Sparks - So Important (Official Video)

The video for the single "So Important" from the 1988 album Interior Design.
Directed by Ron Mael & Russell Mael
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Visit the official SPARKS website: www.allsparks.com

[@VeganChefRon]

Name another rock singer master that's just as good as they were 50 years ago! They don't exist. Russell is the ONLY ONE! Saw them for the 20th time last year and he still hits every high note, total control of his voice, tricky rhythms, and more. He and Ron are magic

[@ucraniaestamosjuntos326]

😸

[@ВалерийНикитюк-щ6м]

haha ron russell, for real?

[@VeganChefRon]

@@ВалерийНикитюк-щ6м Yes, for real!

[@ForARide]

Well, there's Johnny Cash of course, his late American Recordings are as good as his early stuff. And then there's John Cale, once with The Velvet Underground, manufacturing their early sound. He has also like the Sparks reinvented his music and sound throughout the decades, been ever such an influential character in rocks history, yet still so massively underrated.

[@kyachdistent1301]

Be fair, the 70s had barely anything worthy of Russell. Now once the brill 80s appeared, you then have Simon Le Bon, Morten Harket, Marian Gold and Neil Finn to contend with him, but agreed in the sense they don't exist in the 70s certainly as only ABBA & Sparks ruled the 70s, only in Sparks' case, bless them, their 70s stuff didn't really come alive 'til their 1979 album and they truly became album greats as the 80s hit. And from then on, especially since they left that repetitive, experimental & orchestrally driven song structure behind after 2008 and got back into making albums of real songs, which ironically they did via a team up with a non-act from the 2000s!

[@joannegreen6540]

Absolutely the most under rated, under played band. Talent is definitely their asset but they are in the business for the fun and enjoyment of it all. Great memories.

[@Hollandia777]

Probably, the most outstanding band ever!...

[@casualagent7250]

Probably in my Top Ten

[@johnwalsh128]

No probably. Best band I've heard by far. Outstanding music, lyrics and vocals. All boxes ticked for me. 😁

[@michaelmills2902]

Never heard of them

[@michaelmills2902]

@@johnwalsh128 never heard of them. Just listened to a few songs. Don’t think they’re very good at all. Maybe I’ll listen to a few more

[@georgieramone]

@@michaelmills2902 They have a lot of different kinds of albums. If you like glam rock, check out the album "Propaganda". If you like punk check out "Big Beat". If you like Beach Boys inspired songs "Introducing" is your jam. If you like synthy disco "No. 1 In Heaven". New wave "Angst In My Pants". Dance pop "Gratuitous Sax". Chamber pop/neo classical "Lil Beethoven". The new Sparks Brothers documentary directed by Edgar Write is pretty educational and entertaining. Worth watching if you're curious about this super unique and diverse band.

[@David-tt2mt]

Watching in 2023. To remain so understated yet relevant is a testament to the Brothers R&R anx their writing. I would be quite happy to be pumping out this type of music since 'This Town aint big enough for the both of us', be recognised by their real fans and even newcomers for what they do, than becoming an '80's superstellar band, and suddenly becoming a blackhole.

[@annabackman3028]

"There's a Ron with a guitar in my swimmingpool! How did they get there? I don't know!"

[@annabackman3028]

@@simonmlinar6898, if you comment as a reply to another comment, please use the same language as the first comment was written in. Thank you.

[@robdavidson1876]

Hahaha

[@stevegreg8181]

Yeah, that was a highlight just like so many creative art scenes spanning the entire recording

[@annabackman3028]

@@stevegreg8181, I agree! They could definitely direct more videos by themselves. I think the video for 'Lawnmower' is awesome! 😄! 'Music That You Can Dance To' isn't the best, but I have seen worse. After all, both of them, a long time ago, studied film and film making on UCLA... Though I assume they find music more satisfying. The outstanding in my opinion, two beside 'Lawnmower' 💖, are 'I Predict' directed by Steve and Doug Martin and the lovely 'The Calm Before The Storm' directed and animated by Kuntzel & Deygas, with whom Ron and Russell worked with on several videos, also: 'The Rhythm Theif', 'Now When I Own The BBC', 'No.1 Song In Heaven', 'I Married Myself', in which you can see the likeness to their animation to the cartoon with an instrumental special version av 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us'. (IF you haven't watched it you can find it (and other stuff) in my playlist "Fa. ☀️Sparks odd or different".)

