Sting and his accent

[Dom Tuk]

Why did Sting sing the song Roxanne with a strange accent (New York??) in the lines 'you dhont have to put out the red light' (emphasis being on the dhont (dont)?. Any reason why he did that or was he just trying to be stylish and appeal to the yanks.

[CarolG]

Don�t get me started on Sting�s accent � I find it infuriating! Usually he puts on a Jamaican accent the verses to �walking on the moon� spring to mind and �don�t stand so close to me� where as sometimes he�ll not be putting on an accent at all.

I�ve been in so many arguments about this, the same applies to Ali Campbell of UB40 the man is from Birmingham and sings in a Jamaican accent, some people reckon that as its reggae its allowed but I don�t think so.

[Ouisch]

OK, you've piqued my curiosity.  Both as a Yank and a person who bought "Roxanne" when it first came out as a single.  How would "don't" traditionally be pronounced - how would it differ from the pronunciation on the single?

[THECORBYLOON]

Ouisch Did you think Sting was American when you heard him singing? Did you ever get a new keyboard by the way?