Always reminds me of: Warm iced Earl Grey Tea, Vladimer Vodka and cold vegetable lasagna...The most unsweet life I ever lived. Thank God for Sparks!!!!
this song is fantastic...my favorite sparks album (despite not nearly hearing all of them) is easily pulling rabbits out of a hat. easy. kimono my house is a close 2nd...the only ones ive heard that i didnt like were terminal jive (i thought the entire album was trash) and in outer space wasnt too strong, but i also liked angst in my pants.
Heard sparks first at the beginning of the eighties here in germany and still love their music today. The period they were produced by Giorgio Moroder is one of their famous` times. Just No. 1 in all ....
From the Number One In Heaven (which is also the album Beat The Clock is on), this is a belting track. In fact, the whole of that album is class...and there are only 6 songs!
Don't forget about the Terminal Jive album. It was also produced by Moroder and is underated even by Sparks fans. I personally think it's a slightly better album than No 1 but that's just my opinion.
Both of the Moroder produced albums are permanently in my ipod. I would love to own the Japanese remastered No 1 Song In Heaven but it is so hard to find and expensive.
Cool. It could be said that Sparks have enjoyed three real high points in their career: the Kimono My House era, the Number One era and later the Gratuitous Sax era. It's weird to think that it's thirty years since Number One and fifteen since Gratuitous Sax! They're so cool though and I'm continually delighted by their music.
I don't know enough about the Gratuitous Sax era, but they've also had a huge revival with their past few albums. Sold out shows and great reviews from the critics. They are not one band to rest on their laurels.
Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins, a stunning album which included the singles When Do I Get To Sing My Way? and When I Kiss You as well as Now That I Own The BBC. It's shot through with lots of dry Sparks wit and there isn't s weak song on it. You could say it forms one part of a trilogy with the follow-up Balls and Lil' Beethoven (itself a masterpiece).
I think the 60s were a little more interesting than the 70s as far as what was "hip" in those days. I was a child of the eighties; I've got pictures galore of all the crazy things that were considered cool (mind you, it was early 90s when they were taken, but my parents weren't quite out of the 80s phase yet).
I digress.
Ron and Russell never fail to make me smile. Bad day? Find a video of the Mael brothers doing their thing. ;D
Ron Mael was asked about his mustache, and he said it was inspired by Charlie Chaplin. However, because a bunch of ignorant folks kept making comments about Hitler, Ron trimmed his mustache differently in later years. In Paul McCartney's "Coming Up" video, he portrayed Ron with the Chaplin mustache.
And I personally think the most recent two albums which have a lot of pseudo-classical/opera overtones, are two of their best....Lil Beethoven and Hello Young Lovers. The one that comes out in a month is Exotic Creatures from the Deep. Hello Young Lovers is more 'rock' than Lil Beethoven, but both are GREAT.
Sparks CD's go in an out of print though, right now is a pretty good time to catch up on the catalog. The problem is that since they are a true cult band, they have been on -a lot- of different labels (hey, these guys aren't selling, let's drop them! No hit in the USA...Wait, huge hits in the UK as a glam band. maybe they can try to sound more 'rock' and make it in the US, nope, that didn't work...okay now disco hits, ballad hit in France, new wave USA hits ..techno hits in Germany????)
there was a different version of this song on the cybernetic broadcasting system tv site for a while.. but was taken off. featured more dancing- anyone got any information on it?!
I totally agree with mazzarge about the album "Number 1 in Heaven" being one of the best of all time. Mainly overlooked by the masses bakc in 1979, but I wonder what kind of reaction they would get, if the album were to be released now. I guess the music press would laud them to, metaphorically-speaking, HEAVEN!
I am interested in Sparks, call myself a music fan but didn't realise they did anything after town aint big enough.... is no 1 in heaven the one to start with then is it the best? what did the NME et al think of them in the late 70's and early 80's?
