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.
Perfume
Sparks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Margaret wears TrΓ©sor
Mary Jo wears Lauren
But you don't wear no perfume
Deborah wears Clinique
Marianne wears Mystique
Judith wears Shalimar
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
Anna wears CK1
Jeanie wears Opium
Trisha wears No.5
But you don't wear no perfume
Susan wears St. Laurent
Janie wears L'Air do Temps
Kirstin wears Davidoff
But you don't wear no perfume
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
The olefactory sense is the sense
That most strongly evokes memories of the past
Well screw the past
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
Geneviève wears Hermès
Annabelle wears Arpège
Betty Lee wears GuΓ©rlain
But you don't wear no perfume
Katie wears Giorgio
Lily wears Moschino
Jenna wears Kenneth Cole
But you don't wear no perfume
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
Carol wears Cacharel
Lana wears Tommy Girl
Cynthia wears J'Adore
But you don't wear no perfume
Jennifer wears CΓ©line
Laura wears Armani
Deborah wears Polo Sport
But you don't wear no perfume
Gina wears Vera Wang
Sheila wears Helmut Lang
Dinah wears Oxygene
But you don't wear no perfume
Jody wears Gaultier
Peggy wears Jean Patou
Stella wears Lagerfeld
But you don't wear no perfume
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why, that's why, that's why, that's why
That's why, that's why, that's why, that's why
The song "Perfume" by Sparks is a list of various perfumes worn by different women. However, the chorus reveals that the singer's love interest does not wear perfume, which is significant to them. They express their desire to spend their life with this person, even though they don't have the scent-driven memory association that other people might have. The line "well screw the past" suggests that the singer is more interested in their present and future with this person.
The lyrics can be interpreted as a celebration of individuality and uniqueness. Each woman in the song wears a different brand and scent of perfume, and the chorus is focused on the one person who doesn't conform to that standard. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the singer's strong feelings of love and commitment to this person, regardless of whether or not they conform to societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Geneviève wears Dior
Geneviève wears Dior perfume
Margaret wears TrΓ©sor
Margaret wears TrΓ©sor perfume
Mary Jo wears Lauren
Mary Jo wears Lauren perfume
But you don't wear no perfume
But you don't wear any perfume
Deborah wears Clinique
Deborah wears Clinique perfume
Marianne wears Mystique
Marianne wears Mystique perfume
Judith wears Shalimar
Judith wears Shalimar perfume
Anna wears CK1
Anna wears CK1 perfume
Jeanie wears Opium
Jeanie wears Opium perfume
Trisha wears No.5
Trisha wears Chanel No.5 perfume
Susan wears St. Laurent
Susan wears Yves St. Laurent perfume
Janie wears L'Air do Temps
Janie wears L'Air do Temps perfume
Kirstin wears Davidoff
Kirstin wears Davidoff perfume
That's why I want to spend my life with you
I want to spend my life with you because you don't wear perfume, so my memories of time spent with you won't be linked to any particular fragrance
The olefactory sense is the sense
The sense of smell is the sense
That most strongly evokes memories of the past
That most strongly triggers memories of the past
Well screw the past
I don't care about the past
Geneviève wears Hermès
Geneviève wears Hermès perfume
Annabelle wears Arpège
Annabelle wears Arpège perfume
Betty Lee wears GuΓ©rlain
Betty Lee wears GuΓ©rlain perfume
Katie wears Giorgio
Katie wears Giorgio perfume
Lily wears Moschino
Lily wears Moschino perfume
Jenna wears Kenneth Cole
Jenna wears Kenneth Cole perfume
Carol wears Cacharel
Carol wears Cacharel perfume
Lana wears Tommy Girl
Lana wears Tommy Girl perfume
Cynthia wears J'Adore
Cynthia wears J'Adore perfume
Jennifer wears CΓ©line
Jennifer wears Celine perfume
Laura wears Armani
Laura wears Armani perfume
Deborah wears Polo Sport
Deborah wears Polo Sport perfume
Gina wears Vera Wang
Gina wears Vera Wang perfume
Sheila wears Helmut Lang
Sheila wears Helmut Lang perfume
Dinah wears Oxygene
Dinah wears Oxygene perfume
Jody wears Gaultier
Jody wears Gaultier perfume
Peggy wears Jean Patou
Peggy wears Jean Patou perfume
Stella wears Lagerfeld
Stella wears Lagerfeld perfume
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management
Written by: RONALD D MAEL, RUSSELL CRAIG MAEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
A very catchy and great Sparks song.
