Dappled Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 What do you think about songs with a spoken part? Like when Elvis says “You know, someone said that the world's a stage and each must play a part," and so on in Are you lonesome tonight. What do they add to the song? Would the song be better off without it? What kind of songs do have spoken parts, romantic songs, sad songs, songs with a serious touch? Did the Beatles or the Rolling Stones ever record a song with a spoken part? What about songs which are spoken in their entirety, like Lorne Greens Ringo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLD 55 Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Good topic Dappled ! I think some of them are a bit corny but there are a lot that I like. Ringo's great. Lorne Greene had a very distinctive way of speaking and it's a good story. Elvis' Are You Lonesome Tonight could probably have done without it. I think his monologue is based on the old Al Jolson version. Two I like are Les Crane's Desiderata and Tom Clay's Abraham, Martin And John/ What The World Need Now Medley. Of course they have strong musical backing to enhance them; so does Ringo. (And news flashes too in Tom Clay's). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazooka Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 the Rolling Stones ever record a song with a spoken part? How could you forget Jagger's bit at the end of The Stones' Something Happened To Me Yesterday: Well thank you very much and now I think it's time for us all to go. So from all of us to all of you, not forgetting the boys in the band, and our producer, Reg Thorpe, we'd like to say "God Bless". And, if you're out tonight, don't forget, if you're on your bike, wear white. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLD 55 Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Wouldn't you call that an addendum rather than part of the song bazooka? (And stop saying you're old. I'm older than you). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judo Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 I have quite a few songs in my collection which have a spoken part. They do add a certain something to the song, though I can't quite put my finger on it. I think some songs just cannot do without a spoken part, e.g. "The cost of my love" (a mother to her little boy - sorry I need help here with the artist's name). As for songs which are spoken in their entirety, I would say these are recitations, not songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dappled Posted May 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 A quiz: Who said "Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?" in what song? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLD 55 Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Bobby Pickett in Monster Mash of course ! But I wouldn't class that as a "spoken part" really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dappled Posted May 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 That was fast, 55! Another one, and this time from a regular song: To make people laugh, that's what I do Even though my heart is broken, broken into. Who sang what song?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazooka Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Wouldn't you call that an addendum rather than part of the song bazooka? (And stop saying you're old. I'm older than you). Well I think I might call it an appurtenance, but what does a whippersnapper like me know. It is just that sometimes I'll make a reference, and then consider that it predates a large portion of the Songfactor herd by two, three decades or more. I am the same age as Dappled, and Steel2Velvet, I believe. Uncle Joe is in the same neighborhood, has a year or two up ... But 55, don't say you're old ... you're Ancient! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcM Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Pretty much everything recorded by William Shatner is in the spoken word and I love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesboy Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall - Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots ('44) Into each life some rain must fall But too much is falling in mine Into each heart some tears must fall But some day the sun will shine Some folks can lose the blues in their hearts But when I think of you another shower starts Into each life some rain must fall But too much is falling in mine SPOKEN (Ink Spots Version): Into each and every life some rain has got to fall But too much of that stuff is fallin' into mine And into each heart some tears gotta fall And I know that someday that sun is bound to shine Some folks can lose the blues in their heart But when I think of you another shower starts Into each life some rain must fall But too much is fallin' in mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 How about (You're My) Soul And Inspiration by the Righteous Bros. Bobby Hatfield speaks; Baby, I can't make it withoutcha. And I'm, I'm tellin' ya, honey-you're my reason for laughin', for cryin', for livin', and for dyin'. And Patches by Clarence Carter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katie_sane Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Atlantis by Donovan has that spoken bit at the start: "The continent of Atlantis was an island which lay before the great flood in the area we now call the Atlantic Ocean. So great an area of land, that from her western shores those beautiful sailors journeyed to the South and the North Americas with ease, in their ships with painted sails. To the East Africa was a neighbour, across a short strait of sea miles. The great Egyptian age is but a remnant of The Atlantian culture. The antediluvian kings colonised the world All the Gods who play in the mythological dramas In all legends from all lands were from fair Atlantis. Knowing her fate, Atlantis sent out ships to all corners of the Earth. On board were the Twelve: The poet, the physician, the farmer, the scientist, The magician and the other so-called Gods of our legends. Though Gods they were - And as the elders of our time choose to remain blind Let us rejoice and let us sing and dance and ring in the new Hail Atlantis!........" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dappled Posted May 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Atlantis by Donovan has that spoken bit at the start: Yes, and that's one of my favourite Donovan songs too. Love that spoken part and the background music. Lou Rawls starts out Dead End Street with this monologue: I was born in a city that they call "The Windy City" And they call it the Windy City because of "the Hawk" The Hawk The Almighty Hawk Mister Wind Takes care of plenty business 'Round winter time The place that I lived in Was on a street that uh Happened to be one of the dead-end streets Where there was nothing to block The wind the elements Nothing to buffer them for me To keep 'em From knockin' my bed down d'y'hea'm I mean really sockin' it to me When the boiler would bust and the heat was gone d'y'hea'm I had to get fully dressed before I could go to bed Course I couldn't put on my "goulashes" 'cause they had buckles on 'em And my folks didn't play that They said "don't you tear up my bed clothes wit' dem boot hushies on" But I was fortunate Soon as I was big enough to get a job and save enough money Get a ticket Catch anything I split And I said "one day I'm 'onna return And I'm gonna straighten it all out" And I'm 'bout ready to go back now So I thought I'd tell you about it Ah they say this is a big rich town But I live in the poorest part I know I'm on a dead-end street In a city without a heart I learned to fight before I was six The only way I could get along When you're raised on a dead-end street You've gotta be tough and strong Now all the guys I know gettin' in trouble That's how it's always been When the odds are all against you How can you win Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Seeker Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 And don't forget Stanley Unwin on Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake by the Small Faces. He tells part of a story at the beginning of almost every song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 How about (You're My) Soul And Inspiration by the Righteous Bros. Bobby Hatfield speaks; Baby, I can't make it withoutcha. And I'm, I'm tellin' ya, honey-you're my reason for laughin', for cryin', for livin', and for dyin'. I love that bit! That phrase gets me right here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLD 55 Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 To make people laugh, that's what I do Even though my heart is broken, broken into. Who sang what song?? I wish I'd seen this before Dappled (been watching TV - can't miss LOST). I'm not sure, but I think it might be either Leo Sayer or Freddie Mercury/Queen, The Show Must Go On ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLD 55 Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Well I think I might call it an appurtenance... But 55, don't say you're old... you're Ancient! IMpertanance more like it, you cheeky Young Gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dappled Posted May 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 I wish I'd seen this before Dappled (been watching TV - can't miss LOST). I'm not sure, but I think it might be either Leo Sayer or Freddie Mercury/Queen, The Show Must Go On ?? Neither of them, 55, but that phrase The show must go on is part of the lyrics. It's a mid 60s song. The Shangi-Las talked a lot in their songs too to great effect. Remember Remember, Footsteps on the Roof, Past, Rresent and Future? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daslied Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 I always cracked up when the deep-voiced guy from Boyz II Men would do a little interlude, in seemingly every song. "You know, baby, sometimes a man can do things. It's not that I don't love you, it's just that I don't care. Now let me draw you a bath." And then there's always: "They didn't know who they were, or what they were doing. But, oh, how they danced. The little children of Stonehenge." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 How about Future Legend by Bowie: Future Legend" And in the death As the last few corpses lay rotting on the slimy thoroughfare The shutters lifted in inches in Temperance Building High on Poacher's Hill And red, mutant eyes gaze down on Hunger City No more big wheels Fleas the size of rats sucked on rats the size of cats And ten thousand peoploids split into small tribes Coverting the highest of the sterile skyscrapers Like packs of dogs assaulting the glass fronts of Love-Me Avenue Ripping and rewrapping mink and shiny silver fox, now legwarmers Family badge of sapphire and cracked emerald Any day now The Year of the Diamond Dogs "This ain't Rock'n'Roll This is Genocide" Of course the first chords of Diamond Dogs rip in right here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenacious_Peaches Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 I always cracked up when the deep-voiced guy from Boyz II Men would do a little interlude, in seemingly every song. "You know, baby, sometimes a man can do things. It's not that I don't love you, it's just that I don't care. Now let me draw you a bath." Shut up...that's exactly what I thought when I saw this topic. Of course. And then there's always: "They didn't know who they were, or what they were doing. But, oh, how they danced. The little children of Stonehenge." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 The Moonglows' "The Ten Commandments Of Love" Joe Hinton's cover of Willie Nelson's "Funny (How Time Slips Away)" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Smokey Robinson's "Baby, baby don't cry" has two spoken lines at the beginning and two before the second verse. I think they work very well in the song. Does Barry White's spoken part at the beginning of "Can't Get Enough of Your Love" count? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawna Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 A song that none of you have probably even heard (shame on you!) that is positively hysterical and almost entirely spoken is "Jack Vs. Jose" by Roger Clyne. Check out the lyrics on SF, it's a work of art. Let's not forget "Alice's Restaurant" by Arlo Guthrie. Another one that always makes me smile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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