I like EVERY Sparks album, though some are better than others and they changed their style about 7 times or more!!!! The big consistancy is that Ron Mael is one of the best lyric writers ever, and Russel is an amazing singer. And they are funny, and unique in a self-invented manner. What albums are the best? I like Lil Beethoven and Hello Young Lovers, Gratuitous Sax, Music that you can Dance to, Angst, No. 1 in Heaven, Introducing, Indiscreet, Kimono, and Woofer best...today!!!! There you go!
OK thanks a lot for your information..the wonders of technology, couldn't imagine how I would have been able to locate a Sparks fan in the old days... will put a couple of these albums on my suggested birthday present lists... are they on CD or just vinyl do you know
i am stunned that sparks were not huge.i prefer to see the artists performing than boring special effects.I liked when i,m with you in late 70s and thanks to good friend from work who is heavily into music i have discovered all this.brilliant.
They were bigger in Europe, but never quite received the respect, -and airplay, -they deserved in the States. I first saw them on television during Don Kirschners Rock Concert, blew me away, but then Queen arrived on the scene and sort of stole the whole Euro-Art Band concept away from everyone.
Simple. Big record companies hated them because they sought to maintain their originality instead of sell out to the latest fad. Fans love Sparks, record companies hated them.
They both look so adorable. Yes, Ron's hair is excellent like that.
There's a restaurant near me called Dolce Vita. I think I'll go there signing this song. Especially since it's about a Gigolo gold digger. Especially...
@8mineko Wow, I can't believe I said this 3 years ago! and I still think of the song when I drive past. Alas, I live in the Detroit, MI area. We're pretty keen on Italian too!
@LadyEdgar I didn't really expect that you will notice my message. Same here, Wow!
Just like you, the song starts playing in my head whenever I pass by the restaurant.
The legendary movie which the song was named after is going to be screened this weekend and I'm planning to go and watch it. Btw how nice that I can talk sparks related topics here.. I don't really have sparks fan around me :'(
Donna summer hated them!! Ha! that'll do me! Good enough reason to love spark's, as all their peer's at the time hated them, yet it look's like sparks will be more revered than all their shit pop of the 70's 80's!
God I love this vid. It's given me so much happiness thanks for posting it. Im loving Rons hair. Russell hasn't changed at all has he? Just his hair. God I love this video! THank you lord! Russell how did you get so sexy!
Classic Sparks from an album that was ground-breaking, remember great times. listening to this in Berlin nightclubs.
Gusdocs1 1 month ago
love the guys dance
snufcat 6 months ago
Always reminds me of: Warm iced Earl Grey Tea, Vladimer Vodka and cold vegetable lasagna...The most unsweet life I ever lived. Thank God for Sparks!!!!
Bahaga78 6 months ago
brilliant as ever...
peterpiper41 1 year ago
this song is fantastic...my favorite sparks album (despite not nearly hearing all of them) is easily pulling rabbits out of a hat. easy. kimono my house is a close 2nd...the only ones ive heard that i didnt like were terminal jive (i thought the entire album was trash) and in outer space wasnt too strong, but i also liked angst in my pants.
movrinoscopy 1 year ago
C*U*L*T !!
5*****
MrsAdely 1 year ago
Ron looks ... rather stoned.
ladyislingering 1 year ago
1:12 is so cute :)
TroyBruno 1 year ago
still a killer, geniuses@work....
MrPondolino 1 year ago 2
If Ron's glare could kill... that'd be a wonderful way to die :D Thanks for this great video!
psykoosi 2 years ago 10
how hilarious, a sparks joke, wow, i like it
fubarcat50 2 years ago
1979 trance, a change from the earlier Sparks which featured a sort of 1930s flavored rock! This song is cool!
blempo 2 years ago
looking real bored id what you pay me for
faa1968 2 years ago
weird fucking band, but I guess its awesome
caseygtr 2 years ago
the number one band in heaven... *sigh*
wonderfool1234 2 years ago 5
Heard sparks first at the beginning of the eighties here in germany and still love their music today. The period they were produced by Giorgio Moroder is one of their famous` times. Just No. 1 in all ....
