# Favourite vocal presentations of a single line in music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 27, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823 "2008-05-27T22:46:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/1 "2008-05-27T22:46:07Z")
Just a single line from a song that is sung so neat that you can’t wait to hear it when the song plays. Three come to mind for me right away,though I’m sure I’ll think of some others. _Nevermore_ by **Queen** -…and the rain stopped falling… _Gypsies,Tramps and Thieves_ by **Cher** -…Rode with us to Memphis… _The Final Cut_ by **Pink Floyd** -…Thought I oughta tear the curtain down… ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/2 "2008-05-28T00:46:08Z")
Mine aren’t really lines, there are literally thousands lines I wait for in songs. But I went into this thread to post Pink Floyd, from The Trial: showing “_feelings_”, you can hear the scare quotes around the word. Same with the live version of Alison by Costello: > [@](#): > > I heard you let that little “friend” of mine, take off your party dress. That word is so snarlilicious, it’s lovely. ---
**Author:** ![pprgrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f6c823/32.png) [@pprgrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pprgrl)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/3 "2008-05-28T02:41:09Z")
Like **Ludovic,** I have thousands. But the one I anticipate the most these days is Brandi Carlile’s delivery of “all of these lines across my face” at 2:53 in “The Story.” Without the pathos of her vocalization of that one line, the rest of the song is sort of trite and unmemorable. The way she sings that one line fucking _makes_ that song. Tori Amos has some good moments like that in many songs, as do Bjork and PJ Harvey. And Sleater-Kinney. Every single time I listen to “Jumpers,” a chill runs up my spine when Corin Tucker wails “lonely as a cloud.” ---
**Author:** ![HeadNinja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b4bc9f/32.png) [@HeadNinja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeadNinja)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/4 "2008-05-28T03:09:48Z")
Sublime - I swear sometimes you’re taking me for granted. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/5 "2008-05-28T11:09:16Z")
Heart - “Wait for an Answer.” There’s one singing of the refrain “Where are you, how are you, I wait for an answer, wait for an answer” where whichever Wilson is singing really lts herself go and sounds like she’s about to lose control. Just like someone who’s obviously stressed out waiting for a phone call that never comes might be. It completely makes the song for me. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/6 "2008-05-28T11:27:36Z")
Ten years ago, when my appendix burst and I had a wee bit of delirium, one line from _The Wall_ kept repeating in my head: _I feel Cold as a razor blade, Tight as a tourniquet, Dry as a funeral drum._ Great delivery (on the original album). ---
**Author:** ![Leechboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@Leechboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leechboy)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/7 "2008-05-28T11:47:03Z")
I’m surprised I’m the first to mention **Sufjan Stevens** heart rending “Oh my god” from _John Wayne Gacy Jr._. Conveys the horror and sadness of the whole mess in three words. ---
**Author:** ![freekalette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@freekalette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freekalette)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/8 "2008-05-28T12:19:22Z")
Wow, hello fellow Floydians! Guess I picked the right thread to stumble into this morning. 🙂 I’ve got lots, but two came to mind immediately. Pink Floyd, from “Two Suns in the Sunset” - Right before the climax of the song, Roger says “Oh, no” in this sighing, saddened voice. Coupled with the meaning of the rest of the song, the realness of his voice when he gets to that part just tears my heart out, throws it on the ground, and stomps it into mush. Death Cab for Cutie, from “What Sarah Said” - The title line of the song. Up until this point, his voice sounds almost defiant, like he’s trying to be brave in the face of tragedy. By the time he gets to the word “Sarah,” his voice lilts, and you just know it’s because he’s trying not to cry. It’s like in that moment, he realizes that the nurse is, in fact, coming to talk to him, and it’s not what he wants to hear. 'Scuse me, I think I’ve got something in my eye… ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/9 "2008-05-28T20:43:28Z")
