I've been a fan of sparks since 1979. I'm seeing them in concert in Liverpool next month. They're one of the most inventive and influential bands of all time. Beat the clock is about trying to live life in the fast lane. The narrator fails in the end. If you listen closely at the end, it goes you gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clo.... Irony and humour play a huge part in sparks songs. The lyric you referred to was no time for relationship, skip the foreplay let her rip.
Have loved Sparks, consistently, for 49 years now. I bought Kimono My House and have all of their 21st Century albums except FFS and the Ingmar Bergman one. The variety of them is extraordinary but there is a constant Sparksness all the way through and I love them for it. If you can get to see them live, just go.
Saw them Live in London which was filmed by Edgar Wright for his documentary film The Sparks Brothers the whole gig is included in the extras and I am going to the Royal Albert Hall in London end of May to see them again 👍🏻
Such a unique band, released some great tracks too (never middle of the road lol) 'When Do I Get To Sing My Way' (with a brilliantly official video) 'Number 1 song in Heaven' 'What The Hell Is It This Time' 'Amateur Hour' just some examples, still touring and releasing albums now at 77 and 74.
Yeah, you guys had made their 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us' my ear worm for a few days with your video! 😄 I'm not complaining, though 😁 And quite interesting, and I hadn't known this before: That's the same "We gotta beat the clock" chant that also appears at the beginning of 'Stars On 45' (by Stars On 45) from '81 😀
My sister knew who Sparks were because their single ''This Town Ain't Big Enough'' was a minor hit in Australia in the mid 70's. I picked up on them with ''No. 1 in Heaven'' and ''Beat The Clock''. I remember this video popping up on Countdown, and my sister was like ''ugh.. Sparks! I thought they died in a plane crash''. But I enjoyed their fresh take on Disco and Electronica, and I was keen to see this song enter the Aussie pop charts. Unfortunately, none of my friends were keen to push ''Beat The Clock'' through aggressive radio requests. This song was popular in the Disco world, but not in the mainstream - at least, not in the Australian mainstream. Fortunately, my friends would be more in favour of their 1980 single ''When I'm With You''. We loved the video, and it didn't seem hard to get radio to play the single. It would reach # 17 in Australia - the highest charting hit the band achieved over here. Sparks always release new music. It's another year and another Sparks album. It's as news worthy as overcast on a winter's day.
Very interesting write up. According to wiki, they only charted in Australia about 3 times.. This Town Aint Big Enough in 1974 and in 1997 got to 69 twice - the latter was Sparks with Faith No More and When I'm With You being a Top 20 hit I wish I lived during those Countdown years.. the world seemed very different back then
@@OnceWasRStrathfield By the way RYAN, I sent you an email with the list of songs I want the Hanier family to react to. Neither you nor the Haniers have responded to my email. It'd be nice to get a reply.
@@liveitup67 Hey, I'm sorry! I'm checking now! Okay.. I love this list! Some real gems in there. I would be the pot calling the kettle black if I was to say that your list is excessive. I'm guilty of bombarding them in my own way. I'm sure I've been insufferable. But yea.. That's a great, very long, but great list! Haysi Fantayzee? The Waitresss? Machinations? Great songs, but very pop. I don't know if the Haniers like pop. Great list though! Cheers!
Ha ! Who would of thought a band with a key board player brandishing a Hitler tache ,would make it ! Great fun Band , bit mental ! I think they may have watched the Fritz Lang 1920 Movie "Metropolis " a Classic ! For this track ! A great dance tune "Sparks " did imo is "No 1 In Heaven " if your into 70 s dance ! Cheers !
I think it was the mid 70s when I first really heard Sparks and I think I was the right age to be open minded enough to accept their quirkiness. I still enjoy hearing them although they wouldn't make it onto my playlist anytime soon
He was! I bought the single at the time (August 1979 - around about my 12th birthday), and noticed his name as the producer. I only knew his name through the Donna Summer singles I had at the time.
@@SPKdesign1 Same! I got a lot of useless memories of tracklists on each K-Tel record I had, and I remember producer and label names on 45's I owned. But ask me paswords, and answers to secret questions, and I'm stuck! 🙄
Both you guys have your priorities straight in regards to the things you do remember! 😁👍 I'm in the same boat, and someone once even criticised me for it! 😏
@@hanierfamily - Well, how about hitting two flies with the same flap then (as the German version of the proverb goes - and I'm not gonna kill any birds! 😉) and checking out 'Singing In The Shower' by Les Rita Mitsouko & Sparks ? (channel: Les Rita Mitsouko ♪) 😀 Otherwise, 'C’est Comme Ça' is probably the only other Rita Mitsouko song I really know (channel: EuKra) 🙂
The previous track you reacted to was from 1974, this is from 1979, by which time they had stripped down to a synth duo. You could try some later tracks to see how they progressed. When Do I Get To Sing My Way (1994) has a fabulous video, as does Edith Piaf Said It Better Than Me (2017). Another interesting track and great video is Your Fandango, a collaboration with Todd Rundgren from 2021. Todd produced Sparks debut album in 1971, so it only took them 50 years to work together again.
