Sparks are an American rock and pop music band formed in Los Angeles in 197… Read Full Bio ↴Sparks are an American rock and pop music band formed in Los Angeles in 1970 by brothers Ron Mael (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals), initially under the name Halfnelson. Best known for their quirky approach to song writing, Sparks' music is often accompanied by cutting and acerbic lyrics, and an idiosyncratic stage presence, typified in the contrast between Russell's wide-eyed hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's sedentary scowling.

The band's long career has seen them successfully adopt many different musical genres; including glam pop, power pop, electronic dance music and mainstream pop. Despite these many styles, a recognizable "Sparks sound" remains throughout, and they have enjoyed a large cult following since their first releases. Sparks have been highly influential on the development of popular music, in particular on the late 1970s scene, when in collaboration with Giorgio Moroder (and Telex subsequently), they reinvented themselves as an electronic pop duo, and abandoned the traditional rock band line up. In contrast to the esteem in which they are held by such peers as Depeche Mode, New Order, Morrissey and They Might Be Giants, who all cite Sparks as a major influence, their almost constantly changing styles and unique visual presentations have sometimes seen them dismissed as a novelty act.

The 2002 release of Lil' Beethoven, their self-described "genre-defining opus", and 2006's Hello Young Lovers (their 20th studio album) have brought Sparks renewed critical and commercial success, and seen them continue to "steer clear of pop conventions."

The 2021 documentary film 'The Sparks Brothers', directed by Edgar Wright, has renewed interest in the band for a new audience.

Bergman Ponders Escape
Sparks Lyrics

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[Ingmar Bergman]:
I’ve often portrayed nightmares in my films.
But this is a nightmare of a different sort.
I have to escape this nightmare. I must return to where I came from.
I’ve often portrayed hopelessness in my films. But this is a
hopelessness of a different sort. I must escape here and return home.
This Hollywood is not a place, it’s a sensibility, a sensibility at complete odds with my sensibility.
I’ve often portrayed loss of identity in my films, but I’ve never felt that loss of identity myself. I must escape.

They admire what I represent too much to cause me any bodily harm if I try to escape.
Still, I don’t even know what escape means when the place you
are escaping from is more of an idea than a physical location.
Escape is too logical of a concept.

Perhaps if I go downstairs without being seen and just continue walking,
escape may come as quickly as this form of imprisonment has come.

Overall Meaning

In the song "Bergman Ponders Escape" by Sparks, the lyrics are spoken from the perspective of Ingmar Bergman, the legendary Swedish filmmaker. Throughout the song, Bergman expresses his desire to escape from the nightmare that is Hollywood and return back to his roots. He feels that the sensibility of Hollywood is completely at odds with his own and that he has lost his identity amidst the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown.

Bergman has often portrayed nightmares and hopelessness in his films, but this is a different kind of hopelessness - one that can only be resolved by escaping this place that has imprisoned him. He acknowledges that the people in Hollywood admire what he represents but he still feels the need to escape, not just physically but also from the idea of Hollywood itself.

The concept of escape is too logical for him and he muses that perhaps it will come to him if he simply walks away unnoticed. The song is a commentary on the clash of cultures between Hollywood and the rest of the filmmaking world, and the struggle to maintain artistic integrity in the face of commercial success.

Line by Line Meaning

I’ve often portrayed nightmares in my films.
I frequently depict horrific scenarios in my movies.

But this is a nightmare of a different sort.
However, this is a unique kind of nightmare.

I have to escape this nightmare. I must return to where I came from.
I need to flee this situation and find my way back home.

I’ve often portrayed hopelessness in my films. But this is a hopelessness of a different sort. I must escape here and return home.
While I've depicted feelings of despair before, this is a distinct kind. I must leave this place and go back to where I belong.

This Hollywood is not a place, it’s a sensibility, a sensibility at complete odds with my sensibility.
Hollywood is not a physical location, but rather an attitude that conflicts with my own beliefs.

I’ve often portrayed loss of identity in my films, but I’ve never felt that loss of identity myself. I must escape.
Even though I've depicted characters losing their sense of self in my movies, I've never experienced it. However, now I must run away.

They admire what I represent too much to cause me any bodily harm if I try to escape.
People here value my work too much to harm me if I try to flee.

Still, I don’t even know what escape means when the place you are escaping from is more of an idea than a physical location.
But I'm uncertain what escaping means when I'm trying to leave a place that's more abstract than concrete.

Escape is too logical of a concept.
The idea of escaping seems too rational right now.

Perhaps if I go downstairs without being seen and just continue walking, escape may come as quickly as this form of imprisonment has come.
Maybe if I sneak downstairs and keep moving, a way out will present itself as quickly as I became trapped.

Contributed by Hannah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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