[@stevegreg8181]

@@annabackman3028 Very great write up on the many super creative sparks music videos over these decades. Here's four that I admire among many others: "When Do I Get to Sing My Way" - such a moving story filmed in B&W showing their rivalry with their blend of humor. "So Important" - the Norman Rockwell symbolism of the ideal 50's lifestyle cut-outs interacting with the two brothers shows the art school. "I Predict" & "Beat the Clock" are two others.

[@koguma8823]

love this song. can't tell if its video aged terribly or perfectly

[@nygarmik]

In short time, this has become one of my favorite Sparks songs.

[@cressunsmile1]

My favourite Sparks song! Just saw them perform with Franz Ferdinand a few weeks ago, excellent!

[@mstone4677]

where were u at i wanted to go but couldnt. what was it like

[@kyachdistent1301]

Class with an utter joke ay!

[@WWAWHTR]

I am here after seeing the documentary. I now have 20 or so albums to catch up on. Have started with Hippopotamus and loving it!

[@NewScottishGentry]

people be sleepin on this for sure. this video is nuts, so ahead of its time

[@DM-xl2zd]

2024, почти 25...песня огонь, клип из каменного века 😂

[@barkboingfloom]

I didn't know Ron played guitar. That seems SO IMPORTANT to know.

[@dariowestern]

He played guitar in the band Urban Renewal Project in the mid 60's, whilst Russell did vocals and tambourine. They recorded the track Computer Girl in 1967, just before they formed Halfnelson with Earle & Jim Mankey and Harley Feinstein.

[@DerEchteBold]

He certainly didn't play this and I don't mean because he's obviously not playing live in a video, no, it really doesn't look like he would be able to play what we can hear in the song.

[@Isi-1975]

Please Please please release a HQ remaster of this video. It's their best video, the most Sparks Sparks video

[@jmitch623]

Ok . That does it. I need the entire library from the 70s on up .

[@mythandala]

I'm lucky enough to have an awesome Dad who purchased this album and every other Sparks album on vinyl when they were released. I was only 8 at the time of this one and it helped to deepen my love of their music. Thank you Sparks for giving me and my family such superb music to enjoy.

[@shannawilliams5744]

Kerryn D That sounds like my parents. I was 5 when this came out, but my parents were religious watchers of American Bandstand, so Sparks was part of my childhood unconscious.

[@brianwoods4983]

I have all Sparks albums, in fact saw them at Shepherds Bush, Hippopotamus tour,,,,hope my kids think I'm awesome ? Iol...

[@annabackman3028]

Great parents!

[@annabackman3028]

I blackmailed my son to listen to everything Sparks put on vinyl/CD + FFS. I'm not sure if he really is my son after that 😂! He didn't like Sparks much, only gave an ok to a few songs, but he really loved FFS! I must say that I'm ok with that anyway, consider he seems to have an aversion to fun lyrics, though he is one of the most humorous people I know. Those mysteries...

[@jessevanderwijk]

my father showed me this town on KZbin, that was enough. last week I have bought my first sparks cd

[@barrydrummonds2325]

This is my favourite track from Sparks makes me want to get up and dance and at 77yrs old not a pretty sight Rock on Dudes!!!!

[@themoviegod]

another brilliant song from the sparks brothers just watched the documentary absolutely loved it

[@johnwalsh128]

This song is so important to me 😁 vastly underrated album. Best band that ever existed.

[@SonAndHeir16]

You have to hear a Sparks song twice, to hear it once. Love this!

[@gettyfanatic8860]

This song ROCKS!

[@shannyfadida6927]

frankly, i think that sparks is a global name for what these brothers are doing. "sparks" contain many artistic forms expressions. i enjoy the way they use music, the lyrics... the vocal use of the lyrics and the graphic presentation both on clips or on stage. best quality for your money.

[@MrDen-lv5uj]

"There's Ron Mael in my pool...How did he get there? I don't know!" ))

[@petey5pete]

yes, truly one of the most outstanding bands ever. Just saw them in concert and they did NOT disappoint - absolutely brilliant

[@marcbergeron8690]

Interior Design is underrated even for a Sparks album.

[@kyachdistent1301]

Yes, but qwe did have to do a song about the worst piece of shit in the world-slagdonna. I hope hope HOPE they were being ironic somehow, knowing them, but like that arsehole needs even MORE coverage, plus in 1988 the bastard had no 'new' shit out, just 100 reissues of all past shit, so still couldn't get a way from it. STILL CAN'T. Thanks, Sparks. The name of the band is the name of a song from Kim Wilde's fantastic 1983 album "Catch As Catch Can" & that's far more important, plus 1983 was when they had a career-best album out, and it's follow-ups terribly underrated too!

