Spoken word
From Free net encyclopedia
Spoken word is a form of literary art or artistic performance in which lyrics, poetry, or stories are spoken rather than sung. Spoken-word is often done with a musical background, but emphasis is kept on the speaker.
One of the most common sorts of spoken word performances is performance poetry, where a poet either reads previously-published poems, or reads poems specifically written to be performed aloud. Another kind that has gained popularity in recent years is political and social commentary, done in such a way that it is, while still prose, somewhat more artistic than a typical speech. Spoken word artists are often poets and musicians. Spoken word gained noteriety in the late 1980s and early 1990s through the emergence of "poetry slams," where spoken word artists would square off in cabaret-style duals.
Artists known for spoken word performances and recordings
- Performance poetry:
- Taalam Acey
- Roger Bonair-Agard
- GG Allin
- Melissa Arnett
- bpNichol
- Eirean Bradley
- Naima Dawson
- William S. Burroughs
- Ainsley Burrows
- Ray Buttigieg
- Exene Cervenka
- First Draft
- Corey Frost
- The Four Horsemen
- Geode Music & Poetry
- Allen Ginsberg
- Stephen Sargent a.k.a god tha lowercase G
- Hedwig Gorski
- Suheir Hammad
- Joolz
- Anthony Joseph
- Miranda July
- Jack Kerouac
- Catherine Kidd
- Newoka LaShelle
- Lydia Lunch
- Taylor Mali
- Mighty Mike McGee
- Marquis Mix
- Rove McManus
- Susan McMaster
- Andrew McClure
- Ken Nordine
- Colin Morton
- Darren B. Rankins
- William Shatner
- Queen Sheba
- Shihan
- Serj Tankian
- Samantha Thorhill
- Transvalue
- Tom Waits
- Sheri-D Wilson
- Political and social commentary:
- Both: