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.
He's Home
Sparks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's home, he's home, and we're so glad
No fireworks, no marching band
But old and young, rejoice and cheer
Without him here, we're barely here
And the seduction failed
As anyone can see
But here at home he's he
Come one, come all, and shout "hooray"
Our Ingmar is home today
He looks the same, no sign of tan
And in the rain, he's right again
And the seduction failed
As anyone can see
They mispronounced his name
But here at home he's he
Bergman, Bergman, Bergman, Bergman,
Bergman, Bergman, Bergman, Bergman,
We'd sit and wait while he was gone
The night would come, and then the dawn
Without the depth that Bergman brought
Our lives were just an afterthought
And the seduction failed
As anyone can see
They mispronounced his name
But here at home he's he
He turns our thoughts to something deep
And make us laugh and make us weep
The un-examined life they say
Is not worth living, well, O.K.
Ah, but Bergman well, he examines all
And most of all himself,
Good night, that's all.
[Ingmar Bergman]:
Good night, that's all.
The opening line of Sparks’s song “He’s Home” refers to a famous Swedish film director, Ingmar Bergman, who had just returned home after a long absence. The song describes the celebration of Bergman’s homecoming as a joyous and momentous occasion for the people of Sweden. Even though there aren't any fireworks or a marching band, the townsfolk rejoice and cheer for the director who has returned to his native land. The song attributes a significant level of importance to Bergman, making the people's celebration understandable.
According to the song, Bergman’s absence has left those around him feeling incomplete, as life without his guidance and inspiration lacks depth and meaning. Through his works, Bergman has provided a path to connect people to their emotions, and this is illustrated in the lines, "He turns our thoughts to something deep/And make us laugh and make us weep." Sparks has written a tribute to Bergman's life and work through this song, highlighting Bergman’s profound impact on Swedish society and the world of the arts.
Overall, Sparks’s “He’s Home” is a tribute to Ingmar Bergman and his enduring influence on Sweden, inspiring a sense of national pride and cultural identity.
Line by Line Meaning
He's home, he's home, and we're so glad
We are utterly elated that Ingmar has returned home
No fireworks, no marching band
We are not celebrating with grand gestures but with genuine happiness
But old and young, rejoice and cheer
Everyone, regardless of age, is celebrating Ingmar's return
Without him here, we're barely here
Ingmar's absence has a profound impact on us; his presence brings us to life
And the seduction failed
As anyone can see
They mispronounced his name
But here at home he's he
People outside of Sweden may not recognize Ingmar's importance, but here he is a beloved figure we take pride in
Come one, come all, and shout "hooray"
Our Ingmar is home today
We want everyone to know that Ingmar has returned and that we are filled with joy
He looks the same, no sign of tan
And in the rain, he's right again
Ingmar is unchanged by his absence and is back with his same sense of vigor even in bad weather
Bergman, Bergman, Bergman, Bergman,
Bergman, Bergman, Bergman, Bergman,
Ingmar's name holds a lot of importance for us, as evidenced by our repeated chanting of it
We'd sit and wait while he was gone
The night would come, and then the dawn
Without the depth that Bergman brought
Our lives were just an afterthought
Without Ingmar and his works, our lives lacked substance and meaning
He turns our thoughts to something deep
And make us laugh and make us weep
The un-examined life they say
Is not worth living, well, O.K.
Ingmar's work provides us with profound moments of contemplation as well as joy and sadness; his works make life worth living
Ah, but Bergman well, he examines all
And most of all himself,
Good night, that's all.
Ingmar's introspection and exploration of the human psyche sets him apart as a master filmmaker and goodnight is our farewell to him
Contributed by Jack L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Volker400
Simply a wonderful song fo the SPARKS!! And the very typical, parodistic SPARKS-Ron Mael-style!! Thanks so much for posting!! Yours, Volker H. - also a SPARKS-FAN since 1974!!
will 2610
Top class tune as 'russell' would say.been a fan since the 70s going to see them again in london in june.
EIGHTIEESALWAYS
God bless Sparks!
IconicShrubbery
Such a happy ending song! And ,yes,no Sign of Tan....!
HISATdotCOM
thanks for the nice comment - I don't know whether this upload will be around for long because they aleady wrote to me about copyright infringement but maybe they'll see it as a promotion for the Album - which is really what it is - hope you find the wonga to buy this album soon buddy