The phrase "unfortunate tone" is correct and can be used in written English.
It refers to the way in which someone speaks or writes that conveys a negative or unfavorable attitude or emotion. Example: Despite her good intentions, the speaker's unfortunate tone made her apology sound insincere and offensive.
Samantha Ross, who appears in a dark fur coat over a sexy lace camisole and panty set, brings the unfortunate tone of a cynical stripper to her performance.
(Jade Wu, as a woman of fierce stubbornness and unhappiness, is the exception as Naima; she's terrific.) "Barriers" overall has the unfortunate tone of an educational film that might be shown at a sensitivity workshop.
And this assumption — which, for example, makes the solution to the Negro problem depend on the speed with which Negroes accept and adopt white standards — is revealed in all kinds of striking ways, from Bobby Kennedy's assurance that a Negro can become President in forty years to the unfortunate tone of warm congratulation with which so many liberals address their Negro equals.
On some occasions, Bush used an unfortunate tone to brag about killing.
Ms. Ellis astonishingly renders, opulent note for note, the overwrought vocal stylings of Ms. McDonald in "Porgy and Bess," as well as the unfortunate tone-deaf appearance of Catherine Zeta-Jones (singing "Send in the Clowns" from "A Little Night Music") at the 2010 Tony Awards show.
Cochran has another unfortunate quality for a civil rights crusader: a tone-deafness for the pain of those outside his group.
This is a harmless, pleasant comic drama, but elements that may have seemed delightfully eccentric in print take on unfortunate new tones when translated to film.
"It's really unfortunate that the tone of the campaign has been very negative.
His declaration had an unfortunate dictator-like tone, coming from a former military dictator, but the timing was apt.
Romney's comments betrayed so much more than an unfortunate instance of momentary tone deafness.
But it would be unfortunate if the Hanssen case set the tone for Mr. Bush's dealings with Mr. Putin.
