Spoken Word
If you're into classifying music into all of these different categories, there is a spoken word song that is not classified as a spoken word song. The latest version, by Beatfreakz, is currently on the charts. But the original version, by Kennedy (not the ex-KROQ deejay) or Kenneth or whatever, charted long ago.
From Paul Sexton (emphasis mine):
Snow Patrol and Gnarls Barkley rule British charts
By Paul Sexton May 9, 2006, 1:51 GMT
Snow Patrol`s 'Eyes Open' (Fiction/Polydor), the follow-up to its breakthrough 2003 set 'Final Straw,' went straight to No. 1 Sunday (May 7) on the new British album chart. Last week`s No. 1 album, Gnarls Barkley`s 'St. Elsewhere' (Warner Bros.), fell to No. 2.
However, the Gnarls Barkley single 'Crazy' continues to reign over the U.K. singles chart for a sixth week. The track is now the best-selling single of 2006, according to Official U.K. Charts Company data.
It was pursued by two singles that climbed the chart after the addition of physical sales: Red Hot Chili Peppers` 'Dani California' (Warner Bros.), up from 12 to 2, and Beatfreakz` cover of Rockwell`s 1984 Motown hit 'Somebody`s Watching Me' (Data), which rose from 21 to 3.
The Entertainment Weekly reviewer noted that Rockwell didn't sing the lyrics, he spoke them:
3. ''Somebody's Watching Me,'' Rockwell How does one get Michael Jackson, in the prime of his career, to sing a classic hook for a D-level artist? Be Berry Gordy's son, that's how. Great track, but too bad about those cringeworthy spoken-word verses. B-
As an aside, the Entertainment Weekly writer felt better about some other 1984 songs:
8. ''Hold Me Now,'' Thompson Twins Is that xylophone we hear buried in the background? Or just the sound of new wave-pop brilliance? A
7. ''Here Comes the Rain Again,'' Eurythmics ''Sweet Dreams'' was their breakthrough (and biggest) smash a year earlier, but nothing that followed was as pretty or majestic as this . A
2. ''Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now),'' Phil Collins Melodrama is hard to pull off without causing at least a few unintentional laughs and snickers (see No. 4 above [Lionel Richie's "Hello"]). But just like George did on ''Careless Whisper,'' Collins commits and doesn't care who's laughing. He's too busy counting his royalty checks. A
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