[@marcbergeron8690]

@@kyachdistent1301 What in the hell are you meaning about? Are you drunk?

[@kyachdistent1301]

@@marcbergeron8690 And I give a flying eff what YOU think? They did a song about Slagdonna on that album?!Do you not KNOW this album, or are just another where lyrics are beyond you, it's just that beat that matters. Or I guess you like most of the world is a slagdonna fan so everything is meaningless to you regarding that bitch anyway!

[@markblum5059]

@@marcbergeron8690 Gibberish bird shit.

[@markblum5059]

Grab a cage.

[@eastend59]

I love the way Ron interacts with the cutouts!

[@cpdaddy7]

Ron is shredding!

[@DerEchteBold]

He certainly wasn't playing these guitar parts in the studio, you can clearly see that from the way he's miming.

[@timbayliss4153]

This is the best song that Sparks have ever done, as we are used to seeing Ron Mael always playing the electronic keyboards.

[@annabackman3028]

And Russell. Both acoustic and Electric guitars. I read somewhere that as Ron took piano classes, Russell had violin classes. I really want to no if that's true or not. Anyway, he started as a bass player in Halfnelson.

[@moobutt]

With you, with you, with you!!!!!

[@mariiaagain]

@@annabackman3028 if i remember correctly that was mentioned in dave thompson's sparks biography, so i guess that must be true

[@sally-annharris8035]

Loving this Happy 30th Anniversary

[@cricriyeahyeah597]

Love this song, and the video is crazy imaginative!!

[@ВладиславПак-й1э]

What a beautiful song! 👍 👏 😀

[@bilthomas9829]

Has a Cars like feel to it.

[@johnnandy3293]

This has a really mainstream sound. If I didn't know it was a Sparks song I would never have guessed.

[@steffanhoffmann8937]

It's ordinary for them.

[@AtiqZabinski]

Yep. This is a pretty low point for them, IMO, one of their worst albums.

[@AtiqZabinski]

And I must add, Russell looks like John Travolta here, WTF!

[@jacko9179]

Discovered Sparks when I was 14, I'm 41 now, I love this song but still can't choose between this, When I'm with you and Sherlock Holmes as the greatest love song of all time

Sparks forever!

[@xtstevie]

Just stunning & one of the best songs of the 1980s !! Should have been massive on both sides of the pond.

[@dariowestern]

It was a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Dance Charts in 1988, but I reckon it ought to have been a worldwide hit, it's very catchy and accessible.

[@MartyRotten]

The video recalls the imagery of their debut album, that they released as Halfnelson. (Later reissued as Sparks with a different cover.)

[@martindarbyshire1324]

Love sparks n Ron is definitely my hero as just got better as years roll by

[@bogsnobbler]

These guys are so 80s, they make Miami Vice look like The Rockford Files.

[@RebirthRadio2023]

Only in the 80s were they 80s They were pretty 70s in the 70s and very 90s in the 90s. They reinvent their look and sound every so often, but throughout the decades they've never been less than 100% Sparks!

[@gaskellr44]

I nearly gave you the award for pedentary, but you ended your sentence with class.@@RebirthRadio2023

[@johnellery9665]

Tune❤

[@louiseetherson1455]

first class in everyday, thanks x

[@kawamikazecheant]

Great track and video 🔥

[@vertxxgg]

Interior design is one of the greatest LP of the 80s

[@GeneratorXY]

Hope this album gets a reissue!!

[@lesliesingerman9926]

Can listen to this over and over...and over again!

[@wickynire]

this is gold

[@lorendsalazar]

Still one of my favorite songs of the era. So important to the 80's. . Still Spark'en in 2021. .

[@FumbleAIBO]

Russell's mullet!!

[@gazzchannel]

Ron 🎸⚡️

[@sfse]

One of favorite Sparks albums!

[@eastend59]

I love this song!

[@tbwatch88]

mindblowning, this is.

[@georgemathie8123]

Sparks is just pure feel good music if it's not Ron's antics or Russell's hilarious wordplay how can a band be so damn catchy and gut busting hilarious that's the crazy genius that's Ron and Russell Mael

[@michelleocampo7414]

beyond genius

[@zwartepiet412]

it's amazing the way they were/are able to adapt to shifting trends in music spanning several decades. they are like chameleons.

[@annabackman3028]

The Mael brothers are those guys the chameleons watch, and then mimic Sparks.

[@AndreaVee3012]

@@annabackman3028 😆 Perfect.

[@anita.fringe]

I f****** love this song

[@_Giggle_Monster_]

NEW FAN from the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada - thanks to my chat friend Phil from England who introduced me to you!!! LOVE this song!!

