Some of the blogs I like have posted about their issues with annoying sounds. I have a pretty sensitive sense of hearing myself, but not so much for strange noises. I can recognize any celebrity voice, whether it is in a commercial, or in an animated movie, or as a narrator in a film. Sometimes I know who a voice is as soon as I hear it, other times it takes me a bit to figure it out.
I
remember seeing The Incredibles in the theater and obsessing over who was the voice of Syndrome. I had to figure it out by the end of the movie, before the credits. That was a kind of tough one, but I did it. Thanks to my precious TiVo, I rarely am forced to watch commercials. But when I have to, the only ones I pay attention to are those with celebrity voices. George Clooney for Budweiser, Gene Hackman for Lowes, I can name them all.
Despite the proven history of my ability, my power is still met with doubt. Sometimes, I can't prove who a voice is, especially with commercials. But I just know I am right. The most recent that comes to mind is the voice in Hyundai commercials. I am certain that my statement of "That's The Dude" is 100% accurate, even though I cannot definitely prove it.
I found two fun online games, if you want to test your own ear:
Celebrity Challenge
Animations Anonymous
6 comments:
I'm driven nuts, too, trying to identify voices. You sound like an expert! I'm off to try the challenges. Should be fun. Or maddening!
My poor husband is convinced he has Alzheimer's just because he can't correctly identify Steve Buscemi's voice in a recent commercial.
And I love Gene Hackman, but ain't no way he's selling me on Lowe's.
JD at I Do Things
Oh no... I'm going to now spend way too much time playing around on those sites!
I, too, love trying to figure out the celeb voices in commercials and animated movies... Although I'm not as good at it as you are. :-)
Kathy--You could be an expert, too. Just declare yourself one like I did, it's easy!
JD--I read a study that was done that found that commercials with celebrity voices are more successful when people can't identify who the actor is. And didn't you just spend some time at Lowes? Maybe it DID work!
Corrina--I seem to just have an ear for it. I guess that's one thing I have to show for my degree in Speech Communication!
You're right! But I hated my Lowe's experience, and I love Gene Hackman. How do I resolve that?
JD at I Do Things
JD, you may have hated Lowes, but the next time you need something from a home improvement store, will you go to Lowes or Home Depot? Lowes, I bet, because now you will associate it with Gene Hackman.
Post a Comment