Is Bill Acadian?

[Maracuja]

I was just washing dishes, and listening to Bill, and it occurred to me that he sounded as if he came from, Nova Scotia or Newfoundland, maybe. Actually I very much enjoyed listening to his music, it was quite beautiful, a bit Irish, perhaps Acadian. Such a beautiful accent they have! If you ever go to Nova Scotia or to Newfoundland you will know what I mean. However, I did not detect one bit of an English accent in his voice. (Strange because he's supposed to be English, eh?) I am very good at detecting accents, because I have a Brazilian accent myself and I like to pay attention to the way people speak.

[-Wings-]

Well, that's one of the theories since he was wearing the Ontario Provincial Police patch on his Sgt. Pepper costume (which then ties into several lyrical clues about him working as a police officer).

[MissVagabond]

Well, I'll go out on a limb here. Even though I'm a totally full-fledged PIAer, it's true that Paul does have a Newfoundland "lilt", or accent in his voice. I'm actually from Toronto (If you're reading this and you're Canadian--but not from Toronto, feel free to scream obcenities at this post-- The "TO.Dot" is pretty unpopular in Canada).
;D

But I do know a "East Coast" Canadian accect when I hear it, Paul McCartney has one. I don't personally, but it's totally unmistakable. That's not speculation or accusation. It's a fact. I would know one in my sleep. I don't think you have to nesessarily be an adult, to understand vocal sounds. He's got some kind of Canadian influence in his voice.

But it isn't really in his songs; it's when he speaks in interviews. The rest of the time he sounds like Paul McCartney. But when he just talks, he sounds a little like a Canadian. Which is (accent-wise) really half-way between an American accent, and a British one.

As much as I hate to admit it, it's there.

Okay. I'm gonna go and feel really guilty about saying that. But not nearly as guilty as I'd feel if I hadn't spoken up and honestly said something.

[pennylane]

Thanks for the honesty..

He could've picked up a little twang from Linda perhaps.. how's that for honesty

But it could be something else...

[missvagabond]

PennyLane said:

Thanks for the honesty..

He could've picked up a little twang from Linda perhaps.. how's that for honesty

But it could be something else...

Ummm...unless Linda had spent a lot of time in Labrador, Nowfoundland or New Brunswick, I dunno. Is there any record of that, Pennylane?

It's just a very suttle thing that Maracuja picked up. I'm actually impressed with that. I'd say it's not likely from her (Linda) but elsewhere.

I dunno. Unless he has close Canadian relatives nobody knows about. But I've never heard of that. Basically, it's not an accent I personally hear every day, but I know it very well. It's a very distinctive eastern Canadian accect that doesn't exactly grow on trees, for lack of a better term.

[pennylane]

MissVagabond said:

Ummm...unless Linda had spent a lot of time in Labrador, Nowfoundland or New Brunswick, I dunno. Is there any record of that, Pennylane?

I have no idea.

MissVagabond said:

It's just a very suttle thing that Maracuja picked up. I'm actually impressed with that. I'd say it's not likely from her (Linda) but elsewhere.

I dunno. Unless he has close Canadian relatives nobody knows about. But I've never heard of that. Basically, it's not an accent I personally hear every day, but I know it very well. It's a very distinctive eastern Canadian accect that doesn't exactly grow on trees, for lack of a better term.

So from a PIAer point of view.. what do you make of it?

[JoJo]

A great movie to check out if you want to get a feel for the Newfie accent is "Shipping News". Haven't been there since I was a little kid, but I've heard the way the people talk in the movie is pretty much on the money. To my ears it sounds Irish without being quite all the way there, a strong influence, yes.

[missvagabond]

PennyLane said:

I have no idea.



So from a PIAer point of view.. what do you make of it?

Umm..funny thing is Pennylane, I was thinking about the sort of close link between an Eastern Canadian accent and an Irish one. It crossed my mind, but I wasn't sure about that. JoJo just brought it up. Maybe it's an irish influence that sounds like a Newfoundland accent.

I'll have to look into that. Maybe listen closer to some of their interviews on line and I'm gonna watch MMT very soon, so I'll pay close attention to Paul's accent in that as well.

[ReallyReallyDead]

when you watch MMT, notice that Faul says "Jolly good sarg, carry on" in a compleatly wrong accent!!!

[JoJo]

I'll tell you one thing, if we knew his real name, (I know you would say it's Paul McCartney MV) it wouldn't be too hard to track him down. In my family, a lot of geneology information has been traced, simply because Newfoundland is a small, closely knit place, and the oral tradition of passing down information is still alive. Myself, I'm a third generation Newfie-American.

I have to say, they are generous people, when all those passengers were diverted to Gander on 9-11, they took them in, fed them, and even loaned them their cars..

[-Wings-]

It's odd, because Newfoundland was the place that kept coming up in my countless internet searches for a Bill Shepherd or his family. I usually disregarded it because I was too busy focusing on Toronto or Ontario in general.

[pennylane]

There is a 'William Campbell's Butcher" shop in Newfoundland..mmmmm... maybe he's a butcher, hehe, pretty funny considering the butcher cover album!

[Girl]

Wow... how did I miss this thread?

I think you guys may be on to something here...

maybe that's another reason he did the Q-bec thing...

now to find that Scottish Rite link I know is in there somewhere...

Hmmm... much food for thought.