[@smokeyanthony]

So, under rated, in fact.

[@davidames1746]

Absolute greatness...hypnotic

[@robdavidson1876]

everybody has a fave Sparks song..hahaha it's hard to pick one really

[@marcbergeron8690]

There's No Such Thing As Aliens because it's so skeptical.

[@annabackman3028]

@@marcbergeron8690, It's criticism and sarcasm. Where do most "aliens" in the US come from? Not outer space, anyway. In Sweden I'd say Middle East and North East Africa. Not Mars.

[@Meme_Lor]

@@annabackman3028 no need to bring your racism into this

[@annabackman3028]

RACISM?? Are you out of your mind???? Have you heard of a song called 'Englishman in New York'? "Oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien I'm an Englishman in New York" /Sting. 1987. That's about racism too?? Alien - stranger - foreigner. What on this Earth has that to do with RACISM? IT'S A METAPHOR!!!! 🙄

[@johnwilding4664]

Cool tune

[@onebaddayaway]

Sparks invented GIFS

[@ivanyiattila3547]

Grim Fandango! Great!

[@sloanlance]

Steve Wilhite is an American computer scientist who worked at CompuServe and was the primary creator of the GIF file format, which went on to become the de facto standard for 8-bit color images on the Internet until PNG became a viable alternative. He developed the GIF (Graphic Interchange Format) in 1987. Sparks released this video in 1988.

[@julikei4061]

I love it when music videos from the 80s spam green-screen like theres no tomorrow (reference: Rush-Time Stands Still)

[@knightinashes6934]

Love that video/song!

[@MarcioSilva-ssiillvvaa]

I have the impression that Ron looks like my dad when he (Ron) is soloing. Yay!

[@gurgisjones1120]

LOL Ron playing guitar, hee hee. I like the heavier sound on this. Big improvement over the previous two albums.

[@TheRoytonRebel]

underated

[@jackalano4100]

jack slater So is your comment, dude.

[@ButaneBoss]

Damn, I was on this video yesterday and didn't realise it was the 10th anniversary of the upload date.

[@paddymitchell4995]

An often criticised album but I love it

[@dariowestern]

Same here. It's my second favourite Sparks album after "Kimono My House". :)

[@caricaturafea453]

Este álbum debería regrabarse

[@jonothanthrace1530]

I hear this song and realize that this is what Devo were trying to do with their Total album but couldn't quite manage it.

[@rogerjones1976]

This could so be on their current album , as the costume is the same !

[@apollozero]

This could have been on ZZTop's album Eliminator!

[@arnaudfauchere1769]

👍Thanks👍

[@17noella]

awesome found you

[@sergiyivanov4619]

🔝⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👍🙂❤

[@stevegreg8181]

It's 1988 materialistic days where a man wants a women to see him for his character not his possessions of wealth.

[@annabackman3028]

'Ugly Guys With Beautiful Girls', Li'l Beethoven.

[@rttyplgkdde]

Very 80's

[@carolegagnon1974]

Love that Richard Marx hairdo ;)

[@Timinator62]

LOL yes indeed, I do have to give Richard Marks extra credit though...he's with Daisy Fuentes.

[@mateoindiego]

I have yet to hear a Sparks song that I don't enjoy. Cant say that about any other band whatsoever.

[@alhillx]

I love Sparks, but Ron Mael is the one human being in the history of the world that writes better hooks at 65+ than he did generally as a younger man. This song is fine, but it's not a top-level hook. But listen to their last 3-4 albums...

[@piro4351]

id say hes always written epic stuff..with some off moments..guys a friggin genius.

[@casualagent7250]

ABBA perhaps? 😬

[@annabackman3028]

@@casualagent7250 LOL! 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 NO. 'Hasta manana' and 'Hasta Manana Monsieur', not even in the the same league.

[@johnwalsh128]

@@annabackman3028 agree with you 100% there's no comparison.

[@batphink2655]

At 1:25 and 2:22 Ron is rocking that stringless Epiphone electric guitar! LOL

[@iwishiwerefun]

Sparks ought to sell that indestructible acoustic guitar to Pete Townshend! Since Russell is the passenger, who's the invisible driver? Monkey? (Oh no.) Bob? (Hope not.) Russell in NASCAR? (Lots more practice needed.)

[@JaEuerMeister]

@Robert Williams It's a Fender Coronado, in this case a rare 12-string model.

[@mikethorne3737]

Ron playing GUITAR?! Russell nowadays you could sue the hairdresser - obvs you have both improved with age x Ron hope you have learned to swim since..!

