Chords for Sparks on BBC Newsnight 18/9/2017
Tempo:
121.75 bpm
Chords used:
F
Dm
G
C
A
Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret
Start Jamming...
Helen Thomas there.
Now, the US band Sparks, led by the male brothers Ron and Russell,
last had a top 20 single in this country in 1979.
Beat the clock in case Ken Bruce asks you on Popmaster.
Now, that was all just after Margaret Thatcher took power
in an era when an appearance on top of the Pops
could make a music career.
The brothers haven't been dining out on their past glories,
they've been making albums ever since,
and something of a Sparks revival has been underway
after they worked with Franz Ferdinand.
Their new album, Hippopotamus, is number seven in the album charts,
and in the spirit of the band's hit Amateur Hour,
we [F] sent Stephen Smith to talk to them.
What the hell is it this time?
How many emails did you get today?
The brothers keep my card as good as every man.
The male brothers imagine God's chocker inbox
and his fraying temper on their new album, their 23rd.
If Arsenal wins, he really don't care.
What the hell is it this time?
There's a line in it about,
if Arsenal wins, he really don't care,
and we've actually had some kind of blowback from that one.
I thought you might.
From Arsenal fans, but it was only
Are you Arsenal fans?
Just to clear that up.
Well, we can't show any prejudice towards any football teams,
but in any case, the [A] Supreme Being also is not supposed to take sides in Premier.
[Ab] This time I'm big enough for the both [A] of us.
[Eb] [Dm] [A] And it's only you who's gonna live.
Sparks were a welcome, if sometimes unnerving,
fixture of Top of the Pops in its pomp.
The male [D] brothers' [A] career took off here after a full start in the States.
He is dying and [Am] this is worse.
He has [Gm] lost his will.
There was the novelty for us the first time around,
like there is the first time around for any [Dm] experience,
but just being on that show,
you know, it was like just a dream for us.
We're really excited that the audience for Sparks now
is a combination of both people that have been following the band since the 70s,
and then we've attracted a really new young audience as well.
There's a [G] hit, [C] oh, [Dm] I don't miss a hit,
[C] oh, [Dm] I don't miss a [C] hit,
oh, [Dm] I don't miss [G] in [C] my
Your [D] single
[G] references Titus Andronicus and a woman with an abacus.
You mean that's not the usual pop figure?
I don't know.
I'm slightly out of touch.
I don't know if Taylor Swift named Jax Titus Andronicus.
Yeah, well, you should follow her more closely, I think.
There is [Em] Titus [F] Andronicus, [G] Titus [F] Andronicus,
[Em] Titus [F]
Andronicus in [E] my boo.
[F] There is [G] Titus [F] Andronicus, Titus [E] [F] Andronicus,
wearing [Em] a [F] snorkel in [Em] my boo.
[D] People like Noel Coward and Cole Porter and Ira Gershwin
weretheythe were people that ..where the words really, really mattered. You know, we looked to those people as an inspiration [C] just to really, really focus on the lyrics. Some people will feel that you're kind of in character. We're just round the corner from Gilbert and [N] George, who I'm sure you're familiar with. I mean, are you a bit like the Gilbert and George of pop? We like them. We like their art a lot. There's no separation between their the perception of them and also what they're doing. And I think in that sense, we're similar. [Am] Brothers with a very [N] singular view of the world, Russell and Ron have produced a long and inimitable discography. Just don't call them quirky. Well, I think the term quirky is really lazy to impose that term because it just sort of ..it's just too easy to say that about someone, about Sparks. And so, you know, I think there are more nuances to what we do. Even at the very beginning, we were playing with bands in Los Angeles before we moved to Britain that were sincere in the wrong kind of way, we felt, and very revelatory of their personal ideas, you know, through the music. And we thought, you don't have to be that direct. And having it couched in humour sometimes, you're running the risk of people thinking that you're a comedy band. But, you know, we always try to have another subtext to the lyrics, [F] where it isn't just funny, but there's another level that it can be taken [G] on. [F] [Dm] [Bb]
[Am] [G] [F]
[Dm] [Bb]
[Am] [G] [F]
[Dm] [N]
Now, the US band Sparks, led by the male brothers Ron and Russell,
last had a top 20 single in this country in 1979.
