# Famous spoken guest voices in iconic songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [October 9, 2024, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585 "2024-10-09T05:12:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/1 "2024-10-09T05:12:29Z")
A question for our knowledgeable pop music folks: what songs feature voice overs by famous people? Here are two examples: - Meatloaf, Paradise by the Dashboard Light, has a voice over by Phil Rizzuto. - Michael Jackson, Thriller, has a voice over by Vincent Price. Are there other examples of this? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/2 "2024-10-09T05:19:29Z")
First that comes to mind, besides the ones you mentioned, is “She Blinded Me With Science,” by Thomas Dolby (1982). Spoken words (“Science!” and “Good heavens, Miss Sakamoto, you’re beautiful!” among others) are by Magnus Pyke, a British scientist and TV host. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/3 "2024-10-09T05:21:46Z")
That’s great! Exactly what I was hoping for. (I love that song, but hadn’t known about the Magnus Pyke contribution.) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/4 "2024-10-09T05:22:41Z")
Chumbawamba’s hit “Tubthumping” features, in its opening, a sample of a monologue by English actor Pete Postlethwaite, from the movie _Brassed Off_: > [@](#): > > “Truth is, I thought it mattered; I thought that music mattered. But does it bollocks! Not compared to how people matter”. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rStPlVn8D04/hqdefault.jpg "Chumbawamba - Tubthumping [album version]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rStPlVn8D04) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/5 "2024-10-09T05:24:28Z")
The iconic bit is tough, but Stephen Hawking sampled on Pink Floyd’s Keep Talking on the Division Bell Album. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/6 "2024-10-09T05:29:27Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > The iconic bit is tough I probably shouldn’t have limited the thread with “iconic” as it is a more restrictive word than I intended. Anything by Pink Floyd will definitely count! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/7 "2024-10-09T05:38:10Z")
Pete Townshend’s “Give Blood” is from his 1985 concept album, _White City: A Novel_, which also had an associated long-form music video/movie produced for it. “Give Blood” features a spoken-word passage in the middle (at around 2:37 in the video below), which I think is from the film. It’s spoken by Scottish actor Ewan Stewart, who isn’t probably hugely famous, though he did play the first officer in the film _Titanic_. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/V4bD9w61Fs0/maxresdefault.jpg "Give Blood") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4bD9w61Fs0) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/8 "2024-10-09T05:41:11Z")
Thought of another one: _Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds_. This is a double LP (not sure how it would be arranged for a CD) that tells the story of _The War of the Worlds_ in music. Most importantly, Richard Burton does the spoken word parts—he narrates the story, but this is no audiobook. He even supplies the spoken word voiceover in the middle of songs. Here’s a example of Burton’s participation. He supplies a spoken intro, and comes back a few times during the song: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/C9DISbQKTTM/maxresdefault.jpg "Jeff Wayne, Richard Burton, Justin Hayward - Forever Autumn (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9DISbQKTTM) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/9 "2024-10-09T05:52:22Z")
Oh, I should add that _War of the Worlds_ isn’t that well-known any more. It did make a splash in Britain when it came out, less so in North America, perhaps because its songs tended to be long, and it was meant to be listened to all in one sitting, about 90 minutes or so. But it deserves remembering. The Wikipedia page on it is quite good, and explains a lot: > **[Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Wayne%27s_Musical_Version_of_The_War_of_the_Worlds)** > > Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds is a studio double album by American-born British musician, composer, and record producer Jeff Wayne, released on 9 June 1978 by CBS Records. It is an album musical adapted from the science-fiction novel The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells in a rock opera style with a rock band, orchestra, narrator, and leitmotifs to carry the story and lyrics that express the feelings of the various characters. The album features guest artists David Essex,... I almost feel like going out to the garage and getting my copy, but then I realized that I’d also have to dig out my turntable, my amp, and so on. Meh, I’ll make do with YouTubes for now. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/10 "2024-10-09T06:26:10Z")
