Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us Reaction

In this video we're checking out Sparks. We've only ever heard of this band. We were told to be ready for it. This will be fun. Enjoy!
/ hanierfamily
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[@cricketbat09]

The record was a massive hit here in the UK many years ago. It was always on the radio at the time. Sparks are amazing.

[@Ermie58]

My favourite band from the 70's and early 80's. They were often compared to Queen but The Mael Brothers stole my heart. Love Russell's vocals and Ron' s lyrics and quirkiness. There is nothing strange about them. They were original and outstanding. I saw them in concert 4 times and each show was frantic and fun! I would so love to go back in time and see the old me go crazy with Sparksmania!

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

'Sparks' are a great band, they are, Ron and Russell Mael, two brothers from Los Angeles, they moved over to the UK in the early '70s and were part of the 'Glam Rock' scene with other bands such as, 'Sweet', 'T-Rex", 'Slade', 'Roxy Music' and for a time 'David Bowie', they're still producing music today. They've had many hits in the UK, with this one being their biggest, other tracks to check out by them are; 'Something for the Girl With Everything', 'Number One Song in Heaven', 'Looks, Looks, Looks', 'Beat The Clock', there are many more but these are good ones to start with.

[@mightyV444]

... and of course, 'Tsui Hark'! 😁

[@annabackman3028]

@@mightyV444 Which automatically leads to 'Knockoff'.

[@mightyV444]

@@annabackman3028 - I just listened to that one for the first time! 😄👍

[@SPKdesign1]

Sparks are a great band, watching them live you will get a better idea of how weird they are. The two main guys are brothers.

[@SPKdesign1]

Zoo time is she and you time The mammals are your favourite type, and you want her tonight Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers This town ain't big enough for the both of us And it ain't me who's gonna leave Flying, domestic flying And when the stewardess is near do not show any fear Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat You are a khaki-coloured bombardier, it's Hiroshima that you're nearing This town ain't big enough for both of us And it ain't me who's gonna leave Daily, except for Sunday You dawdle in to the cafe where you meet her each day Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat As 20 cannibals have hold of you, they need their protein just like you do You might also like Amateur Hour Sparks Johnny Delusional FFS Unholy Sam Smith & Kim Petras This town ain't big enough for the both of us And it ain't me who's gonna leave Shower, another shower You got to look your best for her and be clean everywhere Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat The rain is pouring on the foreign town, the bullets cannot cut you down This town ain't big enough for the both of us And it ain't me who's gonna leave Census, the latest census There'll be more girls who live in town though not enough to go 'round Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat You know that this town isn't big enough, not big enough for both of us This town isn't big enough, not big enough for both of us I ain't gonna leave

[@hanierfamily]

@@SPKdesign1 Okay. That didn't help us understand it any more than listening to it. LOL😅

[@kadiummusic]

@@hanierfamily Ha, ha, ha. That's actually the first time in 50 years I've known what they were actually singing and I totally agree! Just goes to show, fine production and a great hook line is sometimes all you need. 😎

[@johnwalsh128]

@@hanierfamily I've been a fan of sparks since 1979, they're one of the most influential bands of all time. Edgar Wright did a documentary about them last year called the sparks brothers, and they also wrote a film called Annette starring Adam driver which opened the cannes film festival last year. They're still making great music and have a new album coming out next year.

[@broederbond60]

We're going to the Sparks show tonight at the Hollywood Bowl. Can't wait!

[@kadiummusic]

Thank you for reviewing my request guys! This song is very 70's and as young boys we were often pointing at each other in the playground singing the main line at each other. If you get time take a look at them performing and you'll see why 50% of their attraction was the way they looked. The girls fancied the singer, the boys were scared of his brother playing the keyboard. Wonderful! Malcolm.😄

[@kevhanson1262]

Hello folks this song was one of the first singles I ever heard back in about 76 77 I was about 5, 6 I know it came out in 1974 I love the arrangements on this the intro and then the gunslinging and then it explodes. Ron and Russell Mael are an original of the species. AMAZING TRACK

[@sdwill66]

One of the many gems from their album "Kimono My House". An iconic group, there's an excellent documentary about them called, "The Sparks Brothers". For a total change of pace try their collaboration with Giorgio Moroder", "Number One Song In Heaven".

[@markhoward2811]

Keyboard player Ron Mael's creepy stare and his resemblance to Adolf Hitler was a well known icon for the band. Even Paul McCartney did a parody of him on his song 'Coming up'

[@rdumontdebeque]

Getting into Sparks for the first time? I’m envious. Your gonna hear some fun songs.

[@hanierfamily]

I (Chris) feel ya. I'm a huge Prince fan. I am so envious when I see others' reactions to his music. I still really enjoy watching it, though.

[@freyml]

Sparks have been described as "Your favorite band's favorite band!"