Onlyoneofoldeurope 2 years ago 3
after a bloody bad day, I just HAVE to listen to sparks.
This band just makes me forget how annoying life can be lol !!!!!
xlilxvampirex 2 years ago 33
From the Number One In Heaven (which is also the album Beat The Clock is on), this is a belting track. In fact, the whole of that album is class...and there are only 6 songs!
flicker66 2 years ago 37
your right mate,its a cracking and under rated record
fatley 2 years ago 18
Don't forget about the Terminal Jive album. It was also produced by Moroder and is underated even by Sparks fans. I personally think it's a slightly better album than No 1 but that's just my opinion.
jrmarrero96 2 years ago 3
Terminal Jive's a great album too: When I'm With You, Stereo, Rock 'n' Roll People In A Disco World (!) etc.
flicker66 2 years ago
Both of the Moroder produced albums are permanently in my ipod. I would love to own the Japanese remastered No 1 Song In Heaven but it is so hard to find and expensive.
jrmarrero96 2 years ago
Cool. It could be said that Sparks have enjoyed three real high points in their career: the Kimono My House era, the Number One era and later the Gratuitous Sax era. It's weird to think that it's thirty years since Number One and fifteen since Gratuitous Sax! They're so cool though and I'm continually delighted by their music.
flicker66 2 years ago 3
I don't know enough about the Gratuitous Sax era, but they've also had a huge revival with their past few albums. Sold out shows and great reviews from the critics. They are not one band to rest on their laurels.
voteforgoat 2 years ago
Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins, a stunning album which included the singles When Do I Get To Sing My Way? and When I Kiss You as well as Now That I Own The BBC. It's shot through with lots of dry Sparks wit and there isn't s weak song on it. You could say it forms one part of a trilogy with the follow-up Balls and Lil' Beethoven (itself a masterpiece).
flicker66 2 years ago
Ron is definitely cute with his hair all curled!
cardiganpockets 3 years ago 8
geez,
seems i should probably be chatting with your mom and dad, if they were going through a "phase" in the eighties.
at least they taught you to appreciate some cool music!
hehe
cheers!
silmalila 3 years ago
I actually discovered Sparks all on my own, hah, they think I'm crazy for going nuts collecting all their records now. I've bought seven so far. :)
beatlebijou 3 years ago 8
good for you!
elsoda 2 years ago 2
:) I love Ron's hair in this video. Both the brothers are simply adorable, though you kind of want to hold them down and feed them ...
beatlebijou 3 years ago 2
...'secially 'cause the seventies were the worst decade as far as hair goes, with a very few exceptions.
And Sparks were exceptional in every way too.
I deplored the seventies, wedged between two of the most interesting decades of the century, too.
Doncha think?
silmalila 3 years ago
I think the 60s were a little more interesting than the 70s as far as what was "hip" in those days. I was a child of the eighties; I've got pictures galore of all the crazy things that were considered cool (mind you, it was early 90s when they were taken, but my parents weren't quite out of the 80s phase yet).
I digress.
Ron and Russell never fail to make me smile. Bad day? Find a video of the Mael brothers doing their thing. ;D
beatlebijou 3 years ago
to me, visually, this is the best clip of them ever :)))
justejust 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I have a very serious question. "Sparks" as well as "The Darkness" have an uncanny resemblance. Are they the same people? This is bothering me. =/
kunoichi09 3 years ago
No, they are not the same people, though the lead singer of The Darkness did cover Spark's "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us".
janborvo 3 years ago
hahahahaha what ! i cant think of 2 groups of people who luck less like each other! maby lenny henry n tony blair
vinniemooreufo 3 years ago
They both look so adorable.
