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.
The Toughest Girl in Town
Sparks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She don't look good in white
Don't try sweet talk
Unless you're hot for a fight
Still there's something that
Drives the guys half-insane
Ain't they heard that their love
For her is in vain
And all the guys in town
Just love to hang around
The toughest girl in town
Look outside and you'll see
The rain pouring down
That's the sign that
She's now on your side of town
Plan your life around
Someone proper and clean
That's the smart thing
But that means nothing to me
And all the guys in town
Just love to hang around
The toughest girl in town
She's not evil
She's just a little confused
All here life she's been
Set upon and abused
Given that, she's more interesting
Than the rest
Given that, she's the one
Who I love the best
And all the guys in town
Just love to hang around
The toughest girl in town.
The lyrics of The Toughest Girl in Town by Sparks is a defiant tribute to a strong-willed woman who is not interested in the traditional path of marriage and conformity. The song mocks those who attempt to woo her with sweet talk or material possessions, as their love for her is in vain. Despite her rough exterior and refusal to conform to societal norms, there is something about her that drives the guys half-insane, causing them to flock to her and hang around her.
The song speaks to the idea that despite a woman's tough exterior or unconventional nature, she is still deserving of love and respect. While society may label her as 'difficult' or 'confused', there is depth and complexity to her that makes her more interesting than those who blindly conform. The pain and abuse she has suffered throughout her life has shaped her into the fierce individual she is, and it is this strength and individuality that draws the singer to her.
Line by Line Meaning
She won't marry you
She does not want to get married to you
She don't look good in white
She does not look good in white wedding dress
Don't try sweet talk
Do not try to charm her with sweet talk
Unless you're hot for a fight
Unless you are prepared to fight her
Still there's something that
Despite all this, there is something about her
Drives the guys half-insane
That drives the guys crazy with desire
Ain't they heard that their love
But haven't they heard that their love for her is in vain
And all the guys in town
All the guys in the town
Just love to hang around
Love to be around her
The toughest girl in town
The girl who is the strongest and most resilient in the town
Look outside and you'll see
If you look outside, you will see
The rain pouring down
That it is raining outside
That's the sign that
And that is the sign that
She's now on your side of town
She is now in your part of town
Plan your life around
You may plan your life according to
Someone proper and clean
Someone who is decent and well-behaved
That's the smart thing
That would be the sensible thing to do
But that means nothing to me
But it does not matter to me
She's not evil
She is not an evil person
She's just a little confused
She is just a little lost and unsure of herself
All her life she's been
All her life she has been
Set upon and abused
A victim of persecution and abuse
Given that, she's more interesting
Despite this, she is more intriguing and fascinating
Than the rest
Than the other girls in the town
Given that, she's the one
Considering all this, she is the one
Who I love the best
Whom I love the most
And all the guys in town
All the guys in the town
Just love to hang around
Love to be around her
The toughest girl in town
The girl who is the strongest and most resilient in the town
Contributed by Avery H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.