America's Got Talent.. Logan WV

[CoolBreeze]

Was scanning the channels tonight and saw America's Got Talent, a show that I never watch.

I heard this Black guy (wearing long Corn Rows) say that he was from Logan WV, and he washed & detailed cars for a living. One of the judges asked him to remove his gum before he did his act. Then, this guy starts singing a Frank Sinatra song, sounding very much like Frank himself. The judges were all surprised and gave him a thumbs up, which means the guy goes to Las Vegas for the next round.

All I can say is... the guy didn't sound at all like he was from Logan.

[Dave Allen]

Well we don't all sound Jed Clampett, you know?

[Big Media]

Well we don't all sound Jed Clampett, you know?

I'm calling bullshit on that one.

[Scott Reppert]

I'm calling bullshit on that one.

Right on. I know morning jocks that sound like Jethro,..

[amayo]

They aren't really morning jocks--they are actually undercover Double-Naught Spies.

[genlock]

Ellie Mae Williamson uses a rope for a belt.

[Dave Allen]

This guy is the real deal. Check out the WVOW FB page.

[amayo]

I have to say-I just watched the video of his audition and I was blown away by not only his talent, but his genuine humility and niceness. Good to see something nice happen to someone who deserves it.

[Dave Allen]

I have known this guy for about 10 years and I can tell you that what you saw on the clip was him. He is sincerely one of the most humble, nicest guys you will ever meet. This is truly a great, feel good story, and this is from someone who fucking hates everything and everybody.

[CoolBreeze]

Question: Was he born and raised in that area, or is he from someplace else? Few in Logan sounds like him and I cant help but wonder where he got that non-Logan accent.

[Dave Allen]

Born and raised 100% Logan County, as was I, Nunley, Kidd Conley, Wade Hill, Libby Jo, Ernie G, Big John Bowen, Chris Swindell, Jack Harris, Ric Shannon, Melanie Chapman, Kathleen Moxley, etc. Again we don't all sound like Walter Brennan from "Real McCoys"

[CoolBreeze]

That may be true.... but people who wash cars in Logan stand a much better chance sounding like the Real McCoys than radio announcers.

[Dave Allen]

Yeah, you're probably right, Jerry. Now if you don't mind I'm going to sniff some bath salts and fuck a goat now.

[CoolBreeze]

[genlock]

Some people think everything south of the Southridge Shopping malls is Mayberry.
Everything north of the airport is Morgantown, or Paris (same thing).

[CoolBreeze]

I have spent a lot of time in southern WV going back to the mid 70s. Madison, Logan, Williamson, War, just to name a few. No one will convince me that everyone down there sounds like the guy on America's Got Talent. I call bullshit on that. Now, as the media HAS homogenized the language (even in southern WV) I also realize that not EVERYONE talks like they did 50 years ago. But the fact remains that if you're making minimum wage, you most likely DO sound like southern WV.

The next time I visit Logan, I'll have a nice chat with the townsfolk and see if they sounds like NY now.

[The Interpreter]

I's in Atlanta these days and no one tails me I's gotta axcant.

[Dave Allen]

Yes, you're right..this kid isn't representative of southern WV and the coalfields. Perhaps one day we can all sound like we are from Cabin Creek, Peench, Sisson(s)ville, Elkview, Tornado or Hernshaw. No, not everyone here sounds like him. As for the minimum wage thing? Are you fucking kidding me? The kid and many others like him HAVE a job, which is more that many who visit this board can say. Come to southern WV and you may find out we're not all Jesco White.

[CoolBreeze]

All I'm saying is that if you're making minimum wage, you stand a much better chance of sounding like the environment you came from. Notice I said "a better chance", not always. However, if you watch "Coal", you'll hear guys that speak so southern that they have to place subtitles on the screen as though you were watching a foreign film.... and THOSE guys are making $20 an hour or more.

Look, we know that not ALL people in southern WV sound like they did 50 years ago. But we also know that if you were to drop an outsider in the northern part of the state, and then took them to the southern part, they'd absolutely see a difference.... a big difference.

[just saying]

just kidding