Added: 3 years ago
From: frenchaccent
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  • Gone are the days when SNL had good music acts

  • Few know the true story behind this SNL performance. What most thought was a clever comic bit by Ron was actually a stall for time. Just before the show Mael’s synthesizers failed. In an effort to get one working, he wired his Roland to a Moog and accidentally made a time machine. Caught in the warp field, Russell was transported 10 years into the future when Bobby Brown was on SNL. Seeing an opportunity for laffs, he snatched Brown’s outfit and returned to 1982 just in time for the show.

  • Wow, this is back when it was a big badge of honour to be unique (late 70's early 80's - this performance is 1982). Some bands worked, some bands didn't (Sparks certainly did), but the music culture was skewed towards exploring weirdness and celebrating it.

  • I remember seeing this live. For two seconds I was a little scared. Then I said, "I'm buying their album."

  • Despite the fact that this is basically a novelty song, it still rocks harder than 90% of the stuff out there today.

    Go Ron & Russell! 42+ years of smart rocking with more to come!

  • I bet Ron got the best groupies.

  • U can get in trouble if u put programes on u tube!

  • @ 2'26: I love you Ron!

  • Watch Danny DeVito during the intro speech lol

  • Mickey Mouse doesn't play. I once posted some rude comments in a forum on ESPN and got banned. But I can still give my two cents on youtube.

  • best band - in a humourless world full of hate and rubbish music, Sparks lives on!

  • 2:42--2:51 LOL again!!!!

    

  • 2:34 LOL!!!!

  • S-P-A-R-K-S  4EVER !

  • ...sorry..

    

  • not MadTV I'm pretty sure it is not SNL either

  • @legubreous It was Saturday Night Live with host Danny DeVito and aired on May 15, 1982.

  • Pure genius. Man, I miss the days when bands were actually interesting and a little bit weird. These guys should get a medal just for being so bloody cool.

  • so fun to watch, makes me happy

  • The Ronald keyboard is really a Roland Jupiter 8

  • Nope, most of the Videos by Corky and the Juice Pigs on youtube are from SNL

  • @bikri08 They were actually on MadTV

  • @PowerGlove79 Incorrect, SNL 1982.

  • @totenkray I was talking about Corky And The Juice Pigs

  • can't believe Ron was still working the Hitler stache on a major television show like that

  • Sparks is an American rock and pop band formed in Los Angeles in 1970 by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals), initially under the name Halfnelson. Best known for their quirky approach to songwriting,[2] Sparks' music is often accompanied by intelligent, sophisticated, and acerbic lyrics,[3] and an idiosyncratic, theatrical stage presence, typified in the contrast between Russell's wide-eyed hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's sedentary scowling.

  • tony, i know sparks are not from uk, my comment was not literal

  • Holy shit, I remember seeing this on TV, one of the best bands (even their intro is awesome) of all time I've seen performing there. Love it!

  • I am an IDIOT IRETRACT!!! They ARE FROM LA. Too much contradictory information!!!

  • What year is this?

  • thats not the only thing these guys have that weighs one ounce.

  • I saw the Sparks at Disneyland on one of the High school grad night parties in early June 1984. They played two stages at the stage near Space Mountain and they ROCKED. The first show was at like 10pm and the second at Midnight. Ronald danced like he did on this one, he walked to the front of the center part of the stage. Awesome!

  • Who knew Ron could dance??? He always stayed glued to his keyboard. Of course he regains his composure after a few bars. One of the best stage personas ever.

  • They sound a lot like today's indie bands, I'm guessing that most of them are influenced by the Sparks.

  • 2:24 and 2:32 = why i love ron soo much

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  • I love the Ron Mael shtick. Can't get enough.

  • This video taught me a lot about mice. Thanks YouTube!

  • LOL i love Ron!! and Russel too.

  • Sparks..just too British to crack their homeland...pity

  • @peterpiper41 they werent british they were californian

  • @tonymontana1974 LA to be exact.

  • @Dietpepsivanilla They are Scottish. They were NOT from California. What a shame!!! They were not popular in the United States. That is more of a SHAME since they seem EXTREMELY talented. They have produced over THIRTY ALBUMS, over 255 songs. They made an appearance in an American Film, "Rollercoaster". The lyrics are controversial. This is what I've learned TODAY after some modest research on the Internet.

    So WHERE did you get the idea that they were from LA California EXACTLY?!? WHERE???

  • @24kGoldenRocket

    They are NOT SCOTTISH they are from Colchester, Essex in ENGLAND. Bloody hell what web sites are you all on?.

  • @Dietpepsivanilla I RETRACT TOO MUCH CONTRADICTORY INFOR> I AM AN IDIOT!!!

  • @tonymontana1974 They are Scottish. They were NOT from California. What a shame!!! They were not popular in the United States. That is more of a SHAME since they seem to be EXTREMELY talented. They have produced over THIRTY ALBUMS, over 255 songs. The'vey made an appearance in an American Film, "Rollercoaster". The lyrics are controversial. This is what I've learned TODAY after some modest research on the Internet.

