Sparks

I never understood why these guys didn't catch on in America and are generally not mentioned as being influential under any genre - among their fans counted are Bjork, whose first album she ever bought was Kimono My House ("The hippies didn't really like it, they thought it was too pop, it didn't have cred," she lamented. "They thought it was too comical. That was the first time I was like 'I've got a record and I'm going to play it and now you've all got to listen to what I like." - from Bjork's bio "Wow and Flutter") Joey Ramone, Morrissey, Bette Midler, Madonna, and tons of other widely varying figures. It's also not hard to imagine that Queen once toured behind the Sparks and took quite a few notes from the Mael Brothers.

To get an idea of how clever and amazing they really are, here's the lyrics to "Here in Heaven" from Kimono My House, a song sung by Romeo if Juliet had decided to go on living...

Here, there are lots of things to do
And a panoramic view
Of the universe completely surrounding you and me
You cannot buy souvenirs
You're never going back, never, never
Basically, I guess it could be worse
Yes, I do suppose it could be worse

Here, there are many, many sheep
And the people only sleep
And awake to tell how gory and gruesome was their end
And I don't have many friends
And it's really very clean and I'm thinking
Juliet, you broke our little pact
Juliet, I'm never coming back

Up here in Heaven without you
I'm here in Heaven without you
Up here in Heaven without you
It is Hell knowing that your health will keep you out of here
For years and years and years

Dear, do you often think of me
As you overlook the sea
Co I qualify as dearly departed or am I
That sucker in the sky
The fall guy for the first and the last time
Juliet, I thought we had agreed
Now I know why you let me take the lead

Up here in Heaven without you
I'm here in Heaven without you
Up here in Heaven without you
It is Hell knowing that your health will keep you out of here
For many, many years

Second thoughts, is that what you had?
Second thoughts, first I broke my back
Second thoughts, as I hit the sea
Second thoughts, for eternity, for eternity, for eternity

Up here in Heaven without you
I'm here in Heaven without you
Up here in Heaven without you
It is Hell knowing that your health will keep you out of here
For years and years and years

They've got a new record out which I haven't had a chance to listen to but is probably really good - they are the most consistent band I've probably ever heard.
Buy their records!















And here's a song from when they gave disco a swift kick....