Spoken bits in songs

[AllisonSays]

I love it, although I agree that when done badly it can be profoundly unpleasant. Two good and related examples - Coney Island (not that one) by Van Morrisson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn2CeHlKrTw - although he wouldn't be allowed to go there now because of Covid. And Coney Island Baby (presumably he means that one) by Lou Reed - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTLo8CAt7PA

Alabaster Deplume, one of the last bands I saw live, has a fine line in this, as does the already-mentioned Kevin Rowland. Although my favourite Rowland bits are the dialogues rather than the monologues, which are brilliant, because they're so quotidian and natural, with none of the pomposity of a spoken-word interlude. The conversation at the start of Tell Me What She's Like is great.

[El Unicornio, mang]

That's reminded me of that version of Comfortably Numb on the youtubes where it's a Gilmour solo gig and Benedict Cumberbatch is guesting doing the verses. You'd think an actooor like him would get into the role but he just seems a bit stiff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaaoTvEdKtA

Ew. I think the problem there is that he's trying to sing. Reminds me a bit of when Scarlett Johansson did guest vocals for The Jesus and Mary Chain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdC8L31tHro&ab_channel=suprefan . They both have very good speaking voices (and ScarJo has a good singing voice when the music suits) and could have played to their strengths by just reading the lyrics like they're doing an audiobook or something, rather than sounding like they're drunk fans who've been pulled up on stage for a laugh.

[bgmnts]

REGULATORS! MOUNT UP!

[JaDanketies]

Jarvis Cocker is so good at this I didn't even appreciate he was an example until it was pointed out itt.

[Ray Travez]

now the flames, they followed joan of arc...

bongwater- nick cave dolls

[Ray Travez]

reynard left and went to warwickshire...

I think it's good when done right, with some kind of sincerity and /or conviction. I think if olly murs did it, I'd hate it, or if he did do it on his reprehensible track "uptown funk," I do hate it.

[chveik]

Honey, let me tell you something

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfHjoqo7ANU

off topic but I find Frankie Knuckles' remix superior

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHk-WL7BXoM

[Mr Farenheit]

Shangri-las is a great shout. Also Bo Didley who has a few of them. Not as funny as Prince Buster's courtroom songs though.

But for me the all time great is Red Sovine. His stuff is pretty much entirely spoken and its fucking great. Every song tells a story and it'll break your heart :(

"my body was so mangled I was saturated with blood, pieces of broken glass were sticking out all over my body

On a lighter note how about Bewitched? "What are ye like?"

[buzby]

Ian Curtis reading a bit from House Of Dolls by Ka-tzetnik 135633 on early Joy Division track No Love Lost (the book is where they took their name from).
Gillian reading Psalm 77 from the Bible under Hooky's catawauling on Doubts Even Here
A pissed Bernard (via an Eventide Harmoniser 9000) predating Fat Harry White on Fine Time (which he was too embarrassed to reproduce, so they sampled the vocals for live performances).

Most of King Boy D's vocals on JAMs/KLF releases, specifically the whole of the Who Killed The JAMs? album.

[earl_sleek]

'Religion' and 'Fodderstompf' on PiL's first album have some good Lydon spoken bits. 'Fodderstompf' is pretty much all Lydon and Wobble talking.

I also like the spoken bits on various Atari Teenage Riot songs eg the intro to 'Destroy 2000 Years of Culture' - they're intense, exciting and ridiculous all at the same time. Alec Empire is a scary man, much scarier than Lydon.

[Seedsy]

Jarvis Cocker is so good at this I didn't even appreciate he was an example until it was pointed out itt.

I agree, one of my favourite pulp songs feelingscalledlove, is nearly all spoken word.
When done well it's great, however, I find it unbearably cheesy in alot of songs.

[holyzombiejesus]

60s girl groups were so great with the spoken word bits. Shangri-la's have already been mentioned and this is so good.

Whyte Boots - Nightmare

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Q4DaNDe3w

[holyzombiejesus]

Also, much of Ian Svenonious' career uses speaking bits and he's fucking ace.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9_X_Gj9AfQ

[jobotic]

Yes Sir. I love his David Candy album

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqSpPyDuIZw

Calvin Johnson's speaking and singing might not be wildly different but I could listen to him speak sense like this all day. Still can't I believe I saw him play in my crappy hometown the year before last, to about twenty people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_biLZy-TmD0

[turnstyle]

MATE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9982wYPPm0