How do you feel about spoken passages in songs?

Trollheart · 09-15-2014, 07:28 PM

You know the sort of thing: Elvis in "Are you lonesome tonight", Godley and Creme's "Under your thumb", Johnny Mathis' "When a child is born." That moment when the singer stops singing and starts talking, or narrating, over the backing vocals or just the music. Do you think it affects your enjoyment of the song, and if so, does it do so in a negative or a positive way?

Feel free to quote or post examples of why certain songs suffer or are enhanced by including spoken passages if you wish.

**Frownland** · 09-15-2014, 07:36 PM

It really depends on how well it's used. It's not a dealbreaker for me in either direction, because it could be used to the benefit of the song or it can detract from it. Frank Zappa uses it well on Stink-Foot and Tom Waits does it well when he delves into one of his mini-rants. Dave Mustaine ruins the tracks when he does it, specifically on Megadeth's recent material. So yeah, could go either way.

The Batlord · 09-16-2014, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

Dave Mustaine ruins the tracks when he does it, specifically on Megadeth's recent material. So yeah, could go either way.

Oh god, yes. No one cares that he's found God and Rush Limbaugh at the same time and quite possibly in the same person. Although, to be fair, his singing, guitar-playing, and songwriting also ruin Megadeth's newer music.

**Janszoon** · 09-16-2014, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Oh god, yes. No one cares that he's found God and Rush Limbaugh at the same time and quite possibly in the same person. Although, to be fair, his singing, guitar-playing, and songwriting also ruin Megadeth's newer music.

To be fair his singing, guitar playing and songwriting ruin their earlier music as well.

The Batlord · 09-16-2014, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

To be fair his singing, guitar playing and songwriting ruin their earlier music as well.

Now you're just being racist.

**Janszoon** · 09-16-2014, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Now you're just being racist.

It's true. I really have a thing against white thrash guitarists.

misspoptart · 09-16-2014, 05:09 AM

I think they can be quite sexy actually. There are some songs that have excellent spoken parts in k-pop/j-pop that usually change up the pace and give you some insight into the tone of the song beyond the catchy beats/melodies.

Not sure how long you meant when you say "passages" but I think one or two lines of spoken words in songs can be effective if the words themselves are meaningful to me. Yep.

**Janszoon** · 09-16-2014, 05:31 AM

It just depends. Sometimes I get tired of music that only has spoken vocals, but a strategically placed spoken passage can be cool.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 09-16-2014, 06:04 AM

What's with the dumb poll?

You already said in the original post they can be good or bad so why create a poll question which asks you to judge all of them as being all good or all bad?

Trollheart · 09-16-2014, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

What's with the dumb poll?

You already said in the original post they can be good or bad so why create a poll question which asks you to judge all of them as being all good or all bad?

What's with the dumb question?

I asked people to say whether or not they like them in general, so a poll seemed a good idea, particularly for those who didn't want to go into detail: just vote yes no or doesn't matter and off you go. Not sure why you think it's a dumb idea??

Anyway, no I did not say they could be good or bad (though of course most things, in life as well as music, can be) --- I said do you find they enhance or detract from the song? It's a simple question. Not sure why you're picking it apart. Don't you have Doctor Who stuff to write?

I was just listening to "Are you lonesome tonight" and it struck me that it's generally cheesy and annoying, imo, for a singer to stop singing and start talking on a song. I don't feel it really ever works in the song's favour. But I was just mildly interested to find out how others felt.

Oh yeah: it's good to be back! I've missed you, Urban!

View Poll Results: Do you like or dislike spoken passages in songs?
Like	3	30.00%
Dislike	1	10.00%
Not bothered; neither like nor dislike	6	60.00%
Voters: 10. You may not vote on this poll

09-15-2014, 07:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	How do you feel about spoken passages in songs? You know the sort of thing: Elvis in "Are you lonesome tonight", Godley and Creme's "Under your thumb", Johnny Mathis' "When a child is born." That moment when the singer stops singing and starts talking, or narrating, over the backing vocals or just the music. Do you think it affects your enjoyment of the song, and if so, does it do so in a negative or a positive way? Feel free to quote or post examples of why certain songs suffer or are enhanced by including spoken passages if you wish. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

09-15-2014, 07:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	It really depends on how well it's used. It's not a dealbreaker for me in either direction, because it could be used to the benefit of the song or it can detract from it. Frank Zappa uses it well on Stink-Foot and Tom Waits does it well when he delves into one of his mini-rants. Dave Mustaine ruins the tracks when he does it, specifically on Megadeth's recent material. So yeah, could go either way. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

09-16-2014, 05:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	It just depends. Sometimes I get tired of music that only has spoken vocals, but a strategically placed spoken passage can be cool. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

09-16-2014, 06:04 AM	#9 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,626	What's with the dumb poll? You already said in the original post they can be good or bad so why create a poll question which asks you to judge all of them as being all good or all bad? __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

09-16-2014, 05:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
misspoptart gimme gimme Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: istanbul Posts: 897	I think they can be quite sexy actually. There are some songs that have excellent spoken parts in k-pop/j-pop that usually change up the pace and give you some insight into the tone of the song beyond the catchy beats/melodies. Not sure how long you meant when you say "passages" but I think one or two lines of spoken words in songs can be effective if the words themselves are meaningful to me. Yep.