Episode 104 - Sparks

Sodajerker On Songwriting

Sodajerker

Sodajerker, Barber, Simon, Music Interviews, Liverpool, Songwriters, Musicians, Oconnor, Songwriting, Interviews, Music, Podcast, Brian

4.9 • 885 Ratings

🗓️ 12 September 2017

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks sit down with Simon and Brian in London to discuss the writing of their terrific new album Hippopotamus. The brothers describe the processes behind the music and lyrics of songs like 'What The Hell Is It This Time?', 'Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)' and 'Missionary Position' alongside classics from their catalogue like 'My Baby's Taking Me Home', 'When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way'' and 'This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us'.

Transcript

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0:00.0	And the Hello and welcome to Soda Jaker on songwriting, episode 104.
0:23.4	I'm Brian here with Simon and joining us today is a pair of Los Angeles
0:27.1	siblings who are well into their fifth decade of conjuring original witty literate
0:31.9	of kilter pop music of the very highest order.
0:34.7	As we record this, they're about to release their twenty-second studio album, Hippopotamus,
0:39.4	and we're happy to report it's as dazzlingly inventive a record as they've ever made.
0:43.6	We're truly thrilled to welcome to our show the magnificent Sparks.
0:47.4	We got to sit down with Ron and Russell at the officers of their label, PMG in London a few weeks
0:51.8	back to discuss the new album and gleaned some insight into their working process and it was a very pleasant experience indeed wasn't it right?
0:58.8	It was they were very charming guys and it was just really exciting to meet them. In the interest of full
1:04.4	disclosure Sparks is one of my all-time favorite bands so I have to admit it was a
1:09.2	struggle at times to maintain my professional composure. They didn't seem bothered when you squealed like a little girl.
1:15.0	It was very good of them to turn a blind eye.
1:17.0	How many times is it you've seen them again?
1:20.0	I think it's an even dozen.
1:21.0	Geez.
1:22.0	Six of those shows were during their amazing 21 night run in London back in 2008
1:28.0	when they performed an album a night at the Islington Academy.
1:31.0	Very fond memories of those gigs.
1:33.4	The atmosphere was incredible every night and the love from the audiences for Ron and Russell was palpable.
1:39.2	Which is as things should be.
1:41.3	After all these years they still have this tremendous kind of mystique about them
	...

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