Why on earth do people speak on records?

So many execrable examples. Elvis on Are You Lonesome Tonight? Diana Ross on Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and I can’t even bring myself to think about Charlene on I’ve Never Been to Me. Michael Jackson, however, was the worst offender. He did it on Ain’t No Sunshine. He did it again on The Girl Is Mine, and the dreadful simpering intro on this must make even his most devoted fans cringe. The good thing is, it’s been largely forgotten. We pretend it didn’t happen. We simply skip the first 40 seconds and enjoy a wonderful celebration of the power and excitement of love.