Voice
As I sipped my coffee I watched The Today Show, perused blogs and websites and Craigslist – then a woman appeared on TV with unusual animals. I only half paid attention. The internet was more interesting.
Then the woman spoke.
Her voice made my ears hurt. And it wasn’t a Fran Dresher voice. Or the guy who sells OxyClean. I could not believe this woman was on national television even though she had exotic animals carrying footballs. I got a twinge in my neck from the sound. Ah, then relief with the addition of The Today Show folks. But then she spoke again.
I’m a Today Show devotee but I could not listen to this woman’s voice. I actually got a headache sitting right here, on the couch with my feet up on the reclining end of my sectional. No amount of caffeine could fix this.
I changed the channel.
This is not at all unlike reading a book or a blog and finding the voice doesn’t work for you. I don’t punish myself – I close the book – I click away from the blog. Obviously this woman is an expert, I don’t doubt she’s good at what she does, but it didn’t work for me. Didn’t matter that she was on my favorite morning show. Didn’t matter that I love animals. Didn’t matter that she had unusual facts that could definitely help me with that mingling thing I hate so much.
The voice didn’t work for me.
It’s really pretty simple, isn’t it?
HA! That’s so funny you say that. I am drinking my coffee, blogging away and also have the Today Show on and I completely missed the lady with the voice! Guess I must’ve been reading something pretty intently.
I have a really hard time reading blogs with soundtracks, which is odd because having my own background music or the tv on doesn’t bother me at all.
Love the new sight too!
That’s a great comparison! I don’t understand people who say they’ll read someone’s blog if they comment on theirs, the implied threat being they won’t read yours if you don’t comment. Does that mean those people won’t read a blog – even if it appeals to them – just because they didn’t get a comment from that writer? And they read blogs they may not like, purely for the same reason?
Everything I read much appeal to me or I won’t read it. Simple as that.
Great voice keeps me reading and going back for more.
And the sound of voice is my gripe with audio-books. I had “The Secret” om audio; the author was the reader and OMG she made my ears bleed. Really bad Aussie accent, sort of a cross between Russel Crow and anyone from Brooklyn. RUINED IT FOR ME! But, I’m over it.
I come here because you always add something to my thoughts.
Ohmigosh, Amy! I’ve got a blog in the queue for tonight about voice!
So true. It really is an individual thing.
Many people used to say that about the late, great Myron Cope. The smart ones realized that once you got past the squeaks and the scratches, the man’s knowledge of sports was amazing, and the way he delivered it — the words he spoke in that voice — made very smart comments make perfect sense (and seem not so erudite). He was a true gem.
Sometimes, you have to look beyond one element to see the whole picture. Myron wouldn’t have been Myron without the voice. It’s part of what made him who he was. But yeah, it was an acquired taste.