Stay by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs (Lyrics)

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This #1 hit doo-wop song from 1960 is great for practicing a variety of sounds. The title word "Stay" provides practice of the initial /s/ sound and the GRAY vowel sound (/eɪ/)

The /s/ and /z/ sounds take the same mouth position. For both, the sides of the tongue touch the middle and back upper teeth while the tip of the tongue is lowered a bit. Air flows out the middle part of the tongue. The /s/ sound is voiceless and sounds hissy and breathy while the /z/ sound is voiced and sounds buzzy. The /z/ requires the activation of the vocal cords while the /s/ sound does not. NOTE: When the letter S follows a voiced consonant or vowel, it is pronounced /z/. For example, the word SEEMS begins with a /s/ sound and ends with a /z/ sound. As you listen to, "Stay" songs, pay close attention to words containing the letter S and listen to determine whether you hear a /s/ or /z/ sound. (What sound does the S make in the word PLEASE?)

The GRAY vowel sound is a diphthong --- or moving- sound -- made up of two different target mouth positions and sounds. When making the GRAY vowel sound the lips are relaxed, not rounded and the mouth is slightly open. The tongue moves from a mid-high to high position as the jaw moves up. Diphthongs are also thought of as "gliding vowels."

The phrases, "Oh won't you..." and "just a little bit longer' contain the following color vowel sounds:

Oh won't --- ROSE ROSE /oʊ/ /oʊ/
you -- BLUE /u/
stay - GRAY /ei/
just a - MUSTARD MUSTARD /ə/ /ə/
little bit - SILVER SILVER /ɪ/ /ɪ/
longer --- AUBURN PURPLE /ɔ/ /ər/

The repeated phrase, "Please please please please please" is good for practicing the /p/ consonant sound, the /i/ as in GREEN vowel sound and the /z/ sound.

For more information on using colors to represent vowel sounds visit watch https://youtu.be/DAEIFcuNRko

Stay (Just a LIttle Bit Longer) by Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs - American English Listening and Pronunciation Practice: S and the GRAY vowel sound: /eɪ/
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