The idea that singing is "talking with a melody" is not new, and I think it applies well to many types of singing. But there are other types of singing/songs wherein I'd say the focus is more on using the human voice as another orchestral instrument, where the emphasis is on the tones and sounds themselves, rather than on the phrasing, etc., that seems natural for speaking.

For example, in many choral pieces the notation as to when to breathe or not breathe does not fit well with where you would normally pause in speech, though it may enhance the 'musicality' of the piece.

My own strong preference is for phrasing, breathing, vowel formation, etc., that correspond well to the way you'd speak a poem. But maybe that's because I'm a folkie, not an opera singer.