Beat the clock in case Ken Bruce asks you on Popmaster.
Now, that was all just after Margaret Thatcher took power
in an era when an appearance on top of the Pops
could make a music career.
The brothers haven't been dining out on their past glories,
they've been making albums ever since,
and something of a Sparks revival has been underway
after they worked with Franz Ferdinand.
Their new album, Hippopotamus, is number seven in the album charts,
and in the spirit of the band's hit Amateur Hour,
we [F] sent Stephen Smith to talk to them.
What the hell is it this time?
How many emails did you get today?
The brothers keep my card as good as every man.
The male brothers imagine God's chocker inbox
and his fraying temper on their new album, their 23rd.
If Arsenal wins, he really don't care.
What the hell is it this time?
There's a line in it about,
if Arsenal wins, he really don't care,
and we've actually had some kind of blowback from that one.
I thought you might.
From Arsenal fans, but it was only
Are you Arsenal fans?
Just to clear that up.
Well, we can't show any prejudice towards any football teams,
but in any case, the [A] Supreme Being also is not supposed to take sides in Premier.
[Ab] This time I'm big enough for the both [A] of us.
[Eb] [Dm] [A] And it's only you who's gonna live.
Sparks were a welcome, if sometimes unnerving,
fixture of Top of the Pops in its pomp.
The male [D] brothers' [A] career took off here after a full start in the States.
He is dying and [Am] this is worse.
He has [Gm] lost his will.
There was the novelty for us the first time around,
like there is the first time around for any [Dm] experience,
but just being on that show,
you know, it was like just a dream for us.
We're really excited that the audience for Sparks now
is a combination of both people that have been following the band since the 70s,
and then we've attracted a really new young audience as well.
There's a [G] hit, [C] oh, [Dm] I don't miss a hit,
[C] oh, [Dm] I don't miss a [C] hit,
oh, [Dm] I don't miss [G] in [C] my
Your [D] single
[G] references Titus Andronicus and a woman with an abacus.
You mean that's not the usual pop figure?
I don't know.
I'm slightly out of touch.
I don't know if Taylor Swift named Jax Titus Andronicus.
Yeah, well, you should follow her more closely, I think.
There is [Em] Titus [F] Andronicus, [G] Titus [F] Andronicus,
[Em] Titus [F]
Andronicus in [E] my boo.
[F] There is [G] Titus [F] Andronicus, Titus [E] [F] Andronicus,
wearing [Em] a [F] snorkel in [Em] my boo.
[D] People like Noel Coward and Cole Porter and Ira Gershwin
weretheythe were people that ..where the words really, really mattered. You know, we looked to those people as an inspiration [C] just to really, really focus on the lyrics. Some people will feel that you're kind of in character. We're just round the corner from Gilbert and [N] George, who I'm sure you're familiar with. I mean, are you a bit like the Gilbert and George of pop? We like them. We like their art a lot. There's no separation between their the perception of them and also what they're doing. And I think in that sense, we're similar. [Am] Brothers with a very [N] singular view of the world, Russell and Ron have produced a long and inimitable discography. Just don't call them quirky. Well, I think the term quirky is really lazy to impose that term because it just sort of ..it's just too easy to say that about someone, about Sparks. And so, you know, I think there are more nuances to what we do. Even at the very beginning, we were playing with bands in Los Angeles before we moved to Britain that were sincere in the wrong kind of way, we felt, and very revelatory of their personal ideas, you know, through the music. And we thought, you don't have to be that direct. And having it couched in humour sometimes, you're running the risk of people thinking that you're a comedy band. But, you know, we always try to have another subtext to the lyrics, [F] where it isn't just funny, but there's another level that it can be taken [G] on. [F] [Dm] [Bb]
[Am] [G] [F]
[Dm] [Bb]
[Am] [G] [F]
[Dm] [N]
Key:
F
Dm
G
C
A
F
Dm
G
Helen Thomas there.
Now, the US band Sparks, led by the male brothers Ron and Russell,
last had a top 20 single in this country in 1979.
_ Beat the clock in case Ken Bruce asks you on Popmaster.
Now, that was all just after Margaret Thatcher took power
in an era when an appearance on top of the Pops
could make a music career.