How prophetic is this tune! Our time obsessed, micro performance obsessed little world, so buried that any bigger picture just gets buried. Humanity HAS to change. F*** KPIs, F*** "Oh why didn't you reply to me IMMEDIATELY!".....Once again Sparks ahead of their time..
This is European Disco, not really meant to be listened to out of context. With 26 albums or so to choose songs from, it is hard to tell where to start. And every album is different. The lyrics are quite good here - you really can't experience a Sparks song without them... but, man, they go by fast! Try anything off 'Young Lovers'.
@@hanierfamily - 'The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte' is that song's title, and The Darkness' Justin Hawkins had checked it out already over a month ago, on his _Justin Hawkins Rides Again_ channel 🙂
@@mightyV444 The Darkness were, and still are, a novelty act! 😉 That Cate Blanchett video is pretty good, I'm quite fond of a lot of the latest Sparks stuff.
You should really check out from their recent album , The girl is crying in her latte ( the single features Cate Blanchett)Gee that was fun( you may choked how moving it is and also When you leave ( hilarious) again you have to listen with lyrics .
C and C, Is sending you guys an email out of bounds? I think that sending an email of recommendations would be a better method of making a request. Let me know if you're okay with emails. Thanx.
Yep ! That is a good Idea ! Im convinced some Esikmo some where is receiving huge lists of Music , He actually does not know it is music , He might think the Americans are coming to steal his Igloo ! Because it has too much Carbon in it or something ! Yes ! OK , Good Idea ! cheers !
@@mightyV444 Greetings Squire ! Hows it all going ? So now i have to work out what to do next !! E mails and all that !! Im used to carrier Pigeon ! How about you ?
Tactics - Second Language nzoz1981 I'm with Bed Turner on this one. Interesting song, a bit of a blah video, probably got an award for being the worst Australian music video of 1981 Cool post-punk band from Canberra that once had Steve Kilbey (The Church) as a member.
This is a classic case of a good 70's rock band making a bad attempt of jumping on the disco bandwagon. I lost interest in Sparks after this but no foubt they made money doing this stuff😮
This album was huge seller in Uk alone ! This was not a bad attempt at jumping on the disco bandwagon ! This and Terminal Jive were both good albums . Sparks have proven over last 50 yrs they can move with the times and do it well . I can't think of many bands that can do this . Im sure the new album will be different , and excellent .
![Beat the Clock [Extended Version]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IJr61z44m6c/mqdefault.jpg)
![[BadComedian] - Русские ЭМО СУМЕРКИ (твой личный сорт кринжа)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/DO_lijyx-No/mqdefault.jpg)
You may like "The Number One Song In Heaven" from the same album.
I've been a fan of sparks since 1979. I'm seeing them in concert in Liverpool next month. They're one of the most inventive and influential bands of all time. Beat the clock is about trying to live life in the fast lane. The narrator fails in the end. If you listen closely at the end, it goes you gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clo.... Irony and humour play a huge part in sparks songs. The lyric you referred to was no time for relationship, skip the foreplay let her rip.
The more you hear the more diverse their career is apparent. Incredibly relevant through every decade. Cheers.
Have loved Sparks, consistently, for 49 years now. I bought Kimono My House and have all of their 21st Century albums except FFS and the Ingmar Bergman one. The variety of them is extraordinary but there is a constant Sparksness all the way through and I love them for it. If you can get to see them live, just go.
Saw them Live in London which was filmed by Edgar Wright for his documentary film The Sparks Brothers the whole gig is included in the extras and I am going to the Royal Albert Hall in London end of May to see them again 👍🏻
Another of my favourites from childhood. Maybe 7 or 8. Love it still at 53 ❤ It was such great pop and ahead of its time to my young ears 🎉🎉
Will never quite understand how Sparks are not popular in USA, they have had huge hits in Europe and their last 2 albums reached no 7 in UK.
We are in Canada.
@@hanierfamily Yes I know, but they are unheard of in their own Country.
Such a unique band, released some great tracks too (never middle of the road lol)
'When Do I Get To Sing My Way' (with a brilliantly official video) 'Number 1 song in Heaven' 'What The Hell Is It This Time' 'Amateur Hour' just some examples, still touring and releasing albums now at 77 and 74.
