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.
Complaints
Sparks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grin and bear it silently or yell into my ear
Complaints, its my department
Complaints, its my department
Everything you wear is too tight and clashes with the candlelight
Just give it back, no questions asked
and nothing in the world is perfect
Grin and bear it silently or yell into my ear
complaints, its stereophonic
Complaints, its ironic
How they chatter, how they bore us
Like some avant gardish chorus
Just give it back, no questions asked
Well I'll dive off the mezzanine
If one more points at crooked seam
A sign of shoddy workmanship
Of asianic hands that slipped
Just give it back no questions asked
Nothing in the world is perfect
Grin and bear it silently or yell into my ear
Complaints, there's to many hours
Complaints, the bosses cower
Two weeks free from all complaining, it was due to our complaining
Take her to Spain and hear her complain
and now she says that she's expecting
And that's my fault for not protecting
Her from all the risks of passionShe's complaining, she's old fashioned
Just give it back, no questions asked
Complains, complaints
Complaints, its my department
Complaints, its my department
Complaints, its stereophonic
Complaints, its ironic
Complaints, there's too many hours
Complaints, the bosses cower
The song "Complaints" by Sparks is a satirical take on the idea of complaining. The first few lines of the song set the tone with the declaration that "nothing in the world is perfect," and the options are to either ignore it or complain about it. The singer declares that complaints are their department, implying that they are the expert at it. The following lines criticize fashion choices and a culture that values complaining as an avant-garde chorus, mocking the idea that complaining can be artistic. The line "Just give it back, no questions asked" implies that the complaints are unfounded and should not even be worth discussing.
The song later shifts to a personal complaint, as the singer talks about a woman who holds them responsible for her pregnancy. The song continues to emphasize the idea that complaining can fuel itself, as the line "Two weeks free from all complaining, it was due to our complaining" suggests that in order to have the freedom to stop complaining, one must complain first. The song repeats the refrain "Complaints, it's my department" multiple times, emphasizing the absurdity of complaining as a department.
Overall, the song uses irony and humor to comment on the idea of complaining, suggesting that it can be pointless, unproductive, and even harmful if taken too far.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing in the world is perfect
Acknowledgment that perfection is impossible
Grin and bear it silently or yell into my ear
Options for how to deal with imperfection
Complaints, its my department
Taking ownership of the act of complaining
Everything you wear is too tight and clashes with the candlelight
Criticism of someone's fashion choices
Just give it back, no questions asked
Demand for return of something
Complaints, its stereophonic
Complaining is a two-sided conversation
Complaints, its ironic
The irony of complaining about complaining
How they chatter, how they bore us
Annoyance at the endless chatter of complainers
Like some avant gardish chorus
Comparison to experimental, atonal music
Well I'll dive off the mezzanine
Threat of extreme action if faced with more complaints
If one more points at crooked seam
Specific example of a nitpicky complaint
A sign of shoddy workmanship
Assumption that a crooked seam means poor quality
Of asianic hands that slipped
Potentially racist assumption about the ethnicity of the seamstress
Complaints, there's to many hours
Feeling overwhelmed by the amount of complaints
Complaints, the bosses cower
Power dynamic suggests bosses are subservient to complaining employees
Two weeks free from all complaining, it was due to our complaining
Paradoxical result of complaining leading to a complaining-free period
Take her to Spain and hear her complain
Suggesting someone will complain no matter the circumstances or location
And now she says that she's expecting
New complaint about unexpected pregnancy
And that's my fault for not protecting
Self-blame for an uncontrollable event
Her from all the risks of passion
Inability to prevent all potential problems related to relationships
She's complaining, she's old fashioned
Attitude of disdain towards complaining
Complains, complains
Reiteration of the central theme of the song
Complaints, its my department
Reassertion of ownership of complaining
Complaints, its my department
Repeated declaration of being in charge of complaints
Complaints, its stereophonic
Reiteration of the idea that complaints require two parties
Complaints, its ironic
Reaffirming the irony of complaining about complaining
Complaints, there's too many hours
Restating the overwhelming feeling of excessive complaints
Complaints, the bosses cower
Reiteration of the power dynamic of complaining employees versus bosses
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RON MAEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Scheherazade
A great Sparks song.
Philip Kassabian
on Aeroflot
This song is amazing.
Philip Kassabian
on Irreplaceable
Sparks is an absolutely fantastic band.
Philip Kassabian
on It's Educational
An absolutely great Sparks song.
Philip Kassabian
on The Calm Before the Storm
A great and fantastic Sparks song.
Philip Kassabian
on Perfume
A very catchy and great Sparks song.