Sparks :: The Number One Song in Heaven
My best friend Matt Minter was recently laid up in the hospital after having part of his small intestine removed. He would most certainly tell you that this song is part of the disco-era Sparks catalogue. He’d make fun of me for even mentioning it and point you in the direction of This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us or Amateur Hour, which can be found on 1974’s Kimono My House. It’s a classic in its own right and no dance party would be complete without an appearance from this album: I’ve even seen my own father dance to those songs at the record store where I used to work. However, The Number One Song in Heaven was more of a triumphant return to form for Sparks, who found relative success in the early 70s after moving across the pond to England. Truthfully, it’s amazing that these two brothers and former teenage models from Los Angeles spawned any hits at all. Ron Mael’s droll Hitler mustache should’ve turned everyone off right away, but his sulking keyboards antics fit well with lead singer Russell’s ridiculously over-the-top falsetto. Add in some clever lyrics, and it all comes together in fist-pumping perfection.
I highly recommend a viewing of really any kind of sports on television (muted) with a Sparks record—I watched a documentary about the New York Cosmos, and I’ll be damned if a really bitchin’ Pelé highlight wasn’t accompanied by a Sparks track. Yes!
The Number One Song in Heaven
Sparks (wikipedia)
johnny said on friday, may 16th, 2008
vj said on saturday, may 17th, 2008
"Everything’s so GREEEEEEN!"
anika said on saturday, july 26th, 2008
this song is trying to blow my mind… i think i’ll let it
that is f-ing hilarious i’m totally watching the cavs game tonight with sparks. i would’ve picked ‘this town aint big enough for the both of us’, or ‘hasta manana monsieur’. but thanks for this one.
i do think there’s a sparks revival every couple years, and right now there’s one going on. at reckless, there’s a magazine (arthur maybe) with sparks on it and all their records re released on cd on the display wall.