Fan since 75 best band ever
Yeah, you guys had made their 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us' my ear worm for a few days with your video! 😄 I'm not complaining, though 😁 And quite interesting, and I hadn't known this before: That's the same "We gotta beat the clock" chant that also appears at the beginning of 'Stars On 45' (by Stars On 45) from '81 😀
Dude,.....you're showing your age!
@@Sandy-dd4le - And proudly so, too! 😁
@@mightyV444 I only know because I remember Stars On 45 too, despite the surgery, and the therapy.
@@Sandy-dd4le - What? Nah, we'd already established only a few days ago that we were pretty much the same age! 😄
@@Sandy-dd4le - By the way: Surgery and therapy? 😬
Been a fan for nearly fifty years. Saw them here in Melbourne. Brilliant
Try something from Kimono My House or the long version of Number One Song In Heaven.
Great suggestion!
My sister knew who Sparks were because their single ''This Town Ain't Big Enough'' was a minor hit in Australia in the mid 70's.
I picked up on them with ''No. 1 in Heaven'' and ''Beat The Clock''. I remember this video popping up on Countdown, and my sister was like ''ugh.. Sparks! I thought they died in a plane crash''. But I enjoyed their fresh take on Disco and Electronica, and I was keen to see this song enter the Aussie pop charts. Unfortunately, none of my friends were keen to push ''Beat The Clock'' through aggressive radio requests. This song was popular in the Disco world, but not in the mainstream - at least, not in the Australian mainstream.
Fortunately, my friends would be more in favour of their 1980 single ''When I'm With You''. We loved the video, and it didn't seem hard to get radio to play the single. It would reach # 17 in Australia - the highest charting hit the band achieved over here.
Sparks always release new music. It's another year and another Sparks album. It's as news worthy as overcast on a winter's day.
Very interesting write up. According to wiki, they only charted in Australia about 3 times..
This Town Aint Big Enough in 1974 and in 1997 got to 69 twice - the latter was Sparks with Faith No More
and When I'm With You being a Top 20 hit
I wish I lived during those Countdown years.. the world seemed very different back then
@@OnceWasRStrathfield It was different back then! There are things I'm happy to see gone, but there are also things I wish we kept.
@@OnceWasRStrathfield By the way RYAN, I sent you an email with the list of songs I want the Hanier family to react to. Neither you nor the Haniers have responded to my email. It'd be nice to get a reply.
@@liveitup67 Hey, I'm sorry! I'm checking now!
Okay.. I love this list! Some real gems in there. I would be the pot calling the kettle black if I was to say that your list is excessive. I'm guilty of bombarding them in my own way. I'm sure I've been insufferable.
But yea.. That's a great, very long, but great list! Haysi Fantayzee? The Waitresss? Machinations? Great songs, but very pop. I don't know if the Haniers like pop. Great list though! Cheers!
You need to do Thank God it's not Christmas earlier than this but full throttle awesomeness
Ha ! Who would of thought a band with a key board player brandishing a Hitler tache ,would make it !
Great fun Band , bit mental ! I think they may have watched the Fritz Lang 1920 Movie "Metropolis "
a Classic ! For this track ! A great dance tune "Sparks " did imo is "No 1 In Heaven " if your into 70 s dance !
Cheers !
It's actually a Charlie Chaplin moustache, which Adolf had only copied; Must've been a fan! 😄
I think it was the mid 70s when I first really heard Sparks and I think I was the right age to be open minded enough to accept their quirkiness. I still enjoy hearing them although they wouldn't make it onto my playlist anytime soon
The weird and wonderful world of the Mael brothers. I think you might be caught in the Mael-strom Hanier Family!
By ze vay, 'The Rhythm Thief' was the other Sparks song you'd checked out. So Chris was very close with his "no rhythm" remark 😊👍
I'm pretty sure Giorgeo Moroder (Not 100% on the spelling) was involved with them about this time.
He was! I bought the single at the time (August 1979 - around about my 12th birthday), and noticed his name as the producer. I only knew his name through the Donna Summer singles I had at the time.
@@liveitup67 It amazes me how I can remember this sort of useless info from way back then but can't remember my own phone number.
@@SPKdesign1 Same! I got a lot of useless memories of tracklists on each K-Tel record I had, and I remember producer and label names on 45's I owned. But ask me paswords, and answers to secret questions, and I'm stuck! 🙄
Both you guys have your priorities straight in regards to the things you do remember! 😁👍 I'm in the same boat, and someone once even criticised me for it! 😏
@@mightyV444 Can you remember who?
Lawnmower is a quirky song by Sparks 😉 also Stravinskys Only Hit another quirky song fun lyric video 😮
'Tsui Hark' is slightly weird, too! 😄
Music you can dance to,,, another song of theirs
Try not to out-stare Ron on keyboard. You'll never win 🤣
Very accurate description of 2023
Great track guys, love Sparks, try
Amateur Hour which is their earlier stuff. Keep up the good work!
