% faithful to her life. Ah, Kate's songs. This girl writes pop records in the truest sense of the word; that is, they’re actually popular. And it’s nothing like the fare that usually clogs up the business end of the charts, either. For one, she sounds like a real human being, rather than a malfunctioning robot (Hello, Rhi-Rhi-Rhianna!). For two, she writes everything alone -- virtually unheard of for a 19 year-old in the world of pop.See, Kate had finished most of her album before the pony-tailed, dusty-nosed execs got hold of her. So these songs are highly idiosyncratic and deal in confused, conflicted and _blessedly human_ emotions (Not Hello, Chris Martin!). Along with this, she has a gift for simple, stick-in-the head melodies, a fine ear for everyday speech, and is a natural storyteller. She’s also got a strong and consistent point of view: Guys drive her demented (but it’s not always _their_ fault). And, praise be, she’s funny with it. A rare quality. Of course, the human factor brings with it imperfections. The girl doesn’t half like her repetition. She wilfully destroys lovely album ditty _Mariella_ with an insane same-word-over-and-over ending. And boy, does Kate lay on the cussing a bit strong. Not even her biggest fan will demand _Dickhead_ for their funeral mass.As for indie credibility, Nash doesn’t look for it. She already has a _bucketload_.The lead singer of the Cribs, the self-styled indie-est of all indie bands, is currently holding her hand in public and the rest of her in private. What’s more, former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown is this week trying to boost his album sales by gallantly slagging her off in the press. The girl’s made it!Still, unconvinced? Then listen to _We Get On_, a showtune by any other name that'll surely to goodness have to be released as a single so all the gay men and grandmothers can hear it. Without getting too technical, it's ace, tidy, and fan-fuckin-tabulous:Hated it? I give up.No, wait. Come back! I haven’t even mentioned Nash’s charming live performances: Still hate her? Then, head on over to Milkshake’s lovely Mog and join in her admittedly entertaining "singing in your accent":http://mog.com/milkshake/blog_post/112189 post. You have my blessings, if not my undying love. That, of course, goes to…my understanding girlfriend.
lucystarlite says
i stumbled on kate nash quite by accident, and enjoyed her enough to go out and get the album. this is a different version of we get on then i've heard before...very show-tune, whereas the version i have is stark and a bit more heartbreaking. i'm not sure if i like this take on it, though i can see it's pop-chart-ability.
i like her. and yet again, ian brown and i disagree, which sort of makes my day.
very keen post.
lucy.
FluxCapacitor says
Hey Lucy -- It's strange because the mp3 above is the album version of _We Get On_. Perhaps it was an earlier version you heard. For me, the tragicomic ending, "your eyes were too close together" et al precludes it from being a heartbreaker now! I find _Merry Happy_, and _Birds_ and, especially, _Nicest Thing_ quite moving. And you're in a beef with Ian Brown, eh? Don't worry he's tiny, I reckon you could take 'em...
FluxCapacitor says
@ Lucy - Thanks for the download! I've got most of her releases (internet and otherwise) but not that one. I'm pretty sure that's an early demo of the song, same lyrics without the mad ending and I notice it's called _We Go On_. Thanks again.
@ Lyrical - Glad you like her! Yep, it's a fair comparison. She was discovered through Lily Allen, having sent a demo to her MySpace. Although Kate's a bit more of a singer-songwriter type. I thoroughly recommend the album which gets released in America in early 2008 via Geffen.
darmuzz says
Sounds like she is doing an earnest impersonation rather than an ironic one. I wonder why - I can't see that she's making a point with it artistically. If I were cynical, I would say she is cashing in on the Alex Turner/Mike Skinner/Lily Allen/Lady Sovereign working class vibe.
I actually like Kate Nash, and had she emerged with her own accent from her real background in the UK, I probably wouldn't have noticed the difference. (Some of us North Americans can't tell Cockney from Scots). I guess the fake accent makes her sound "cuter" as in the video you posted.
Maybe another question is why generations of UK singers have put on a bland American accent to sell records.
So my final opinion on the accent is...harmless?
Dale says
Maybe I'll try another song when she gets the potty mouth under control. And Uan Brown is slagging her for publicity? Really?!? Dude, you released the most enduring document of Madchester, try riding that for a while. Tsk tsk.
FluxCapacitor says
@ Darmuzz - Yeah, I agree. The accent not being a big thing is what I was getting at in my post. It's an exaggeration rather than completely fake, and she has such a good ear for it that I imagine that she's surrounded by those accents all the time. There's also the possibility that she was on her best behavior in front of her parents when I met her...!
@ Dale - Yeah, it's in the NME this week. I thought it was particularly sad and desperate. He should pick on somebody his own size (4ft 3").
Marigold says
Flux. loved this. Never heard of her. or have I? Either way, I like this. I will try to find some more.
Speaking of Ian, his new record is not that good. Have you heard it? I have only heard it once but overall it was not doing much for me. He is such shit talker. Is he really only 4ft 3?
Marigold says
oh, I forgot to say. I would pay to see our Lucy take on Ian. That would be fun. They could have a writing compitition. Lucy would destroy him!
I am not a super big lyrics person. I more get into the music of most bands I like. But Ian Brown writes some of the stupidest lyrics ever. (this is coming from the hugest SR fan ever) His solo records are terrible. Do we need anymore songs with lyrics about the sun going up or down?
