Sparks In The Dark (Part Two)
Instrumental. Poor fare.
Kiss Me Quick
Not a lot going for it, except for the pronunciation of ‘California’ and the pleasant chorus after the boring verses which drag in a low voice until ‘Paramedic.’ Horrible bass bits and horrible drums after ‘jungle fever.’ Apart from that…
Sisters
Wonderful soaring chorus and silky smooth backing singers really make this delightful little pop song fly. Again, a straight ahead arrangement with no peculiar flourishes or anything, but it works because of the melody. Saucy and a little creepy as you might expect about this sibling ’round-up at the love corral.’
A Song That Sings Itself
The upbeat music makes for a disconcerting setting for a beautiful song about loneliness and longing, but it captures the swirl of life going on around you when you’re feeling low. ‘Squeeze me so tight that logic flies from me.’ Sparks don’t do out and out sad songs much, but when they do, it’s magical.
Everybody Move
Come on, Sparks – you can do better than this. There’s a weariness behind these perfunctory dance tracks that comes through to the listener. Could do with some more off key keyboard at the end. ‘There’s a new thang a comin’.’ Here’s hoping.
With All My Might
Sounds genuine but the words are just too clumsy and stereotypical of forlorn love songs that it’s probably best to keep that pinch of salt handy. Anyway, the speaker to speaker swoosh is a good start, but then it gets lacklustre. The wild west video they made for this one is hilarious however.
Progress
Oh those syndrums are orrible. After the spoken verses, the ‘I know my heart can’t be broken’ bit comes as a relief and the main hookline’s good too. I mean overall, it’s still better than anything Duran Duran and their ilk came up with, but, still, this is Sparks.
Pretending To Be Drunk
Marvellous. A no holds barred catchy classic. More fun than you can throw a bar snack at. Totally infectious rhythm and melody with a breezy chorus accompaniment. Even the gloriously cheesy instrumental synth break is a hoot. Especially when it builds to the last verse. Can’t get enough of this one.
Love Scenes
Well, this is a bit bland. Trudges along on a workaday eighties synth backdrop and never really gets anywhere. Huge disappointment. Not even a quirky tangent and the only witty line is ‘We should use the method, girl and practice through the night.’
Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat
‘Applause, applause, applause, applause, applause.’ A fabulously sad lament about the thankless task of entertainment and attention seeking when the love of your life is unimpressed by your antics.
There is also a soundtrack to a film called Bad Manners (aka Growing Pains), from this year with music by Sparks. Vocals written by Russel Mael. A typical 80s teen movie, I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch. This is the soundtrack:
What follows are the individual tracks that are available on You Tube, along with comment on the other tracks.
Scared (a.k.a. Screaming)
Played over the opening credits and the main theme of the film. Typical 80s sounding instrumental soundtrack theme tune. Not too bad. Performed by Runnings (and not ‘Growing Pains’ as it says on the video).
Growing Pains
Russell on vocals at least, but on the whole, pretty awful fare. Not a lot to recommend it. That syndrum gives me the heave.
Things Can Change Overnight
Performed by Adele Bertei. Harmless little pop song with airy feel. Not exercising any particular senses. Adele has a nice voice. Er, that’s about it.
Descended From The Apes
Harmless wee rock and roll pop. Performed by Charlie Sexton. ‘All we want to do is shake. Oh yeah!’ I used this in a stramash-up with ‘What You’re Wearing’ for ‘What You’re Descending From’ my Snarks Stramash-Ups album here.
Riot With Me
Another anodyne simple 80s chug. Pleasant enough. Performed by Laurie Bell.
It’s Kinda Like The Movies
Performed by Gleaming Spires. This has a little more life to it, despite the awful syndrums, with a not unpleasant refrain. The shouting of “Quiet, please!” is a highlight.
Motorcycle Midget
“Tally ho!” Extremely dubious mediocre song, sung with a lustre so lacking as to be non-existent. Not Sparks’s finest minutes.
What You’re Wearing
Not too shabby standard pop fare. Includes “we don’t care about none of that, we just care about choosing hats” and “What you wear is what you are”. Performed by Sparks and Laurie Bell. As mentioned above, used in my stramash-up ‘What You’re Descending From.’
Growing Pains (Reprise)
Short instrumental filler.
Bad Manners (alternative version of Growing Pains)
What it says in the title. Less glossy production with different lyrics mainly consisting of Russell singing ‘Bad Manners’ instead of ‘Growing Pains.’ I prefer this version.