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.

Gratuitous Sax
Sparks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You need another element, you need it right away
What should I do, what should I do?
An element to titillate so they won't go away
I thought of you and how you blew 'til you were blue
And how you blew 'til you were blue
And how you blew 'til you were blue
Throw in some
Gratuitous sax

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sparks's song "Gratuitous Sax" are quite intriguing and thought-provoking. The song appears to be about the entertainment industry's constant need to keep things fresh and exciting in order to keep an audience engaged. The first line "You need another element, you need it right away, what should I do?" seems to be directed towards someone struggling to come up with a new, exciting idea. The following line "An element to titillate so they won't go away" suggests that the idea needs to be something that will grab the audience's attention and keep them entertained.

Line by Line Meaning

You need another element, you need it right away
You require an additional factor, and it should be provided without delay

What should I do, what should I do?
What steps can I take? How can I resolve this?

An element to titillate so they won't go away
Something to excite and entertain, so they remain in place instead of departing

I thought of you and how you blew 'til you were blue
I recollected your skill on the saxophone, where you played with such intensity that you were breathless

And how you blew 'til you were blue
I reminisced over your performance on the saxophone where you played so fervently that you were almost out of breath

And how you blew 'til you were blue
I remembered when you played the saxophone so vigorously that your face turned blue

Throw in some
Include a certain element

Gratuitous sax
Add a component of unnecessary but enjoyable saxophone music

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RON MAEL, RUSSELL MAEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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