FluxCapacitor says
Hey, Mike - Nah, Ian's not that small (I think!) but he seems very slight in real life (aren't they all?). Haven't heard the new album but I really liked the first solo one. Sort of lost interest after a while but I have mates who still worship him. He's good to see live because he does Roses tracks which are magical to hear I must admit (even though it's kind of second-hand.) I do love _F.E.A.R_, though, the best thing he's written since _I Am The Resurrection_
Re. Kate, I'm suprised you like this, so fair play to you! This is her super-catchy new single (in which she carries on the theatrical fun by appearing on stage during the Starlight Express musical):
Marigold says
F.E.A.R. is an awesome track. In all fairness. I always love at least 2-3 songs on his records. It just bums me out that there is always at least 2-3 unlistenable songs on his records and then the rest for me always seem to fall into a not great but not bad catagory. I will still follow his releases because I love the Roses so much. I would totally go see him live if he ever came to the US, but I dont think he would. I am sure his ego would not allow him to play the American club circut though.
Yeah, Kate does not fall into my normal listening patterns does she? DAMN! You have figured me out. I must throw out a curve ball over on my MOG page. ;) Thanks for posting another song. Dang she is a cuty.
FluxCapacitor says
She's driven you to distraction!
I agree on the track ratio for Brown. And another thing that gets me, talking of public personas above, is his insistence on always playing the preacher in his songs. Telling the world what it's doing wring, handing down advice as if from on high.
He had a similar style with the Roses, but I think it's got tired now. I'd love to hear a song where he uses some of the everyday details of life (a la something like _Sally Cinnamon_). A story rather than a decree. As you say, enough with the suns going up and down...we geddit already!
HelenMarie says
I got a freebie from Kate Nash off of itunes...It didn't hit me to spend the money on, but this may have changed my mind...Humm Thanks Flux, sweet stuff as usual. Have a good one!
milkshake says
Great post - very interesting read!
"and is a natural storyteller"
Agree with ya on this - don't really listen to lyrics, but I always end up listening to the lyrics of Foundations. I'll check out We Get On - at one point was considering her album but after hearing one of Foundations b-sides it kinda put me off.
Oh and Mouthwash is great!
FluxCapacitor says
@ Sunshine - Hey, thanks...great that you like it. You have a good 'un, too!
@ Milkshake - And thanks to you for getting the topic started! Yeah, she has a great way with words, all right - and tuneful, too. I guarantee there's about five other songs that could be released as singles on that album.
poebegone says
hmm. i don't hate Kate Nash. she's okay. she and i are in my "fine, we can co-exist" universe.
Ian Brown slagging her off for press? hey, i need to Google that up.
"And being a former student of drama, she’s doing a bang-up job." - this made me pre-dinner mogtime. thanks. (:
FluxCapacitor says
Hey, thanks – I’m glad to make anybody’s anything! King Monkey said, “She’s music for little girls with boy problems.” Hey, somebody’s got to hit that demographic! (& nothing to do with his fading relevance and her selling more in one album than he has in five!) Plus, I wouldn’t mind but she’s on the same label as him. As I say, gallant.
Oh, dear. I can’t help noticing that British singer-songwriter Kate Nash has been taken to task elsewhere on Mog “for singing in her accent”. Allow me to retort.It’s not _her_ accent, it’s _somebody else’s_.That’s right, darlings, she’s faking it. Just like Bono’s American TV evangelist, Damon Albarn’s posh boy turned Essex lad, and, most recently, Alex Turner’s ongoing tongue-in-cheek impersonation of a miserable Sheffield steal worker (oh wait...that's his real personality).Kate’s a nice suburban girl who wants to sound like an working-class ne’er-do-well. And being a former student of drama, she’s doing a bang-up job. How can I be so sure? ‘Cause I accosted Ms. Nash, along with her sister and her parents, at her April gig in Dublin. And very lovely _thoroughly middle-class_ people they were, too. We all know that image is important in music. Kate is simply following the tried and true tradition of creating a public persona that people can identify with. But it doesn't mean her songs aren't 100% faithful to her life. Ah, Kate's songs. This girl writes pop records in the truest sense of the word; that is, they’re actually popular. And it’s nothing like the fare that usually clogs up the business end of the charts, either. For one, she sounds like a real human being, rather than a malfunctioning robot (Hello, Rhi-Rhi-Rhianna!). For two, she writes everything alone -- virtually unheard of for a 19 year-old in the world of pop.See, Kate had finished most of her album before the pony-tailed, dusty-nosed execs got hold of her. So these songs are highly idiosyncratic and deal in confused, conflicted and _blessedly human_ emotions (Not Hello, Chris Martin!). Along with this, she has a gift for simple, stick-in-the head melodies, a fine ear for everyday speech, and is a natural storyteller. She’s also got a strong and consistent point of view: Guys drive her demented (but it’s not always _their_ fault). And, praise be, she’s funny with it. A rare quality. Of course, the human factor brings with it imperfections. The girl doesn’t half like her repetition. She wilfully destroys lovely album ditty _Mariella_ with an insane same-word-over-and-over ending. And boy, does Kate lay on the cussing a bit strong. Not even her biggest fan will demand _Dickhead_ for their funeral mass.As for indie credibility, Nash doesn’t look for it. She already has a _bucketload_.The lead singer of the Cribs, the self-styled indie-est of all indie bands, is currently holding her hand in public and the rest of her in private. What’s more, former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown is this week trying to boost his album sales by gallantly slagging her off in the press. The girl’s made it!Still, unconvinced? Then listen to _We Get On_, a showtune by any other name that'll surely to goodness have to be released as a single so all the gay men and grandmothers can hear it. Without getting too technical, it's ace, tidy, and fan-fuckin-tabulous:Hated it? I give up.No, wait. Come back! I haven’t even mentioned Nash’s charming live performances: Still hate her? Then, head on over to Milkshake’s lovely Mog and join in her admittedly entertaining "singing in your accent":http://mog.com/milkshake/blog_post/112189 post. You have my blessings, if not my undying love. That, of course, goes to…my understanding girlfriend.
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