Ian has given me the correct musical term for this. In my opinion, as a singer who enjoys pretty much all styles of music "melisma" is as overused in modern music as "auto tune", first introduced to us by Cher and now pushed at us by many of the hip hop and modern R&B singers.

And Charles if you grew up in the 60's you must have missed Britain's Steve Winwood and His Spencer Davis Band...........

"Gimme Some Lovin"
"Keep On Runnin"
"Somebody Help Me"

You can show emotion by varying timbre, volume and dynamics. You don't need to slide up and down all over the scale on one syllable to create interest in your music.
I will admit that probably many people enjoy this. But I certainly don't.

Now don't get your back up my friend!

God Bless,
Don