The brothers haven't been dining out on their past glories,
they've been making albums ever since,
and something of a Sparks revival has been underway
after they worked with Franz Ferdinand.
Their new album, Hippopotamus, is number seven in the album charts,
and in the spirit of the band's hit Amateur Hour,
we [F] sent Stephen Smith to talk to them.
_ What the hell is it this time?
How many emails did you get today?
The brothers keep my card as good as every man.
The male brothers imagine God's chocker inbox
and his fraying temper on their new album, their 23rd.
If Arsenal _ wins, he really don't care.
What the hell is it this time?
There's a line in it about,
if Arsenal wins, he really don't care,
and we've actually had some kind of blowback from that one.
I thought you might.
From Arsenal fans, but it was only_
Are you Arsenal fans?
Just to clear that up.
Well, we can't show any prejudice towards any football teams,
but in any case, the [A] Supreme Being also is not supposed to take sides in Premier.
[Ab] This time I'm big enough for the both [A] of us.
[Eb] _ [Dm] [A] And it's only you who's gonna live.
_ Sparks were a welcome, if sometimes unnerving,
fixture of Top of the Pops in its pomp.
The male [D] brothers' [A] career took off here after a full start in the States.
He is _ dying and [Am] this is worse.
He has [Gm] lost his will.
There was the novelty for us the first time around,
like there is the first time around for any [Dm] experience,
but just being on that show,
you know, it was like just a dream for us.
We're really excited that the audience for Sparks now
is a combination of both people that have been following the band since the 70s,
and then we've attracted a really new young audience as well.
There's a [G] hit, [C] oh, [Dm] I don't miss a hit,
[C] oh, [Dm] I don't miss a [C] hit,
oh, [Dm] I don't miss [G] in [C] my_
Your [D] single _
[G] references Titus Andronicus and a woman with an abacus.
You mean that's not the usual pop figure?
I don't know.
I'm slightly out of touch.
I don't know if Taylor Swift named Jax Titus Andronicus.
Yeah, well, you should follow her more closely, I think.
There is [Em] Titus [F] Andronicus, [G] Titus [F] Andronicus,
[Em] Titus [F]
Andronicus in [E] my boo.
[F] There is [G] Titus [F] Andronicus, Titus [E] [F] Andronicus,
wearing [Em] a [F] snorkel in [Em] my boo.
[D] _ _ People like Noel Coward and Cole Porter and Ira Gershwin
were_they_the were people _ that_ ..where the words really, really mattered. You know, we looked to those people as an inspiration [C] just to really, really focus on the lyrics. Some people will feel that you're kind of in character. We're just round the corner from Gilbert and [N] George, who I'm sure you're familiar with. I mean, are you a bit like the Gilbert and George of pop? We like them. We like their art a lot. There's no separation between their_ the perception of them _ and also what they're doing. And I think in that sense, _ we're similar. _ _ _ [Am] _ _ _ Brothers with a very [N] singular view of the world, Russell and Ron have produced a long and inimitable discography. _ _ _ _ Just don't call them quirky. _ _ _ _ _ _ Well, I think the term quirky is really lazy to _ impose that term because it just sort of_ _ ..it's just too easy to say that about someone, about Sparks. And so, you know, I think there are more nuances to what we do. Even at the very beginning, we were playing with bands in Los Angeles before we moved to Britain that were sincere in the wrong kind of way, we felt, and very _ revelatory of their _ personal _ ideas, you know, through the music. And we thought, you don't have to be that direct. And having it couched in humour sometimes, you're running the risk of people thinking that you're a comedy band. But, you know, we always try to have another subtext to the lyrics, [F] where it isn't just funny, but there's another level that it can be taken [G] on. _ [F] _ _ [Dm] _ _ _ _ [Bb] _ _ _
_ [Am] _ _ _ _ [G] _ _ [F] _
_ [Dm] _ _ _ _ [Bb] _ _ _
_ [Am] _ _ _ _ [G] _ _ [F] _
_ [Dm] _ _ _ _ _ _ [N] _
Now, the US band Sparks, led by the male brothers Ron and Russell,
last had a top 20 single in this country in 1979.