    So just WHERE did you get the idea that they were from California?!? WHERE???

  • @tonymontana1974 i retract TOO MUCH CONTRADICTORY INFORMATION ON INTERNET. i AM AN IDIOIT

  • the keyboardists kind of remind me of ralph fiennes from his facial feautures..also some gestures are remarkably identical:)

  • I remember seeing this performance when it originally aired. I had never heard of Sparks before. I couldn't figure out if they were for real or a comedy sketch. I did some research and found out that the hyperactive guy in the glitter suit and the creepy marionette with the moustache were brothers, and that the album was called Angst in My Pants. It was all too weird. Thirty years later, I still can't figure these guys out, but man, that song is catchy.

  • I saw this in real time when it aired, and I was fascinated by the inspired weirdness of this band! Ron Mael's Hitler mustache and deranged faces were both off-putting and mesmerizing, and I enjoyed watching this band go through its paces. I think that, overall, Sparks was, in the end, just too far out there for America. Too bad - great band.

  • 1:38 he says "I got a boner"

  • lol at his relabeling his synth from ROLAND to RONALD :)

  • i cant help but smile or laugh every time i see or hear these guys. iwish they would make fun music like this again.

  • After the day this aired, I bought Sparks' entire back catalogue, and I've bought every subsequent album since. Genius!

  • these guys are awesome!

  • Ron Mael: the original breakdancer.

  • I think my fiance dances like Russ sometimes lmao I may be a little disturbed but Ron his just plain awsm I wanna see him break down and just melbourne shuffle for hours. That would be awsm.

  • Perhaps no money to be made? Michaels has grown old and stodgy. I remember being a kid and the highlight of the weekend was staying up late to watch SNL.

    I clearly recall seeing Sparks and wondering what in the hell was wrong with that guy (Ron)!

    SNL used to have great performances now it is just garbage.

  • Ron's contrast with Russell in this performance is cracking me up.

  • ... a Jon Peters production?

    Giant spiders and/or vampires anyone?

    Ugh. I love Sparks, but... omg, really?

  • I remember seeing this the first time and wondering if people "got it" they were so out there and so amazing!!!

  • It's FUN, that's the point.

    I love these guys. Ron Mael was just so freakin WEIRD. Not many bands have this kind of smart, pointed humor. Just wicked, wicked fun.

  • whats the point of this song

  • How did Walt Disney never sue them over this song?

  • I wonder what people in the audience and people viewing at home were thinking while these guys were performing.

  • Funniest musical appearance on SNL ever

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  • Russell's outfit could induce seizures, but this is wonderful. :)

  • 2:43-2:53 Go Ron!

  • This is one of the best bands ever!

  • I swear that that is Michael Bolton on bass....these guys were definitely Cheap Trick's influence on the 'cool guys/geek guys' gimmick in a rock band AND these guys were criminally overlooked by the clueless mainstream idiots that run the so-called entertainment industry

  • Darn right!  But hey, they're still around and still rocking our socks off.

  • Less Bohem I dated his niece!

  • that was the best dancing ive ever seen

  • Do you think that they could do anything like this on "Saturday Night Live" nowadays? I don't watch the show anymore, so I can't tell.

  • I've seen the new SNL and if they ever saw this video then they'd go cry in a corner because of how far they've fallen.

  • @NotSoCurrentStuff bullshit it's still funny-maybe you aren't funny

  • @retrorocker System of a Down did in '05

  • Oh it's not Saturday Night Live any more. It's the Andy Samberg Show with the occasional Middle School-esque fart joke...or jokes about boo boos and wee wees.

  • love how he changed Roland to "Ronald" on the keyboard

  • the besst, the best!!!!!!

  • This band was something very different!

  • John Lennon commented on seeing Sparks on TV, and said that Hitler had joined a new wave band. I love this video--I remember seeing this back in the early 80s and it has stuck in my memory--even the little dance that Ron does in the middle of it. Fun stuff!

  • This episode was the first time I ever saw Sparks. Love at first sight.

  • Flashin' back to 1983...

  • Thanks for the biology lesson, Ron!

  • Queen opened for them in 1974! Quality is not always record sales, but the joke that the "beautiful" people never get.

  • As with all of Sparks stuff, there's an underlying brilliance here that's beyond most folks.  I remember the night this originally aired, and never got over it. Too cool!!!!!

  • "(...) When the mouse is not 1. scaring women 2. eating saltine crackers from cupboards or 3. ingesting huge amounts of saccharin in laboratory experiments, the mouse has been known to enter the world of entertainment. One such mouse was named Mickey." LOL - this is just brilliant!!!

    Probably this was one of the first Sparks videos I've ever seen - no wonder they've become one of my favourite bands ever!!!

  • Does anyone have an idea why this is the only SNL performance you can get on youtube? Herr Lorne Micheals and Broadway Video restricts the posting of their intellectual product. Except these two performances. Under the radar or what?

  • it's because i didn't put any reference to s-n-l in the description or tags! thats where people go wrong!

    we shouldn't even mention it here!

