Saturday 30 September 2023
#SynthPopSeptember
Wednesday 6 September 2023
I Still Know What You Did Last Sombre
Monday 31 July 2023
#45sUnder3
Monday 3 July 2023
Just One Fleeting Glance
The title track of their current album, The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte, is delivered two songs in with a special guest appearance from Cate Blanchett, recreating her moves from the video. The rest of the show includes some obvious/inevitable classics including The Number One Song In Heaven (with Ron's mid-song dance routine) and This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us.
It was also great to hear When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way' from Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins (1994) and the title songs from Angst In My Pants (1982), Music That You Can Dance To (1986) and Balls (2000), a reminder of just how deep and rich their music catalogue is.
Hard to believe that this was Sparks first appearance at Glastonbury in their own right (they appeared with Franz Ferdinand as FFS in 2015) and they absolutely smashed it.
To celebrate, another single from the latest album was released a few days ago. Escalator wasn't performed at Glastonbury but the video brings back memories of Mrs. K and I navigating the madness of the Shibuya and Roppongi escalators during our stop in Tokyo in 2005. Seems like a lifetime ago now.
Sticking with Japan, CD releases there frequently feature bonus tracks and The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte is no exception. This Is Not The World I Signed Up For could be a single in it's own right, it's that good.
Monday 15 May 2023
Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is
That's the way it is, I wish I'd known beforehand
I was born just 22 hours ago
But I want to go back to my former quarters
Mama mama, can you accommodate
Mama mama, tell me I'm not too late
Mama mama, can you co-operate
This will not work, I'm sure
Nothing is as good as they say it is
And I'd be remiss if I weren't honest with you
This is not a place that I can exist
Not ungratefulness, I just don't want this, want this
Mama mama, is there a remedy
Can I just go back to where I used to be
I was happy where I was previously
Just floating there, stood tall
Mama mama, please sympathise
This has been such a bad surprise
I won't ask any more from you
I can live with a lousy viеw
Nothing is as good as they say it is
That's the way it is, I wish I'd known beforеhand
I was born just 22 hours ago
But I've seen enough to make a wise decision
This is not a place that I'd want to go
How can you exist in a place like this
I surely can't, oh no!
Take a look around and you'd understand
This is not a place I could ever stand
Ugliness, anxiety, phony tans
It ain't for me, that's all
Thank you both for this special chance
Were I born in the south of France
I would feel less resistant to
Somewhere that just deserves adieu
Nothing is as good as they say it is
That's the way it is, I wish I'd known beforehand
Nothing is as good as they say it is
That's the way it is, I wish I'd known beforehand
All your standards must be so very low
This is not a place that I'd want to go
How can you exist in a place like this
I surely can't, oh no!
Nothing is as good as they say it is
Nothing is as good as they say it is
Thursday 30 March 2023
Guess The World Is To Blame
Saturday 3 December 2022
Think For Yourself And Question Authority
Tuesday 15 November 2022
Can't You See The Existential Threat Is On It's Way?
Saturday 29 October 2022
What's The Prediction? I'll Betcha It's Friction!
Saturday 24 September 2022
Hell For Leather On A Helter Skelter
Saturday 3 September 2022
Just Walk Don't Talk
Wednesday 20 April 2022
Eclectic Guitar
1) 59 Lyndhurst Grove (Inside Susan: "A Story In Three Songs...", Part 3) (Single Version): Pulp (1993)