Behind Blue Eyes, by **The Who**. “But my dreams, they aren’t as empty As my conscience seems to be.” Right in the middle of the word “dreams”, Roger Daltry’s voice casually pops up about an octave, then scales back down, staying on pitch all the way. And all in a fraction of a second. Daltry makes it sound easy, but you try it! ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/10 "2008-05-28T21:07:42Z")
Roxy Music, _Dance Away_: “All the way … is far enough.” ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/11 "2008-05-28T21:24:36Z")
Ben Folds - “Come pick me up…I’ve landed.” The little pause adds a lot. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/12 "2008-05-28T22:13:15Z")
_I’ll take you where real animals are playing / Where people are real people not just playing_ – from The Kinks’ “Animal Farm.” I love how choppy and raucous Ray Davies’ voice is right there. And on the flip side of feelings… _I’m so happy, I’m so happy you didn’t die_ – Neutral Milk Hotel’s “Three Peaches.” Jeff Mangum sings this line with such misery, it’s like a blow to the stomach. Brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/13 "2008-05-28T22:35:05Z")
[QUOTE=MadTheSwine] Just a single line from a song that is sung so neat that you can’t wait to hear it when the song plays. Three come to mind for me right away,though I’m sure I’ll think of some others. _Nevermore_ by **Queen** -…and the rain stopped falling.. . [/QUOTE] I really like Freddie Mercury’s vocals–just about any Queen song. I’ve always been a huge Doors fan, and especially love Morrison’s singing at the end of “Light My Fire”. It sends chills down my spine even after having listened to it a thousand times. Similarly for the less well known cut “My Eyes Have Seen You”, from the second LP, at the fadeout: > [@](#): > > At the same time, my liking for the band is based primarily on how the vocals and instruments sound together, rather than just Morrison. > > My eyes have seen you… > My eyes have seen you… > My eyes have seen you… > EYES have seen you let them photograph your soul > Memorize your alleys on an endless roll… > Endless roll… > Endless roll… > > [12x more to fadeout]. For classical and opera singers I especially like Dietrich Fischer Dieskau–pretty much any of the Schubert song cycles. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/14 "2008-05-29T04:01:40Z")
Holly Cole [singing “I Am Calling You”](http://youtube.com/watch?v=BpuE_0MafLI) starting at the 50 second mark. Hair raisingly good. And [here](http://youtube.com/watch?v=Do-SRjA2ufw&feature=related) is the behind the scenes on how the vocal was done. ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/15 "2008-05-29T04:15:58Z")
“Well so could anyone” Kirsty MacColl’s response to MacGowan’s “I could have been someone” from _Fairytale of New York_. Captures the emotions of the song in one line. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/16 "2008-05-29T04:23:11Z")
_Hello Earth_ by Kate Bush…“Hello Earth, hello Earth…” haunting and beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Nurobath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a88e57/32.png) [@Nurobath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nurobath)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/17 "2008-05-29T04:33:31Z")
The first thing I thought of was not a line but a bit of background singing by Bob Harris from Zappa’s Tinseltown Rebellion album. In the song Love of My Life he begins a note and holds it for about 5 seconds, then starts going higher and higher, and comes back down with a little flourish. A great little piece of vocal work. He’s good in the rest of the song as well, but that really stands out. ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/18 "2008-05-29T04:36:34Z")
I always liked the line in ABBA’s “Cassandra” that goes, “Packing your bags, being slow and thorough.” ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/19 "2008-05-29T05:16:05Z")
Red Hot Chili Peppers: “Get on Top” _Complications of a Mastermind…_ I just love how those words are sung so differently from the rest of the song. The way he sings “Complication” its just… perfection in that song. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823/20 "2008-05-29T05:20:20Z")
Band Aid - Do They Know It’s Christmas - “Well, tonight thank God it’s them instead of you.” The Fixx - Red Skies at Night - The extended scream of “NIIIIIGHT” in the middle of the song [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-vocal-presentations-of-a-single-line-in-music/450823.md?page=2)