Some consonants obviously have multiple sounds. “J” can be hard as in my first name, or soft as in “Bijou.” “Th” has soft and hard versions, and so do many other consonant sounds.
Others are less obvious: “D” has multiple versions, though stemming from the same sound. And the one you pick can have tremendous effect on the musical moment.
Imagine an eighth-grader whose father grabs his device midway through a Fortnite match. Her response? “DAD!” (Ideally with the ghost consonant, so it’s “DA-DUH!” Say it out loud.
Now try whispering “darling” in a loved ones ear. “Darling.”
Is this a “darling” moment or a “DAD” moment?