Clockwise from upper left: Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, The Mountain Goats, Suzanne Vega.
Courtesy of the artists
hide caption
toggle caption
Courtesy of the artists
Few people can easily define it, but nearly everyone knows it when they hear it. Speak-singing, the murky marriage of spoken lyrics and sung melodies, can be heard in everything from 17th-century opera to The Velvet Underground and the latest Mountain Goats record. On this edition of All Songs Considered , hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton argue over the pros and cons of this polarizing art form and take a look at some of their favorite (and not-so-favorite) speak-singing artists. Plus, listeners chime in with some of their own picks.
Rex Harrison
Song: A Hymn to Himfrom My Fair Lady [Original Soundtrack]
close overlay Buy Featured Music
Song My Fair Lady [Original Soundtrack] Album My Fair Lady [Original Soundtrack] Artist Original Soundtrack Label Columbia Released 1994 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
The Velvet Underground
Song: Sweet Jane [Full Length Version]from Loaded [Fully Loaded Edition]
close overlay Buy Featured Music
Song Loaded [Fully Loaded Edition] Album Loaded [Fully Loaded Edition] Artist The Velvet Underground Label Atlantic Released 1997 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
William Shatner
Song: Common Peoplefrom Has Been
close overlay Buy Featured Music
Song Has Been Album Has Been Artist William Shatner Label Shout! Factory Released 2004 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
The Modern Lovers
close overlay Buy Featured Music
Song The Modern Lovers Album The Modern Lovers Artist The Modern Lovers Label Rhino Released 1976 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
U2
Song: Pride (In the Name of Love)from Unforgettable Fire
close overlay Buy Featured Music
Song Unforgettable Fire Album Unforgettable Fire Artist U2 Label Island/Universal Released 1984 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
The Speak-Singing Debate: Just Sing The Damn Song!
Mozart
Song: Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492 [Act 1. Scene 1 & 2. No. 2. Duettino. Se a caso madama]from Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro
close overlay Buy Featured Music
Song Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro Album Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro Artist Rene Jacobs Label Harmonia Mundi Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
The Speak-Singing Debate: Just Sing The Damn Song!
Christine Schäfer
Song: Pierrot lunaire, melodrama for voice & chamber ensemble, Op. 21 [Act I, No. 1, "Mondestrunken"]from Arnold Schoenberg: Pierrot Lunaire; Herzgewächse; Ode to Napoleon
close overlay Buy Featured Music
Song Arnold Schoenberg: Pierrot Lunaire; Herzgewächse; Ode to Napoleon Album Arnold Schoenberg: Pierrot Lunaire; Herzgewächse; Ode to Napoleon Artist Christine Schäfer Label Deutsche Grammophon Released 1998 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
Laurie Anderson
Song: Blue Lagoonfrom Mister Heartbreak
close overlay Buy Featured Music
Song Mister Heartbreak Album Mister Heartbreak Artist Laurie Anderson Label Warner Bros. Released 2010 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
Suzanne Vega
Song: Tom's Dinerfrom Solitude Standing
close overlay Buy Featured Music
Song Solitude Standing Album Solitude Standing Artist Suzanne Vega Label A&M Records Released 1987 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
The Mountain Goats
Song: Love Love Lovefrom Sunset Tree
close overlay Buy Featured Music
Song Sunset Tree Album Sunset Tree Artist The Mountain Goats Label 4AD Released 2005 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
Wilco
Song: I Am Trying to Break Your Heartfrom
close overlay Buy Featured Music
Song Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Artist Wilco Label Nonesuch Released 2009 Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
![Cover for My Fair Lady [Original Soundtrack]](https://media.npr.org/assets/music/programs/asc/2012/06/Myfairlady_cvr-94dc2445c9c4f5915f0b7ad42d3c96783ac79b96-s200-c15.webp)
![Cover for Loaded [Fully Loaded Edition]](https://media.npr.org/assets/music/programs/asc/2012/06/loaded_cvr-1644fb74fe92ff6d5b0034f7232b9545856f8f50-s200-c15.webp)