_ Beat the clock in case Ken Bruce asks you on Popmaster.
Now, that was all just after Margaret Thatcher took power
in an era when an appearance on top of the Pops
could make a music career.
The brothers haven't been dining out on their past glories,
they've been making albums ever since,
and something of a Sparks revival has been underway
after they worked with Franz Ferdinand.
Their new album, Hippopotamus, is number seven in the album charts,
and in the spirit of the band's hit Amateur Hour,
we [F] sent Stephen Smith to talk to them.
_ What the hell is it this time?
How many emails did you get today?
The brothers keep my card as good as every man.
The male brothers imagine God's chocker inbox
and his fraying temper on their new album, their 23rd.
If Arsenal _ wins, he really don't care.
What the hell is it this time?
There's a line in it about,
if Arsenal wins, he really don't care,
and we've actually had some kind of blowback from that one.
I thought you might.
From Arsenal fans, but it was only_
Are you Arsenal fans?
Just to clear that up.
Well, we can't show any prejudice towards any football teams,
but in any case, the [A] Supreme Being also is not supposed to take sides in Premier.
[Ab] This time I'm big enough for the both [A] of us.
[Eb] _ [Dm] [A] And it's only you who's gonna live.
_ Sparks were a welcome, if sometimes unnerving,
fixture of Top of the Pops in its pomp.
The male [D] brothers' [A] career took off here after a full start in the States.
He is _ dying and [Am] this is worse.
He has [Gm] lost his will.
There was the novelty for us the first time around,
like there is the first time around for any [Dm] experience,
but just being on that show,
you know, it was like just a dream for us.
We're really excited that the audience for Sparks now
is a combination of both people that have been following the band since the 70s,
and then we've attracted a really new young audience as well.
There's a [G] hit, [C] oh, [Dm] I don't miss a hit,
[C] oh, [Dm] I don't miss a [C] hit,
oh, [Dm] I don't miss [G] in [C] my_
Your [D] single _
[G] references Titus Andronicus and a woman with an abacus.
You mean that's not the usual pop figure?
I don't know.
I'm slightly out of touch.
I don't know if Taylor Swift named Jax Titus Andronicus.
Yeah, well, you should follow her more closely, I think.
There is [Em] Titus [F] Andronicus, [G] Titus [F] Andronicus,
[Em] Titus [F]
Andronicus in [E] my boo.
[F] There is [G] Titus [F] Andronicus, Titus [E] [F] Andronicus,
wearing [Em] a [F] snorkel in [Em] my boo.
[D] _ _ People like Noel Coward and Cole Porter and Ira Gershwin
were_they_the were people _ that_ ..where the words really, really mattered. You know, we looked to those people as an inspiration [C] just to really, really focus on the lyrics. Some people will feel that you're kind of in character. We're just round the corner from Gilbert and [N] George, who I'm sure you're familiar with. I mean, are you a bit like the Gilbert and George of pop? We like them. We like their art a lot. There's no separation between their_ the perception of them _ and also what they're doing. And I think in that sense, _ we're similar. _ _ _ [Am] _ _ _ Brothers with a very [N] singular view of the world, Russell and Ron have produced a long and inimitable discography. _ _ _ _ Just don't call them quirky. _ _ _ _ _ _ Well, I think the term quirky is really lazy to _ impose that term because it just sort of_ _ ..it's just too easy to say that about someone, about Sparks. And so, you know, I think there are more nuances to what we do. Even at the very beginning, we were playing with bands in Los Angeles before we moved to Britain that were sincere in the wrong kind of way, we felt, and very _ revelatory of their _ personal _ ideas, you know, through the music. And we thought, you don't have to be that direct. And having it couched in humour sometimes, you're running the risk of people thinking that you're a comedy band. But, you know, we always try to have another subtext to the lyrics, [F] where it isn't just funny, but there's another level that it can be taken [G] on. _ [F] _ _ [Dm] _ _ _ _ [Bb] _ _ _
_ [Am] _ _ _ _ [G] _ _ [F] _
_ [Dm] _ _ _ _ [Bb] _ _ _
_ [Am] _ _ _ _ [G] _ _ [F] _
_ [Dm] _ _ _ _ _ _ [N] _