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.
Hasta Manana Monsieur
Sparks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That with a girl like you I could do without guided tours
You tried to tell me in the day
That your leading exports were textiles and iron ore
Hasta mañana monsieur
Were the only words that I knew for sure
Hasta mañana monsieur
Leaving my syntax back at school
I was thrown for a loss over gender and simple rules
You mentioned kant and I was shocked
You know, where I come from, none of the girls have such foul tongues
Hasta mañana monsieur
Were the only words that I knew for sure
Hasta mañana monsieur
I'm gonna do it now
C'est la vie, c'est la mort, say no more, no no more
It's all the same
Whether here or there or anywhere
There's them who have
And there are the others who have not
Kimono my house mon amour
I am sure that this motion don't need no accompanying words
Guess I was wrong because you've fled
Leaving me with my michelin guide and half-empty foreign bed
Hasta mañana monsieur
Were the only words that I knew for sure
Hasta mañana monsieur
Were the three little words that I knew you'd adore
Hasta mañana monsieur
Were the only words that I knew for sure
Hasta mañana monsieur
Were the three little words that I knew you'd adore
The lyrics of Sparks's song "Hasta Manana Monsieur" explore the difficulties and miscommunications that can arise in a relationship between two people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The singer and his love interest struggle to understand each other, with the singer feeling lost and confused by the foreign concepts and language that his partner is using. Despite this, there is a sense of affection and admiration between the two, as the singer tries his best to communicate with the limited vocabulary he has in his arsenal.
The chorus, "Hasta mañana monsieur," is repeated throughout the song, serving both as a way for the singer to express his love in the only way he knows how, and as a reminder of the cultural differences between the two. The phrase itself is a mix of Spanish and French, adding to the international flavor of the song.
Overall, "Hasta Manana Monsieur" is a witty and charming exploration of the challenges of cross-cultural relationships, packed with clever wordplay and sparkling musical arrangements.
Line by Line Meaning
I tried to tell you in the night
I told you that I don't need guidebooks with a girl like you.
That with a girl like you I could do without guided tours
I don't need a guidebook with you by my side.
You tried to tell me in the day
You said your country's main exports were textiles and iron ore.
That your leading exports were textiles and iron ore
You informed me about your country's main products.
Hasta mañana monsieur
Goodbye until tomorrow, sir.
Were the only words that I knew for sure
It was the only Spanish phrase I knew for certain.
Were the three little words that I knew you'd adore
I knew you would love to hear it.
Leaving my syntax back at school
I was struggling with grammar.
I was thrown for a loss over gender and simple rules
I was confused about masculine and feminine words.
You mentioned kant and I was shocked
You brought up the philosopher Kant and surprised me.
None of the girls have such foul tongues
Women in my country don't use vulgar language like that.
I'm gonna do it now
I'm going to say goodbye now.
C'est la vie, c'est la mort, say no more, no no more
That's life, that's death, let's not say anything more.
It's all the same
It's all equal.
Whether here or there or anywhere
No matter where you are.
There's them who have
Some people have.
And there are the others who have not
And others don't.
Kimono my house mon amour
Title of their album, 'kimono' a traditional Japanese clothing
I am sure that this motion don't need no accompanying words
I am sure this act does not need any additional explanation.
Guess I was wrong because you've fled
I was wrong because you left.
Leaving me with my michelin guide and half-empty foreign bed
You left me with my guidebook and half-empty bed.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ronald Mael, Russell 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.