"Singin in the shower" is the BEST!
... together with Les Rita Mitsouko, yes! 😀👍 Gosh, I haven't heard that one in aaages! 😄
That is an interesting band we'd like to learn more about. Les Rita Mitsouko. They flared up in Canada back in the 80's for a bit.
@@hanierfamily - Well, how about hitting two flies with the same flap then (as the German version of the proverb goes - and I'm not gonna kill any birds! 😉) and checking out 'Singing In The Shower' by Les Rita Mitsouko & Sparks ? (channel: Les Rita Mitsouko ♪) 😀 Otherwise, 'C’est Comme Ça' is probably the only other Rita Mitsouko song I really know (channel: EuKra) 🙂
I've been a fan since 1974. 😀
The previous track you reacted to was from 1974, this is from 1979, by which time they had stripped down to a synth duo. You could try some later tracks to see how they progressed. When Do I Get To Sing My Way (1994) has a fabulous video, as does Edith Piaf Said It Better Than Me (2017).
Another interesting track and great video is Your Fandango, a collaboration with Todd Rundgren from 2021. Todd produced Sparks debut album in 1971, so it only took them 50 years to work together again.
How prophetic is this tune! Our time obsessed, micro performance obsessed little world, so buried that any bigger picture just gets buried. Humanity HAS to change. F*** KPIs, F*** "Oh why didn't you reply to me IMMEDIATELY!".....Once again Sparks ahead of their time..
Always on cutting edge of music
This is European Disco, not really meant to be listened to out of context. With 26 albums or so to choose songs from, it is hard to tell where to start. And every album is different. The lyrics are quite good here - you really can't experience a Sparks song without them... but, man, they go by fast!
Try anything off 'Young Lovers'.
The title track from their upcoming album features Cate Blanchett dancing around onscreen very funny 👍🏻
They have a song out already? We should watch it soon.
@@hanierfamily ua-cam.com/video/UTAxPhxADo0/v-deo.html 👍🏻
@@hanierfamily - 'The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte' is that song's title, and The Darkness' Justin Hawkins had checked it out already over a month ago, on his _Justin Hawkins Rides Again_ channel 🙂
@@mightyV444 The Darkness were, and still are, a novelty act! 😉
That Cate Blanchett video is pretty good, I'm quite fond of a lot of the latest Sparks stuff.
Yer both hitting my sweet spot with Sparks. Been mad about them since a kid. Dunno what it is....Maybe I need help?
Would love to see your reaction to the tactics song second language
Cool request.
Tactics - Second Language nzoz1981
You should really check out from their recent album , The girl is crying in her latte ( the single features Cate Blanchett)Gee that was fun( you may choked how moving it is and also When you leave ( hilarious) again you have to listen with lyrics .
C and C,
Is sending you guys an email out of bounds? I think that sending an email of recommendations would be a better method of making a request. Let me know if you're okay with emails. Thanx.
Yep ! That is a good Idea ! Im convinced some Esikmo some where is receiving huge lists of Music ,
He actually does not know it is music , He might think the Americans are coming to steal his Igloo !
Because it has too much Carbon in it or something !
Yes ! OK , Good Idea ! cheers !
@@ghichens3418 Hah! I see.
Sure. If you like.
@@hanierfamily - Good on you guys! 😊👍
@@mightyV444 Greetings Squire ! Hows it all going ? So now i have to work out what to do next !! E mails and all that !! Im used to carrier Pigeon !
How about you ?
Tactics - Second Language nzoz1981
I'm with Bed Turner on this one. Interesting song, a bit of a blah video, probably got an award for being the worst Australian music video of 1981
Cool post-punk band from Canberra that once had Steve Kilbey (The Church) as a member.
Here comes Bob, Let the Monkey Drive, Perfume, I married Myself
Once you get the lyrics out you might find you really love them. I think you listened to the Rhythm Thief.
The wierd Ron Mael stare, remember them well, ok but odd
I Love, love, LOVE Sparks, but this is not one of my favourite songs. With 27 albums covering 7 decades, (1960s-2020s) this is from their "disco" era.
Subscribed
This is a classic case of a good 70's rock band making a bad attempt of jumping on the disco bandwagon. I lost interest in Sparks after this but no foubt they made money doing this stuff😮
This album was huge seller in Uk alone ! This was not a bad attempt at jumping on the disco bandwagon ! This and Terminal Jive were both good albums . Sparks have proven over last 50 yrs they can move with the times and do it well . I can't think of many bands that can do this .
Im sure the new album will be different , and excellent .
@Stephen Bennett yes I agree with you,they certainly Evolve and continue to make good albums.......but they don't do it for me!!!! It's just mho ... 👍