What Do These Iconic Phrases Have In Common With You?
Familiar words of famous people or characters and how they help us learn about audio
Read these quotes, either silently or aloud and see if you can guess:
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” -- Martin Luther King Jr. (I Have a Dream speech)
“We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” -- Winston Churchill (We Shall Fight on the Beaches speech)
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” -- Franklin D. Roosevelt (First Inaugural Address)
How About These?
“Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” - John F. Kennedy (Inaugural Address)
"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" President Ronald Reagan (in Berlin)
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”Neil Armstrong (from the Moon)
Yes, they are famous people who said famous things. BUT
What Do You Think They Have In Common With YOU?
I’m willing to bet when you read those quotes, that you heard them in your mind -- in the voice of the one who spoke them!
Not your personal voice, not my voice, or your mothers, but the sound of the speakers voice is in your mind.
Even though you and I may not have been alive to hear those spoken the first time, we’ve likely all heard the speeches in school, a documentary or in a commercial or museum. Even if you haven’t heard them all, you know them. Yes?
The sound of the speakers voice (as well as what was said) is indelibly remembered in our head.
Really smart people who study the brain (neurologists) tell us that sound remains in our memory longer than what we see does.
How about these:
“Time circuits on, flux capacitor fluxing, plutonium nuclear reactor, 1.21 gigawatts, time circuits on, flux capacitor fluxing, plutonium nuclear reactor, 1.21 gigawatts…” Doc Brown, Back to the Future
No, I am your father” — Darth Vader, Star Wars
Do or do not; there is no try” — Yoda, Star Wars
Eh...What’s up, Doc? —Bugs Bunny, Looney Toones
To infinity, and beyond” — Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story
Again, as you read, you heard these in your head in the characters voice, right?
These vocal sounds have stayed with us over years and have made a permanent impression. The tone, inflection, mood, emotion, meaning, or situation have all stayed within our memory banks.
Who doesn’t remember the sound of Mom’s voice calling us to dinner? Or Dad telling us we should have gone before we left?
The sound of their voice is what we remember.
Here’s the point
What these memorable, famous sayings have in common with you, is: YOUR voice can have that same impact, that same impression, that same meaning to the ones who hear you say them
Not just your family, the very same people who read your words can hear them and will remember them just like you remember the voice of George Bailey telling off Mr. Potter in It’s A Wonderful Life.
Am I saying hearing a story is better than reading it? Not at all.
But it is a different presentation. And just like footprints, will leave a long lasting impression.
So don’t be afraid to explore adding some audio to your writing.
I can’t wait to hear👂🏻you,
Todd
p.s. Want to learn more about recording your voice?
Or start here: check out the free series the 5 Essentials for Recording Good Audio
Or hit me up for a 1-on-1 session for the rabbit fast track.
Image by WikiImages from Pixabay