I remember several songs from my youth which had spoken sections. “Leader of the Pack” by the Shangri -Las stands out particularly. “Is she really going out with him ? There she is, let’s ask her “……….”By the way, where’d you meet him ? “I met him at the candy store….”. Watching a video of them performing this, the two backing singers stand apart from the lead singer gossiping the lines (plus some more) I’ve written above, and the song really begins, very dramatically when the lead singer bursts into “I met him at the candy store”. Melodramatic, stagey, 60’s Americana, slightly silly—I love it.
Researching this blog (yeah, I know) it seems most of the world’s most famous pop stars—Elvis, Madonna, Jimi Hendrix, Beyonce, Cold Play, The Beatles, David Bowie, Justin Bieber, Prince, the Scissor Sisters–the list is huge— have incorporated a spoken section in a song, or even recorded a completely spoken song.
Done right, a spoken section can be great, adding drama, emphasis and emotion, as well as providing a contrast with the rest of the song. Done badly, it’s just naff. Of course, what sounds great to some people, sounds terrible to others, and vice versa. Because there is this thin line between great and naff, it takes courage to put a spoken section in a song. Have I just ruined a very good song ?
Sometimes the singer themselves can’t take the spoken section seriously. In an infamous 1969 Las Vegas rendition of “Are You Lonesome Tonight” Elvis changes the words to the spoken part from “Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there” to “Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair” whereupon apparently a guy in the audience whipped off his toupe causing Elvis to break down into uncontrollable laughter and can’t finish the song. Seemingly he did this sort of thing with lyrics regularly, and particularly on this song because he hated it. He really didn’t want to record it, but his manager persuaded him. It was a huge hit all over the world.
I remember this video clip from years ago, and I always thought that Elvis had forgotten the words in a prescription drug stupor, and it held sad memories for me. Joyfully I was wrong
Some gifted recording artists are capable of speaking the instructions on an Ikea flat pack and still making it sound good. Check out Van Morrison saying this– “stop off at Ardglass for a couple of jars of mussels and some potted herrings in case we get famished before dinner” on “Coney Island”, and unbelievably it really seems poetic. He doesn’t sing at all on “Coney Island”–it’s all spoken, yet it works. I thought initially, having just seen the title of the song, that Van was singing about Coney Island in New York , but he’s singing about Coney Island in Co. Sligo, Ireland, and the first verse contains instructions how to get there. Did you also know Van is short for “Ivan” ?
Some bands have hired a professional actor to give voice to the spoken sections. Examples are Ian McKellen on the Scissor Sisters “Invisible Light” and Vincent Price on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. There is a great spoken intro on Meat Loaf’s “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth“, voiced by the song’s composer Jim Steinman and Maria McClain. My memory told me this was also Vincent Price, until I looked it up–wrong yet again.
Some singers’ natural style is halfway between singing and speaking anyway. I’m thinking of the brilliant Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits, particularly on “Romeo and Juliet”. Always loved the album it was on– “Making Movies”. Played it to death.
Me and My Monkey” by Robbie Williams uses this semi talking/semi-singing style to fantastic effect. This creates a confessional mode, whereby the artist seems to be speaking directly to the listener, unlike singing which can impart a certain distance between singer and audience.This song doesn’t get the credit it deserves, it’s outstanding.
Perhaps my favourite talking section in any song is in Mr.Bojangles by Sammy Davis Junior. This song was written by Jerry Jeff Walker in 1968 and has been covered by Elton John, Dolly Parton, Jamie Cullum, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond and Robbie Williams amongst many others. Apparently Jerry Walker was in jail in New Orleans for public intoxication and all the inmates began to tell stories, including this character who would only reveal his nickname, Mr. Bojangles. In this version Sammy talks most of the lyrics, but especially the bit which goes “you see son I drinks a bit”. Both Sammy Davis and Robbie put on a special voice for this section. It’s simply superb.