  • @frenchaccent smart move

  • @walterroy ,my guess back in 1981

  • I remeber buying this "cassett" when it 1st hit the (record store) and every one blsting on me but a week later, i was loaning it for coppy time. these guys were great.

  • IS THER A COOLER DUDE THAN RON???

  • No, there is not, science will prove this very soon.

  • cloning will undoubtedly be the result of this

  • best band ever

  • Ron can BREAK DANCE. God, I love that man.

  • Sparks toured with Patti Smith...1978?

  • There are no words in the English language to describe the awesomeness of this performance. Thank you for posting it.

  • Is the guitar player Bob Kulick? He did a lot of studio/session work with KISS. His brother Bruce was a member of KISS through most of the 80's and early 90's

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  • Is this the only time SNL allowed a musical guest to do a brief comedic monologue before their performance? If so, only Sparks would have been the few bands to pull it off as they do here.

  • i think Sting did.

  • oh they should have had sparks on SNL waaaay more often.

  • Russell does it again with his amazing dress sense!

  • I really, really want a purple sequined suit too!

  • Saw them once at a KROQ free daytime concert at Anson Ford Theater. Was one of the most memorable concerts I've ever seen. Non-stop fun. Hope this tour makes it to DVD.

  • I too, remember seeing this when it was first on. I was probably just 11. I rarely got to see SNL back then, and I happened to see this episode twice. I had never heard of the band before or after that, but I always remembered this song. Years later, I heard it on a local college station. I was glad to find it on iTunes when I finally had access to that.

  • Have a blast!. I read about the tour where they've played all their material in order (with b-sides) in LA Citybeat. Those guys are pure fun.

  • If someone goes to their show tomorrow night at UCLA, let us know how it was.

  • It was effing amazing!

  • The U.C.L.A. show was a dream come true! Such a great crowd! Sparks are so much fun! I flew into California from Chicago just to see them! Second row center! Just fantastic!

  • Ron danced? Cool!

    Great song

  • 2:27

  • I have to second the 2:27. That is hilarious. :D

  • Those sequins are out of control. Hahah. I love this.

  • Does anyone know the chords to this song. I cannot find tab for it. I think it's in Em. HELP!

  • I remember seeing this when it was 1st broadcast - when I was like 16 or something. I even audiotaped it.

  • "Basically everything is easy, give it a try you'll see I'm right." Words to live by.

  • Sparks - been brilliant for years.

    Often wondered how a duet would sound with Russel and Lene Lovich.

  • I love that Ron's synth says Ronald instead of Roland, ha ha. One of those details I for some reason didn't pick up on when I first saw this video.

  • I love this,

    Between being taught about mice by Ron, Russel dressed up like christmas in his sparkly suit which must be about 12 sizes too big, and of course the brillaint music,

    This has to be one of the best videos on youtube, surely.

  • All of that, and the break dancing of course ;)

  • Ronald is FOOKING CLASSIC!!!!

  • wow..had no idea they had every appeared on SNL...aah..good times back in the day..I miss 'em!

  • I never understood why the brothers Mael weren't much bigger [in fame]; they're awesome!

  • Is this the only time they were on SNL does anyone know?

  • Yes, only time (and I saw them two days later in Toronto...) :)

  • amazing intro!

  • Damn, this suit rules the world. Unfortunately this video always gets pulled from Youtube!

  • 2:42 3:03 lol i repeated that for like 20 times and its still funny

  • Russell's baggy sequin suits are out of control.

  • Great song! 2:42-2:59 WTF? LOL!

  • Oh my God Thats CLASSIC!!!!!! LOL!!!!!

  • Russell wore this jacket when performing this song here in London tonight. Sparks rule! Just too good.

  • favorites until viacom takes it down

  • Thank you for this! Cheers to the glorious Mael boys. Praise the maker they're still recording!

  • OH MY GOD! I almost had a heart attack when it zoomed in on Ron smiling.... so fucking creepy looking!

  • I think this is one of there best LIVE performances ive seen so far, this also sounds much better than the album version,...great stuff !!!

  • Ron Mael is the coolest living being!

  • one of the top few video clips i've ever seen. god bless sparks.

  • I saw this on a SNL rerun late one night. it was just on in the background. Then i heard the song, and I was like 'what the fuck band is this that's so awesome?' I frantically tried to understand the lyrics so I could search it. I'm a pretty musically savvy guy, but I had never even heard of these guys. I'm glad i did though

  • Brilliant! I remember seeing this when it first aired. I fell in love with Sparks at that moment. They were on American Bandstand the same time too. My sister and friends all thought that Ron was a robot. Gotta love Sparks!

  • "ingesting huge amounts of saccharine!" hahaha!

  • Fuck yeah! I love this!

  • Ron breakdancing?! Even better than his tap dance routine;-)!!!

  • Glad to see this back on youtube. It is a classic. :P

  • Nice to learn more about mice. I feel so educated.

  • Superbe prestation! Thanks frenchaccent!

    LONG LIFE TO THE BROTHERS MAEL!

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