Extraordinary voice-overs every day

Voice-over actors are everywhere. In fact, most people in the modern world would be hard pressed to go about their daily routines without hearing a voice-over performance. Every TV commercial requires one—radio, of course, runs on the stuff. We’re online, recording audiobooks, train announcements, museum exhibits, cartoons, video games—you name it! That little voice you hear in your head that tells you not to do bad stuff? Also provided by voice-over artists. For a brief period of time in 1972, some 65% of American consciences were voiced by Daws Butler. It’s pretty certain that we’ve been secretly running the country since 1979.

Speaking of such VO “applications”, a Straight Dope column recently satiated a reader’s curiosity about one of the most ubiquitous voice-overs of recent times: “You’ve Got Mail” of AOL fame. The voice-in-question belongs to Elwood Edwards, with a simple bit of copy that has become universally recognizable as a brand.

One has to wonder if AOL would have been as successful if they hadn’t gone that route, or *shudder* used computerized vocal simulation. I’m getting a vision of an alternate world where all the baklava and banana bread is dry and flavorless. Funny that most of my visions of alternate universes begin with good food gone bad.

Anyhow, such is the interesting station of the voice-over actor: simultaneous fame and anonymity. Or near-anonymity. In any case, our work is about the message, not the messenger. If we’re good at what we do, like any good actor, you hardly even notice us. We strive to make the everyday just a little more memorable.

Photo: Victoria Park Train Station Speakers. Stuart Green, artist; Rob Muir, sound artist; Dave Primmer, mixed media.