Lordy. The creepiest man in pop, Ron Mael of Sparks is 80 years old today!
A band that was always miles ahead of the rest (with the exception of Bowie or Roxy Music) in innovation - even way back in 1974, the Mael brothers' music was already beginning to sound like some of the stuff we came to love in the post-Punk era, as in these two classics...
...and in 1979 their collaboration with the maestro Giorgio Moroder produced another two massive hits [in the UK anyhow - they never had major success in their native USA] that carried all the synthesised "hooks" and effects that more than matched the likes of Depeche Mode, Soft Cell and OMD in the inspirational synth-pop era to come in the early 80s...
Ron Mael's lyrics for the latter seem particularly pithy on today of all days:
This is the number one song in heaven
Why are you hearing it now, you ask?
Maybe you're closer to here than you imagine
Maybe you're closer to here than you care to be
It's number one, all over heaven
It's number one, all over heaven
It's number one, all over heaven
The number one song all over heaven
All hail.
It’s incredible how he’s maintained his “look” all these years.
ReplyDeleteThe moustache is little thinner [see their video from earlier this year], but yes - Ron's instantly recognisable, even now. Jx
DeleteAs fond as I am of '80s music, and outsider bands, I have never heard of these boys.
ReplyDeleteGood heavens! Well, a mere 51 years late, I am pleased to oblige, dear Peenee. Jx
DeleteNever heard of him, but Lord have mercy...he is very creepy looking.
ReplyDeleteAnother one! Despite being born and bred in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, it would appear that they're only really well-known on this side of the pond... America's loss. Jx
DeleteI haven't heard Beat the Clock in ages! I remember my dad laughing at them on TOTPs, but I always liked them.
ReplyDeleteI think I saw them at the Run the World kick off in London? I saw them somewhere!
Sx
We all used to do impressions of Ron, with his sideways stare and creepy fingers on the piano! 😂
DeleteNo idea what "Run The World" is or was, but they seem to have been performing live all over the place for decades. And they still are. Jx
You know - the run the world thing! 1986? The Live Aid thing 😁!
DeleteSx
Ah, OK. I obviously missed that one. Jx
DeleteRon Mael from Sparks was always 80 years old.
ReplyDeleteDid I ever tell you' I shared a lift with them in the late 70's
You may have mentioned it once or twice. |Jx
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