Spoken word
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 notoriety in the late 1980s and early 1990s through the emergence of "
poetry slams," where spoken word artists would square off in
cabaret-style duels.
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Voice actingPerformance poetry
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Taalam Acey*
Roger Bonair-Agard*
Rosa Aleman*
GG Allin*
Renair Amin*
Melissa Arnett*
C. R. Avery*
bpNichol*
Eirean Bradley*
Jello Biafra*
Christian Bök*
William S. Burroughs*
Ainsley Burrows*
Ray Buttigieg*
Exene Cervenka*
Naima Dawson*
Ani DiFranco*
AQIYL*
First Draft*
Corey Frost*
The Four Horsemen*
Christopher Fox Graham*
Geode Music & Poetry*
Allen Ginsberg*
Hedwig Gorski*
Suheir Hammad*
Gil Scott-Heron*
Joolz*
Anthony Joseph*
Miranda July*
Jack Kerouac*
Catherine Kidd*
Talib Kweli*
Newoka LaShelle*
Eve Libertine*
Mat Lloyd*
Lydia Lunch*
Taylor Mali*
Mighty Mike McGee*
Marquis Mix*
Rove McManus*
Susan McMaster*
Andrew McClure*
Jim Morrison*
Colin Morton*
Ken Nordine*
Darren B. Rankins*
Henry Rollins*
Stephen Sargent a.k.a god tha lowercase G*
Steve Scott*
William Shatner*
Queen Sheba*
Shihan*
Patti Smith*
Freedom Speaks*
Nicky Spesh*
Serj Tankian*
Samantha Thorhill*
Totem Maples *
Transvalue*
Tom Waits*
Saul Williams*
Amyr Heard*
Sheri-D Wilson*
The Last Poets*
Nigon Skihon*
Journey360Comedians and other artists
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Victor Borge*
Chris Rock*
Robin WilliamsActors and actresses who have recorded classic poetry
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Judith Anderson*
Ed Begley*
Claire Bloom*
Richard Burton*
Albert Finney*
John Gielgud*
Cedric Hardwicke*
James Mason*
Siobhan McKenna*
Tyrone Power*
Vincent Price*
Anthony Quayle*
Michael Redgrave*
Ralph Richardson*
Maggie SmithSpoken Word Community Links
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PoeticMic.com - Spoken Word Community for Poets to write poetry & Speak to be Heard*
Underground Epics - The number one Spoken Word publishing company in the world*
Uth TV, Original spoken word by youth for youth.
