Sparks will perform their classic 1974 album Kimono My House in its entirety — plus a selection of songs from across their 23 albums — backed by a 38-piece orchestra at a pair of Los Angeles concerts this month. And we’ve got a pair of tickets to one of those shows to give away to one lucky Slicing Up Eyeballs reader.
The brothers Mael are performing with the orchestra, conducted by Suzie Katayama, on Feb. 14 and 15 at the Theatre at Ace Hotel. We’ve got tickets to give away to the Feb. 15 show. (The first night is sold out, but tickets are still available for the second night.)
TO ENTER: In the comments section below, name your favorite Sparks song and let us know why you think it’s so great. If you’re using the Slicing Up Eyeballs app, please email your entry to info@slicingupeyeballs.com with the subject line “MUST SEE SPARKS.”
RULES: We’ll take entries until 5 p.m. EST Wednesday, Feb. 11. After that point, we’ll select a winner and random, who will be notified via their provided e-mail addresses. One entry per person.
Good luck, and godspeed.
UPDATE: Contest is now closed. Thank you all for entering and sharing your favorite Sparks songs. The winner has been emailed.
‘Lucky Me, Lucky You’ — even after a long brilliant career, they can still write & record a song this great!
“The Rhythm Thief,” because my son was introduced to pop music through the Lil Beethoven album.
My favorite Sparks song may be “I Married Myself.” It’s a great song in it’s own right—touching and a little silly, without becoming saccharine—but it also served as a reminder to me of how great Sparks are, and that I should keep paying attention. Of course I loved their earlier albums, but I’d sort of lost track of them for a while; when Lil’ Beethovan came out in ’03 it had been years since I’d heard anything new from them. I wasn’t sure I “needed” more Sparks. “I Married Myself” was the perfect little earworm to prove that I did.
At Home, At Work, At Play
Stop, there’s gotta be a million girls like her, though I can’t think of one…
Gets me every time.
“Good Morning” is the song to use in your alarm clock. A great way to start your day!
Probably “Angst in my Pants.” Those lyrics basically describe my adolescence.
The Number One Song in Heaven. Its an electro disco masterpiece and has one of the greatest music videos ever.
This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us. It’s so epic and unlike anything else on radio then or now. Quirky, fun, intense and a little dark. Just like I like ’em!
“I Wish I Looked A Little Better” because, don’t we all?
Ask me on a different day and you may get a different answer, but today I have to go with “Funny Face” because, like so many other Sparks songs, it brilliantly manages to be sad and hilarious at the same time.
My favorite song is “At Work At Home At Play”—pretty dynamic song typical SPARKS energy and hooky/catchy rock! I would love to see them!
Tie between Fletcher Honorama and Biology 2. Memories from a month long, 5000 mi roadtrip.
Pineapple, catchy and bouncy.
Lost & Found – Too bad, too bad, too bad, too bad!
Gotta go with “Tits” because well, it’s about tits.
Throw Her Away And Get A New One. Never before has light hearted, satirical misogyny been so catchy and danceable!
Arts and Crafts Spectacular. Just the thought of Claudine Jones always trying to push her quilts makes me smile.
NUMBER ONE SONG IN HEAVEN. REMINDS ME OF HIGH SCHOOL AND JUST A SUPER CATCHY TUNE FROM THE BROTHERS
This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us.
Driving home late at night in 1974 and this came on the radio. I sat in the rain and cold for ages after I was home waiting for the DJ to tell me who the f* I just fell in love with.
The next day I was down at Tower Records getting my import LP of Kimono My House. It’s been a long and sometimes rocky relationship, but they’re worth it.
My all-time fave Sparks song is definitely ‘The Lady is Lingering’ from Indiscreet. The portrait it paints–of a nervous seductee–has always reminded me of one of my favorite movies, ‘The Graduate’.
But, of course, I could list another 20 or 30 songs that a desert island stay just couldn’t do without!!!!
Pulling Rabbits Out of A Hat. Because I made love all night long in a Chevy Vega parked in the woods listening to the entire cassette on repeat and every time that song came on I knew it was time switch positions.
Progress!
Sheer new wave dance perfection.
(Seriously though, its too hard to one fave… there are too many genius songs.)
Angst in my pants!!!
Angst in my pants because it’s one of the songs they played in the movie Valley Girl
“Angst in My Pants”: First Sparks song I ever heard and it captures a perfect time in my early teens. The album was just as fab.
Cool Places – Jane Wiedlin!
Moustache, not only is it off their best EIGHTIES album, but growing up i learned that 100 hairs makes a man.
This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us.
My older brother used to weird me out with The Mael Brothers !! :)
All You Ever Think About Is Sex. When it was released in 1983, I was a junior in HS and it pretty much summed up what my thoughts leaned towards, that is when I wasn’t doing jock things.
