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September 24, 2009 1:29 PM

What's this kind of talking/singing music called, and what else is like it?

I particularly like a kind of music that I can't really name, as it spans several genres, and I'd love to find more like it. Generally speaking, it's almost like proto-rap; more spoken or chanted than sung, usually with elaborate non-repeating lyrics. It's hard to describe (for me, at least).

Some examples include Subterranean Homesick Blues by Bob Dylan, I Do the Rock by Tim Curry, Modern Major General by Gilbert & Sullivan, I've Been Everywhere by Hank Snow, Trouble in River City from The Music Man, Come On-A My House by Rosemary Clooney (kind of), and so on.

posted by TochterAusElysium to media & arts (26 comments total)

I think in general what you're looking for is Talking Blues.
posted by Nomiconic at 1:34 PM on September 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

You might also check out Rex Harrison's songs in My Fair Lady (Why Can't the English, and Accustomed to Her Face, off the top of my head).
posted by specialagentwebb at 1:40 PM on September 24

specialagentwebb, I do love the My Fair Lady soundtrack, and I would have included Why Can't the English in my samples if I'd thought of it. Nomiconic, I feel like that's close, but not quite the same thing...?
posted by TochterAusElysium at 1:42 PM on September 24

You most probably won't like this sort of thing, but it is an historical reference of sorts.
posted by StickyCarpet at 1:48 PM on September 24

Everybody's Free (to Wear Sunscreen) might fit the bill.
posted by Diagonalize at 1:53 PM on September 24

Hmm - thanks, Diagonalize, but that's more a spoken poem set to music. Nice advice, though.

I know I'm being picky here; maybe there is no single category for this stuff.
posted by TochterAusElysium at 1:58 PM on September 24

Recitative in classical music is like it, I think.

Also, I don't have access to the music at the moment, but Whispering Jack Smith might tick the right boxes for you.

I've heard a similar thing at Catholic religious ceremonies, but I can't find it on Youtube.
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 2:04 PM on September 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

Are you thinking of patter songs?
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:05 PM on September 24 [4 favorites has favorites]

There is a technical name for the bridge-like part of [usually] country songs which move from singing to spoken word (usually something to the effect of "Baby, you know I love you...." etc.). And damn if I can't find it on google. fourcheesemac would know.

Otherwise, StickyCarpet has it. I'm pretty sure sprechstimme was first popularized in Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire, though I could be wrong. While it's a term usually applied to the use of this technique in concert music, I don't see why it wouldn't apply here.
posted by Lutoslawski at 2:07 PM on September 24

The band Cake has made this a specialty (example).
posted by wackybrit at 2:16 PM on September 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

"Modern Major General" is definitely called a "patter song." I think "Trouble in River City" from Music Man would count as one also.

In the case of of "My Fair Lady," it's simply that Rex Harrison wasn't that great a singer so he managed a compromise of crooning and speaking in rhythm. But the composers did write melodies, so you could "sing" those songs more than Harrison did.
posted by dnash at 2:18 PM on September 24

Conduit for Sale! by Pavement. A lot of Modest Mouse (Jesus Christ Was an Only Child, for instance).
posted by Kattullus at 2:22 PM on September 24

OH, and speaking of patter songs, here's one of the best ever: "Getting Married Today" from "Company" by Stephen Sondheim.
posted by dnash at 2:23 PM on September 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

The Hold Steady sound like they're right up your alley.
posted by Midnight Rambler at 2:42 PM on September 24

John Lee Hooker performed a lot of his songs this way
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 2:54 PM on September 24

Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Dan Bern all have quite a few talking blues songs.
posted by elsietheeel at 3:37 PM on September 24

You might like Todd Snider's "Talkin'SeattleGrungeRockBlues," which is sadly already dated (sad only because it makes me feel old). Fun, though.
posted by stennieville at 3:44 PM on September 24

You might look into the British "Music Hall" style
posted by rhizome at 4:32 PM on September 24

Two words: Red Sovine
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:29 PM on September 24

"Patter songs" is it! Or close enough. Thank you! And thanks for the suggestions from all; more are definitely appreciated, though.
posted by TochterAusElysium at 6:30 PM on September 24

You might like:

Pulp
Half Man Half Biscuit
Pet Shop Boys
Ian Dury and the Blockheads
Ballboy
Girl With a Crooked Eye by Roc (I don't know if their other stuff is similar)
Jegsy Dodd and the Original Sinners

---all of which have a similar sort of talky style.
posted by mippy at 4:24 AM on September 25

Here's another one I had found on my own - Chocktaw Bingo (I like Ray Wylie Hubbard's version better but this one's better quality).
posted by TochterAusElysium at 7:39 AM on September 25

There's a destination
A little up the road
from the habitations
and the towns we know
posted by grateful at 11:25 AM on September 25

King Kong's Funny Farm definitely fits this. The song Scooba Dooba Diver in particular. However, I can't find it online for you.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 9:01 PM on September 25

Oh, the band is King Kong. The album is Funny Farm.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 9:02 PM on September 25

Thanks, YSStOG; I found it on iTunes!
posted by TochterAusElysium at 9:05 AM on September 27