I was listing out reasons people might misheard songs for the second misheard lyrics book, and figured thick accents on the part of the vocalist might be a good example of why people misheard lyrics.

Now however, I'm totally blanking on songs where the singer has a noticeable accent. I can certainly think of plenty of examples of when a singer talks they have a think British or Irish accent, but I can't think of any examples where the singing voice has a noticeable accent.

I need a few examples today...

Eddy Grant immediately springs to mind, with nearly all of his hits.  Though most reggae singers that sing in a Jamaican dialect could fit in this category


Another big one I think is Paul Weller.  On some songs, you can definately hear his British accent ...

♦ Town Called Malice - The Jam
♦ Beat Surrender - The Jam
♦ A Solid Bond in Your Heart - The Style Council

To all the Girls I loved Before -Julio Iglesias- 1984

99 Red Balloons

99 Red Balloons

That's sung by Nena... the song was also recorded in German as "99 Luftballoons" ;D

Our House- Madness
Welcome To The House Of Fun- Madness
Melt With You- Modern English

Dunno if those will help. However, I remember one particular Tom Petty song (You Got Lucky) where my mother used to get the bridge lyrics wrong. She though he said "put a little love in this heart of mine" instead of "good love is hard to find".

99 Red Balloons


I was thinking of that one, but didn't think she had a distinctive enough accent in the English version to be useful for a good example


Eddy Grant immediately springs to mind, with nearly all of his hits.  Though most reggae singers that sing in a Jamaican dialect could fit in this category


hmmm... probably a good suggestion.  I might have to do with that one.


Our House- Madness
Welcome To The House Of Fun- Madness
Melt With You- Modern English


I'm going to have to load these up again, I've got their greatest hits.  I never thought of them as having much of an accent, but then again, maybe I've heard them too many times.

maybe "Come on Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners

Try this one:

A Little Love And Understanding - Gilbert Bécaud.


O wait...that was 1975. :(

Try this one:

A Little Love And Understanding - Gilbert Bécaud.

Heh, heh, heh...

O wait...that was 1975. :(


I had a good one, but it's also from the 70s and it didn't sniff at the US market (probably the only market on Earth it didn't sniff!)

'Yes Sir I Can Boogie' - Baccara...sung in their delightful breathy 'fractured English' accents!  :D

I don't suppose Falco would count as he mostly 'sang' in his native Austrian...

well, thanks for everyone who gave a suggestion.  I think I'm just going to go with Dexy's, they had the thicker accent of the ones I listened to. 

Crap, I'm late if you needed it yesterday.  Perhaps some tracks by The Pogues, Ian Dury, Malcolm McLaren and Public Image Ltd...or anything with Lydon.

Pass The Duchie by Musical Youth

Anything by Falco

Crap, I'm late if you needed it yesterday.  Perhaps some tracks by The Pogues, Ian Dury, Malcolm McLaren and Public Image Ltd...or anything with Lydon.


I might still change it when I get my first draft back from the publisher.  not even sure he's going to like the idea I used it for

(sorry, not sure if this is 90's?)  ANYTHING BY SHAGGY!!!!!!!!! He sounds like he has marbles in his mouth...

(sorry, not sure if this is 90's?)  ANYTHING BY SHAGGY!!!!!!!!! He sounds like he has marbles in his mouth...

Yeah, Shaggy is generally a 90's artist; he's also had some 00's stuff. Around the mid-90's is when he released his debut album.

That's sung by Nena... the song was also recorded in German as "99 Luftballoons" ;D

That was the one everybody liked, but Casey Kasem always played "99 Red Balloons" 'coz he was neo-maxi-zoon-dweeby.
:P