54spiritedwill54 3 years ago 2
esto me aberra, divino
leroydisco 3 years ago
Ron Mael was asked about his mustache, and he said it was inspired by Charlie Chaplin. However, because a bunch of ignorant folks kept making comments about Hitler, Ron trimmed his mustache differently in later years. In Paul McCartney's "Coming Up" video, he portrayed Ron with the Chaplin mustache.
jsc1215 3 years ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
whats wrong with the keyboardist?!
and isnt the hitler mustache abit offensive?
VintageJordan 3 years ago
it's just a moustache....charlie chaplin had one........
MackerelCat 3 years ago 17
offensive is the interpretation that several low minded people tendo to do
lasfinisimas 3 years ago 3
Ron had his 79 hairstyle on tonight's gig :D Wonderful to hear electronica after all the rock. My Other voice was beautiful.
MissMael 3 years ago
And I personally think the most recent two albums which have a lot of pseudo-classical/opera overtones, are two of their best....Lil Beethoven and Hello Young Lovers. The one that comes out in a month is Exotic Creatures from the Deep. Hello Young Lovers is more 'rock' than Lil Beethoven, but both are GREAT.
jeangaut7 3 years ago 3
Sparks CD's go in an out of print though, right now is a pretty good time to catch up on the catalog. The problem is that since they are a true cult band, they have been on -a lot- of different labels (hey, these guys aren't selling, let's drop them! No hit in the USA...Wait, huge hits in the UK as a glam band. maybe they can try to sound more 'rock' and make it in the US, nope, that didn't work...okay now disco hits, ballad hit in France, new wave USA hits ..techno hits in Germany????)
jeangaut7 3 years ago 3
How wonderful. Sparks at their best. Do not miss Sparks performing all their albums, one night at a time in London in May!
lynnetom20042003 3 years ago 2
Giorgio Moroder seems to be behind this music.
4Dsign 4 years ago
well picked
peterogr 3 years ago
Well he produced the EP...
matthew11222 3 years ago
there was a different version of this song on the cybernetic broadcasting system tv site for a while.. but was taken off. featured more dancing- anyone got any information on it?!
spee9 4 years ago
I totally agree with mazzarge about the album "Number 1 in Heaven" being one of the best of all time. Mainly overlooked by the masses bakc in 1979, but I wonder what kind of reaction they would get, if the album were to be released now. I guess the music press would laud them to, metaphorically-speaking, HEAVEN!
scotsguy7 4 years ago
I am interested in Sparks, call myself a music fan but didn't realise they did anything after town aint big enough.... is no 1 in heaven the one to start with then is it the best? what did the NME et al think of them in the late 70's and early 80's?
supasap 3 years ago
I like EVERY Sparks album, though some are better than others and they changed their style about 7 times or more!!!! The big consistancy is that Ron Mael is one of the best lyric writers ever, and Russel is an amazing singer. And they are funny, and unique in a self-invented manner. What albums are the best? I like Lil Beethoven and Hello Young Lovers, Gratuitous Sax, Music that you can Dance to, Angst, No. 1 in Heaven, Introducing, Indiscreet, Kimono, and Woofer best...today!!!! There you go!
jeangaut7 3 years ago
OK thanks a lot for your information..the wonders of technology, couldn't imagine how I would have been able to locate a Sparks fan in the old days... will put a couple of these albums on my suggested birthday present lists... are they on CD or just vinyl do you know
supasap 3 years ago
All Sparks' albums are available on cd
cravenpark 3 years ago
one of the best albums of all time.yet nobody knows it
mazzarge 4 years ago 3
This is so awesome, i love this song !!
TR0jAX 4 years ago
not their best tune - but great footage - well done
howlsfish 4 years ago
Ah, THAT's why, ok;-)
jmedia1 4 years ago
Well I dunno, with youtube being such a wholesome and sweet gathering place for all them nice and descent folk.
jakobfrederik 4 years ago
I wanted to make a bad joke about Hitler having an illigitimate gay musical son, but I better not..
jakobfrederik 4 years ago
Hey, why not;-)?
jmedia1 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
not only that, but a JEWISH illegitimate gay musical son!
thequoon 4 years ago
thequoon, b.t.w. I hear he was part Jewish, that's weird, talk about selfhate...