[@annabackman3028]

00:58 and 04:19 also Russell. Did you believe that two musicians, brothers, after so many years didn't play the guitar😉? Russell actually started as a bass player, by the way. But obviously he did better as a singer 😁 It's also said that while Ron had piano classes, Russell played the violin!

[@jaroslavmourecek53]

I was wondering why the band SPARKS did not have such success as significantly less content-wise bands such as Depeche Mode or some bands profiled in an awkward disco stream. I think I figured it out. SPARKS are full of content, but they are not encouraged by cheap effects, which are occupied by less receptive groups of listeners. SPARKS require concentration while being instantly absorbed and providing unadulterated joy of melody and tones. It's probably too direct for someone. Just as they say in the proverb, they don't value a good living and are looking for experimental crap.

[@annabackman3028]

Sparks' music takes active listening. You can't appreciate Sparks if you're doing you're dish wash while having the music on. At least not before you know the songs.

[@JamesDavis-sh9gh]

I hope you saw their documentary The Sparks Brothers. That explanation fits in what they were trying to do. Music without bullshit. I highly agree with your perspective.

[@gaskellr44]

I'm the same with a few other bands music. You get the full picture of the composition.@@annabackman3028

[@LloydBraun11]

So much is "wrong" with this video that it's almost like two undercover spacemen are trying to assimilate themselves as popstars.

[@Isi-1975]

Russell looks like Neil Breen here

[@riversidepete6128]

this album bombed...but what a great song

[@murraykirk4929]

Is Ron playing that lead break?

[@coulsdontown5114]

Spencer Sircombe played all the guitars on the Interior Design album. This is just for artistic effect for the video.

[@skintslots]

Russ looks like Iva Davies of Icehouse in this video.

[@klistarf]

Sparks rule!! Nuff said... \m/ (:o)

[@robertwilliams221]

Can anybody tell me what guitar that electric 12-string is? I saw a "F" for Fender, but have never seen a Fender ES-335 copy, much less a 12-string version.

[@waynebrown5617]

Fender Coronado

[@bayleybailey34]

The birth of wang chung

[@shadeeason4401]

This video was made with secret government technically

[@TheBoone57]

Something strange happened along the way and suddenly Sparks writes good music! I used to be fascinated by them because of how terrible they were.

[@johnwalsh128]

They've never been terrible. Maybe your listening ears have improved with age. ☺

[@chrislestermusic]

I used to think that too but I realize that it was just because they were so different to what I was listening to at that time.

[@TheBoone57]

@@chrislestermusic Do you ever listen to Bugie? Same same, Burk Shelly's voice has to grow on you. Then its buy everything they did!

[@chrislestermusic]

@@TheBoone57 I haven’t but I will check them out. I always saw the name growing up but never had any albums.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

I never noticed before but the singer almost looks like Ric Ocasek's twin.

[@neonskyline1]

Is this an Erasure spoof ?

[@mariuspoppFM]

Possibly

[@AICSLUDGE]

is there even guitar in the beginning of the song

[@mariuspoppFM]

Synth guitar

[@bonzeblayk]

[@bigbaddemoness]

What do u get if u cross a bad '80s perm with a terrible mullet?Dunno but Russ is wearing it on this video!!

[@annabackman3028]

It is said that his curls are natural, no perm... Curly/wavy all the time from 'Halfnelson' /'Sparks' sometime between 'Balls' 2000 and 'Hello Young Lovers' 2006. I can't tell if that change is natural, but it's not impossible. I've had that change four times 😢, from wavy hair as a kid, to curls as a teenager, back to wavy in my thirties and now again going back to curls, whether I like it or not. 🙄 I had prefered wavy hair, but Mother Nature had a different agenda on my hairstyle. But what kind of road kill he's wearing occasionally nowadays, I can't tell😢. That's a little sad, he looks just fine with what appears to be his own. 🙄

[@gaskellr44]

H T F did I not come across this song in 88. I was then a pubber, clubber, listen to the radio the odd time, but hey, the charts, hence the pub and club scene was awash with some good stuff but mainly tripe Stock A & W dross, new style Hippety Hoppety/Dancey stuff...mostly garbage, so no wonder these probably looking, at the time, elder statesmen, didn't get their music through in the mainstream. Despicable, as this song ie better than 90% of the horsesh** that was out there at the time. It took till about 94/95 till they got noticed with a few singles...The worlds axes must have flipped over due to the Poles changing or something like that.

[@infinity80801]

Looks like a class assignment for Introduction to Video Production at some community college.