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.

Nicotina
Sparks Lyrics

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Not every cigarette is a dead, dead thing
Some have a mind and try to be other things
Pushed in the pack, they crave some Virginia air
Softly, they pray to someone, but life ain't fair

They're born to lose
They're born to fill
The lungs of Jack

The lungs of Jill
And like I said
Life just isn't fair

Nicotina, Nicotina, Nicotina is her name

Once in a while a cigarette has a name
N-I-C-O-T-I-N-A, that's her name
She had a tiny voice, and she sang all day
She was a cigarette, but she loved to play

Nicotina, Nicotina, Nicotina is her name

A man with a cough
Stepped to the machine
Dropped coins in the slot
The end of a dream

He ripped the pack and coughed, and then coughed again
Popped out a cigarette, and we're near the end
She screamed and screamed but so much was filtered out
Now Nicotina's only a tiny cloud

Nicotina's gone, but life goes on though
Nicotina's gone, but life goes on though

Nicotina's gone, but life goes on and on and on and on and on
Nicotina, Nicotina, Nicotina was her name.

Overall Meaning

The song "Nicotina" by Sparks is a tragic tale of a cigarette named Nicotina. The lyrics describe how not every cigarette is just a "dead thing" and that some have personalities of their own. Nicotina is one of them who craves the Virginia air and prays to some higher power. However, her fate is sealed as she is born to be smoked and fill the lungs of Jack and Jill. The song emphasizes how life is often unfair as Nicotina's existence is just to be wasted by the man with a cough who drops coins in the machine.

Despite being just a cigarette, Nicotina has a personality - she has a tiny voice and loves to play. She is an exception as she has a name and sings all day. However, her joy is cut short as she is smoked by the man with a cough, and her existence is reduced to just a tiny cloud of smoke. The song ends with a reminder that Nicotina may be gone, but life goes on.

Overall, the song is a commentary on addiction and how it affects not only the person but also those around them. It highlights the tragic cycle of addiction, where the urge to smoke overpowers the desire to live life to the fullest.

Line by Line Meaning

Not every cigarette is a dead, dead thing
Some cigarettes have a consciousness and aspirations beyond their use as an object.

Some have a mind and try to be other things
Certain cigarettes attempt to break free from societal expectations and fulfill a different purpose.

Pushed in the pack, they crave some Virginia air
Trapped in their pack, cigarettes long for the freedom and fresh air of Virginia tobacco fields.

Softly, they pray to someone, but life ain't fair
The cigarettes silently plead for salvation but understand that the world is not always equitable.

They're born to lose
Cigarettes are doomed to a life that ends in destruction.

They're born to fill
Their sole purpose is to be consumed and fill the lungs of smokers.

The lungs of Jack
Cigarettes are made to provide pleasure for men named Jack.

The lungs of Jill
Cigarettes are made to provide pleasure for women named Jill as well.

And like I said
The singer emphasizes their previous point.

Life just isn't fair
Despite the aspirations and longings of cigarettes, life is cruel and unforgiving.

Once in a while a cigarette has a name
Occasionally a cigarette is imbued with a singular identity and sense of self.

N-I-C-O-T-I-N-A, that's her name
This particular cigarette is named Nicotina.

She had a tiny voice, and she sang all day
Nicotina's voice was small but melodious, and she enjoyed expressing herself through song.

She was a cigarette, but she loved to play
Despite her status as a cigarette, Nicotina found joy in playful activities.

A man with a cough
A person with an irritated throat and chest approaches a vending machine.

Stepped to the machine
He gets closer to the vending machine.

Dropped coins in the slot
He inserts coins in the designated area in order to purchase cigarettes.

The end of a dream
The act of smoking cigarettes only fulfills short-term pleasure but ultimately leads to negative consequences.

He ripped the pack and coughed, and then coughed again
The man removes a cigarette from the pack, coughs once, places it in his mouth, and coughs again due to its negative effects on his respiratory system.

Popped out a cigarette, and we're near the end
Another cigarette is dispensed from the pack, indicating that the supply is almost depleted.

She screamed and screamed but so much was filtered out
Nicotina attempts to voice her pain and discomfort, but the majority of the harmful toxins in cigarettes have been filtered out.

Now Nicotina's only a tiny cloud
Nicotina's identity and essence have been reduced to a minuscule amount of smoke.

Nicotina's gone, but life goes on though
Although Nicotina is no longer present, the cycles of life persist.

Nicotina's gone, but life goes on though
The same sentiment is repeated again for emphasis.

Nicotina's gone, but life goes on and on and on and on and on
Life continues despite the temporary nature of existence, and it goes on endlessly.

Nicotina, Nicotina, Nicotina was her name.
The song ends with a reaffirmation of Nicotina's existence and identity.

Contributed by Nathaniel C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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