@jessieloves2092
Geneviève wears Dior
Margaret wears TrΓ©sor
Mary Jo wears Lauren
But you don't wear no perfume
Deborah wears Clinique
Marianne wears Mystique
Judith wears Shalimar
But you don't wear no perfume
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
Anna wears CK1
Jeanie wears Opium
Trisha wears No.5
But you don't wear no perfume
Susan wears St. Laurent
Janie wears L'Air do Temps
Kirstin wears Davidoff
But you don't wear no perfume
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
The olefactory sense is the sense
That most strongly evokes memories of the past
Well screw the past
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
Geneviève wears Hermès
Annabelle wears Arpège
Betty Lee wears GuΓ©rlain
But you don't wear no perfume
Katie wears Giorgio
Lily wears Moschino
Jenna wears Kenneth Cole
But you don't wear no perfume
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
Carol wears Cacharel
Lana wears Tommy Girl
Cynthia wears J'Adore
But you don't wear no perfume
Jennifer wears CΓ©line
Laura wears Armani
Deborah wears Polo Sport
But you don't wear no perfume
Gina wears Vera Wang
Sheila wears Helmut Lang
Dinah wears Oxygene
But you don't wear no perfume
Jody wears Gaultier
Peggy wears Jean Patou
Stella wears Lagerfeld
But you don't wear no perfume
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why, that's why, that's why, that's why
That's why, that's why, that's why, that's why
@annabackman3028
LYRICS by Ron Mael/Sparks
(Here in this version there are "only" 27 girls he doesn't want to be reminded of, instead of 30.)
Geniviève wears Dior
Margaret wears TreΕor
Mary Lo wears Lauren
But you don't wear no perfume
Deborah wears Clinique
Marianne wears Mystique
Judith wears Shalimar
But you don't wear no perfume
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
Anna wears CK1
Jeanie wears Opium
Trisha wears No. 5
But you don't wear no perfume
Susan wears St. Laurent
Janie wears L'Air do Temps
Kristin wears Davidoff
But you don't wear no perfume
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
The olefactory sense is the sense
That most strongly evokes memories of the past
Well, screw the past!
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
Geniviève wears Hermès
Annabelle wears Arpège
Betty Lee wears GuΓ©rlain
But you don't wear no perfume
Katie wears Giorgio
Lily wears Moschino
Jenna wears Kenneth Cole
But you don't wear no perfume
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
Carol wears Cacharel
Lana wears Tommy Girl
Cynthia wears J'Adore
But you don't wear no perfume
Jennifer wears Celine
Laura wears Armani
Deborah wears Polo Sport
But you don't wear no perfume
Judy wears Gualtier
Peggy wears Jean Patou
Stella wears Lagerfeld
But you don't wear no perfume
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
That's why I want to spend my life with you
πππππ
(They left out one verse here;
"Gina wears Vera Wang
Shiela wears Helmut Lang
Dinah wears Oxygene
But you don't wear no perfume")
@annabackman3028
@New Forest Pixies No worries!
The problem is all people (ALSO MEN, God knows π«) that are used to practically shower in cheap perfumes, and one way or the other "upgrade" to more expensive. They keep pouring it over themselves, used to the strong smell the first minutes. That's when the scent start to fade off with a cheap one.
OR, with high quality, her(/his) nose get numb of the strong smell. That person doesn't realize HOW much it smells. And that the smell is overwhelming, can make people in a bus walk two or three stops just to escape it.
Ask people who are oversensitive to strong smells what they think. π. Headaches, nauseousness, blocked nose and asthma.
Another problem is that a lot of expensive perfumes also have a spray nozzle or pump, which usually is set to spray as you were using mosquito repellentπ«.
Clever women spray in some sort of small cup and use a finger to apply just a little on chosen spots, like behind the ears, one on the middle of the chest (cleavageπ), below the back of the neck (opposite the cleavage) and inside of the wrists.
(Don't use the palm, it will smell for HOURS even if you scrub yourself 20 times!)
Imagen the difference between using ONE spray dose on all those spots from one spray dose on EACH SPOT!!! Or shower it all over the body π±.
AND, how freaking much money that costs!!! π΅
Ignorence and stupidity. π
The secret is that perfume should be used to make a sexy guy sence just as much that he must come close to really smell itπππ! Fishing!!
Not to evacuate a train. πππ
I REALLY hope that potential women read this too!!!
I mean, girls, ask any guy what their opinion is! π₯°π
Tell your sisters β€οΈ
@scottallison9659
One of the finest and most important bands of the last fifty years..FACT!! π€πΉπΈπ₯β‘οΈ πΊπ₯°
@spoonerfive
Sparks are flat out Awesome. I'm 64, and Kimono My House blew me away back in the '70's. It still does, and I was so happy to find that they made great music as seniors, too!
@gumunduringigumundsson9344
They are still going strong. Heard the new album yet?
@jmitch623
Iβm 72 and back in the fold!
@SuperGayHomo
62 here, read about Kimono in Dan Nooger's Circus column, got it, loved it. Also loved how Lester called it "herky jerky carnival music."
@howiegruwitz3173
Ron has been a senior for five decades
@LAVideoArt
Sparks.... One word: UNDERRATED!!!!!
@Iris7374
Absolutely true!!
@gumunduringigumundsson9344
Underrated is an understatement ;)