B.t.w. 2, what's a quoon?
jakobfrederik 4 years ago
balavoine+adolphe.
maseki 4 years ago
this was one of the first 5 singles i bought in 79
Finnsnor 4 years ago
i am stunned that sparks were not huge.i prefer to see the artists performing than boring special effects.I liked when i,m with you in late 70s and thanks to good friend from work who is heavily into music i have discovered all this.brilliant.
rikjaymad 4 years ago
They were bigger in Europe, but never quite received the respect, -and airplay, -they deserved in the States. I first saw them on television during Don Kirschners Rock Concert, blew me away, but then Queen arrived on the scene and sort of stole the whole Euro-Art Band concept away from everyone.
jdlewis60 4 years ago
how could anyone hate sparks?
kidkorg 4 years ago 2
Simple. Big record companies hated them because they sought to maintain their originality instead of sell out to the latest fad. Fans love Sparks, record companies hated them.
jsc1215 4 years ago 4
...Well Donna Summer can BITE ME!
Love this video!♥ Ron's skin is always so flawless, and his facial expressions are priceless! So, how DID you get so sexy, Russell?♥♥♥♥
TIWICI 4 years ago
They both look so adorable. Yes, Ron's hair is excellent like that.
There's a restaurant near me called Dolce Vita. I think I'll go there signing this song. Especially since it's about a Gigolo gold digger. Especially...
LadyEdgar 4 years ago
@LadyEdgar Are you living in london?
Around my area there's one italian restrant has the name too :)
8mineko 1 year ago
@8mineko Wow, I can't believe I said this 3 years ago! and I still think of the song when I drive past. Alas, I live in the Detroit, MI area. We're pretty keen on Italian too!
LadyEdgar 1 year ago
@LadyEdgar I didn't really expect that you will notice my message. Same here, Wow!
Just like you, the song starts playing in my head whenever I pass by the restaurant.
The legendary movie which the song was named after is going to be screened this weekend and I'm planning to go and watch it. Btw how nice that I can talk sparks related topics here.. I don't really have sparks fan around me :'(
8mineko 1 year ago
Donna Summer never said anything about them--but I doubt she cared one way or another. Great GREAT moroder album
EricMontreal22 5 years ago
this song is a Moroder song?
raffaelepolli 4 years ago
this track is from sparks 6 track lp 'no 1 song in heaven' which was produced by moroder in 79.
acardipane 4 years ago
ok thanks morododer is the deus ex machina of the '70
raffaelepolli 4 years ago
This is my favorite song on the "Number 1 in Heaven" album.
I remember reading an article where several New Wave bands from the 80s cited this album as the big influence on their musical direction.
empzurg 5 years ago
so cute
Natecullen 5 years ago
Donna summer hated them!! Ha! that'll do me! Good enough reason to love spark's, as all their peer's at the time hated them, yet it look's like sparks will be more revered than all their shit pop of the 70's 80's!
allsopman 5 years ago
Russell is soooo damn cute! x
MissJenny4sparks 5 years ago
tremendiouss !
sieurduroue 5 years ago
"Snarks???"
agnamaracs 5 years ago
God I love this vid. It's given me so much happiness thanks for posting it. Im loving Rons hair. Russell hasn't changed at all has he? Just his hair. God I love this video! THank you lord! Russell how did you get so sexy!
iloverussell 5 years ago 2
Donna Summer hated them.
bj70117 5 years ago
i'm sick of watchin russell lip-syncing. he always looks terrified about it.
wow. Ron had such *pretty* hair in 79. and wow, russell really does still look exactly the same aside from ironed hair. i wish i were ron.
fauxtweeterboa 5 years ago
FN genius! Love that you posted this one - thank you - Moroder rules!
djquinnc 5 years ago