“La Dolce Vita” because it has such a biting lyric in it: “I catch a cold just by looking in your eyes”
Angst in my Pants! This was really difficult because there are so many brilliant songs. I like this one because I can strip to it. And by strip I mean dance alone in front of my mirror. Alone. Thank you for this opportunity.
“Tryouts For the Human Race” — I really didn’t know how much I liked the song until the night my daughter was born 12 years ago. Really, really listening to it had a whole different impact than just giving it a casual listen previously!
My favorite is ‘Bon Voyage’…another timeless Sparks classic, that I would listen to whilst driving a hearse home from partying all night at Twiggy’s night club in Cleveland 1974
My favorite is ‘Bon Voyage’…another timeless Sparks classic, that I would listen at full volume, windows down, in winter, driving a hearse home in the wee hours, from partying all night at Twiggy’s night club, Cleveland 1974.
reinforcements because I have always protected my ” rear guard ” !!! love sparks
Eaten by the Monster of Love is tops for me. That whole album is a smart alleck’s playground and the Monster of Love is the king.
“Cool Places” with Jane Wiedlin. The brothers were unashamed about writing an unabashed pop song. Reminds me of the summer of ’83 too. Second would be “Lighten Up Morrissey” This is what happens when you are a friend of the band. Ha Ha!
I Predict would be my favorite. I giggle all the way through the song every time. Every time! It never fails me.
Arts & Crafts Spectacular – I can’t believe that it hasn’t been reissued outside of a Morrissey compilation. Brilliant!
For me “Suburban Homeboy” represents the uniqueness of Sparks well and brings a smile to my face. Catchy as hell too…. “Props to our peeps and please keep your receipts.” Brilliant! Very tough to pick one.
Your Call’s Very Important To Us, Please Hold from Lil’ Beethoven. Never has a song been truer in it’s message. I’ve never heard another song like it!
Their 2 theme songs for Bookworm–because no one else will say that! Thanks.
Too many to pick just one
today the song is
Just Got Back from Heaven
Thank God It’s Not Christmas, the sentiment is obviously transcendent, but there’s something in the melody that gets me everytime.
Runner up, Lighten Up Morrissey, because really.
“My Baby’s Taking Me Home” – Sparks, one of the wittiest and most compellingly melody-driven bands in history, are so good at their job that they can do it better than anybody with ONE lyric for five straight minutes.
“Angst in my Pants” because it was my introduction to the band via the movie Valley Girl.. Been a fan of the band ever since!
“Thank God It’s Not Christmas” because of the really cool groove it’s got in the first verse, how the opener kinda sounds like “Color Me Impressed” by The Replacements, and lastly because it’s one of the first anti-xmas tracks.
“Hasta Manana, Monsieur” – First song by Sparks that i had heard and I’m still using it as an expression today. Every now and then someone gets the reference.
It’s extremely difficult to pick a favorite, because there are so many, but at this moment I will have to go with “I Predict”. The lyrics are comical and are what make this one my favorite. Many of the songs are funny from this time period. I can attest to the fact though that there are some untruths contained in these lyrics….”Men, if you say your prayers, you’ll never lose your hair…I predict”….um….NOT TRUE! ;-) Also, Angst In My Pants was the album that introduced me to the band. Of course, I had to go back and complete my collection of the entire back catalog and everything after….
This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us.
While shopping at Amoeba Records in Berkeley about 20 years ago, the swirling keyboard opening came through the speakers and I was stopped dead in my tracks, because I had never heard anything like it before. I went up to the counter and asked who it was.
“Sparks.”
“THIS is Sparks?!”
I had only slightly known about Angst… and Mickey Mouse before.
Picked up the CD that day and it never, ever gets old.
When I’m With You
Sultry as f@ck
“Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth” What a beautiful, yet haunting song.
Girl from Germany:
“My word, she’s from Germany
Well, it’s the same old country
But the people have changed”
Still sticks in my head after all these years.
I first saw Sparks (supported by Pilot) back in November 1974. Kimono was the first album that I bought and paid for myself. I still have it. I went back from there to Halfnelson lp’s…fantastic songs. In particular Girl From Germany – didn’t sound like anything else then and still sounds outstanding today – play loud.
My favorite song has always been walk down memory lane. I always loved its juxtaposition of pleasant situations and the foreboding future…
“White Women” because I’m married to one.
“Cool Places” the Sparks duet with Jane Wiedlin. Stuff preteen dreams are made of.
Angst in my Pants was always a favorite. Between Valley Girl and my skate buds, this song was always around.
This Towns Not Big Enough For The Both of Us – When you hear it you just have to jump on the sofa and shake you hips with both fingers in the air.
This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us. It rocks on the album but when I heard them play it live, it was still exciting even without the full band.
“Eaten by the Monster of Love”. Bringing back memories of Valley Girl and all the great music.
OK, time’s up, pencils down. Contest is now closed. Winner will be notified via email.
Thanks for entering and sharing your favorite Sparks songs!
Angst in My Pants is my favorite. It’s appeal is universal.