Don Pardo’s intro to Zappa’s Illinois Enema Bandit [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/xnOSw045gvc/maxresdefault.jpg "Frank Zappa - The Illinois Enema Bandit (Zappa In New York / Visualizer)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnOSw045gvc) ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/11 "2024-10-09T06:40:50Z")
Iconic? Certainly one of the most ambitious prog rock albums: Rick Wakeman’s Journey to the Center of the Earth, with David Hemings narrating [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9HVDIPmbCnE/hqdefault.jpg "Rick Wakeman - Journey to The Centre of The Earth - Full Album 1974") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HVDIPmbCnE) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/12 "2024-10-09T06:48:10Z")
The outro to “Nights in White Satin” certainly warrants a mention. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7JFQl_OPofU/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHUBoAC4AOKAgwIABABGA8gZShUMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBUREiFE6PAhppcOjoklaMwgtChEQ "The Moody Blues: The Night: Nights In White Satin - Late Lament") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JFQl_OPofU&t=338) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/13 "2024-10-09T06:56:27Z")
I thought about mentioning that, but you beat me to it. Wasn’t that Justin Hayward? Gosh, imagine what it would have been like if James Earl Jones had done it! Aside to @CairoCarol —this is a great topic. You’ve got me running through all kinds of music now, and it’s late, and I’m almost grabbing my flute (thank you, @Smapti, because I can actually get that flute solo in “Nights” and can play along), but maybe I should think about … Naw. This is more fun! ETA: Good call on _Rick Wakeman’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth_, @Slithy_Tove ! ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/14 "2024-10-09T06:58:48Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > this is a great topic. I’m sure enjoying it! I wasn’t sure it would get any traction, but am delighted that it is. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/15 "2024-10-09T07:04:14Z")
Sir Ian McKellen did a terrific spoken word poem toward the end of Scissor Sisters _Invisible Light_. They were able to get him to do it because he was a fan of the band and attended lots of their shows. He recorded the reading in his dressing room before appearing in _Waiting for Godot_. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zPnDEvn_HW0/maxresdefault.jpg "Invisible Light - Scissor Sisters") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPnDEvn_HW0&t=0s) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/16 "2024-10-09T07:08:16Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > … but am delighted that it is. So am I. And I must thank you for getting me reacquainted with Jeff Wayne’s _War of the Worlds_. I’m listening to it through YouTubes right now, after not hearing it for decades. Almost tempted to get in touch with a musician friend to see if he’s got a source for piano and vocal sheet music of the album. There would be an orchestral score, but that would be too much. I can figure out what I need to from a piano-and-vocal arrangement. Thanks again, **Carol**! ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/17 "2024-10-09T08:01:53Z")
Vincent Price: into to “The Black Widow” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KBKp2Yo_CGE/maxresdefault.jpg ""Black Widow" Alice Cooper with Vincent Price Intro") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBKp2Yo_CGE) ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/18 "2024-10-09T08:06:51Z")
Don Pardo also did a voiceover for the bridge on “Weird Al” Yankovic’s “I Lost on Jeopardy.” “That’s right Al, you lost!..” ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/19 "2024-10-09T08:07:08Z")
I don’t know how iconic the song is, but Lou Reed’s grimy epic “Street Hassle” features a spoken word segment by Bruce Springsteen of all people. The Boss comes in at 9:04: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4LK9JjW2noo/maxresdefault.jpg "Lou Reed - Street Hassle (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LK9JjW2noo) Th whole song is worth listening to. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585/20 "2024-10-09T08:08:48Z")
Ian McShane on Grace Jones’s **Slave To The Rhythm**. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GG5pcX84Sqk/maxresdefault.jpg "Grace Jones : "Slave To The Rhythm" (1985) • Official Music Video • Subtitle Lyrics Option") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG5pcX84Sqk) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-spoken-guest-voices-in-iconic-songs/1008585.md?page=2)