[@englishteacher.8635]

Having known this great band since the 70's, I feel like I've just landed on the moon!

[@oldboygamer9985]

Me after first listening to Sparks: This is so damn weird, but I better listen to it another 20 times to make sure.

[@annabackman3028]

1975, I was 14, I heard 'Propaganda', the whole album, and I knew that was my music, made just for me! However, I think your theory is a common way to fall in love with Sparks. They do have songs that needs a couple of listenings to grow. But they vary from person to person, which songs. The best band ever, and I'm so proud of them, FINALLY having the attention they should have had a long time ago🎉💖💖💖💖💖

[@Shads62]

this was in the chats the same time as Status Quo. Best era of music ever

[@JasonUmbrellabird]

The thing that sold this song was their performance on Top Of The Pops

[@randylee1777]

I saw them live in London about 15 years ago. Awesome live band. Also this bands style would change every couple of albums. They went from a rock band to new wave then to techno then to something else. BTW, the concert I went to they performed Propaganda in it’s entirety. I love that album. One of my top 20 all time favorite.

[@jonnno243]

Be good to see you to react to Sparks song, from a little while later, "The Number One Song In Heaven"

[@psiphon2808]

Hi guys, you should react to The KLF song, what time is love. Quite a unique band with an interesting back story

[@terrythekittieful]

'A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip' the last album by Ron and Russell Mael, AKA 'Sparks' is the album of Covid for me. 'Left Out in the Cold' and 'Pacific Standard Time' from that album are superb tracks. They're still coming up with the goods 50 years after they began.

[@Robbo766]

My older sister had this 45 back in the mid 70's.. but '"When I'm With You'' is the song I remember most by these guys.

[@mightyV444]

That's the Sparks era when I first started listening to them, too! 🙂 'This Town...' definitely seemed way more odd to me when I eventually heard it for the first time.

[@Robbo766]

@@mightyV444 My sister used to play ''this town aint big enough'' loud in her bedroom, and it embarrassed me... she'd play Queen's ''killer queen'' and ''this town'' back to back.. we all thought there was something wrong with her. This would have been around 1974.

[@mightyV444]

@@Robbo766 - Oh my! 😅 Coincidentally, it was in a 70's Music multi-LP set of my own Big Sister where I discovered 'This Town...', and with excitement, too! But then I was underwhelmed by how very different it sounded compared to their later stuff I'd already known 😏 Just had to get used to it, though! 😉

[@Robbo766]

@@mightyV444 My older sister used to play some real outthere stuff in the early to mid 70's. I first heard David Bowie coming out of her room in the late 60's. She got me into stuff like Roxy Music, Sparks, Brian Eno, Lou Reed and Kraftwerk around that time. She also had an album by a band called The Wind And The Willows, which was some hippy band that featured Debbie Harry. So, I was even hearing pre-Blondie Debbie Harry coming out of her room in the very early 70's.

[@mightyV444]

@@Robbo766 - That is out-there stuff indeed! 😄 Very cool too, though! 😊👍 _My_ Sister's music taste was actually very similar to my own! Instead, it was our Brother (who's quite a bit older than us) who'd brought all the weird stuff into our home 😄 But also some albums I really liked, like the 1st Van Halen one and AC/DC's 'Highway To Hell' 😊

[@edwardthorne9875]

Yes, first time listeners can't catch the fun lyrics. Once you know them, though, every syllable is there. Sparks has about 26 (?) albums, and are perhaps working on their next. Their followers are a bit fanatical. There was even a documentary released last year about how many artists they have influenced. Glam rock, disco, traces of progressive classical, pop rock, music hall. All touched with an eccentric unique voice. Possibly my favorite band of all time. You really must see what they look like, too.

[@pepelemoko2820]

Awesome song from my early teen years. Try to check out their TOTP video as they are also a very visual band. It came as a shock to us when we found out the flamboyant singer and the weirdo keyboard player were brothers. Musically I think it sounds fabulous and totally got the shtick and performance as I grew up. They were not on my radar for long but boy they made a big blip. Also, it may just be me but I never found any of it odd at all?

[@mightyV444]

"The weirdo keyboard player" 😄 I definitely had perceived this song as being odd in my younger years, but I learnt to really quite enjoy odd and quirky Music as I was getting older 😊 My limit would be something like Talk Talk's 'The Laughing Stock' album, though 🙂

[@smmx65]

amazing to think this came out in 1974, it could have been any decade since the 70s

[@SpikeMatthews]

Sparks - biting the hand that feeds them since 1974... Seriously though, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone else that embodies the concept of 'art-rock' any better than these two guys. They're still going, too, and I heartily recommend 'The Rhythm Thief' from the brilliant album Li'l Beethoven.

[@stevewilliams5130]

There is a great video of this song on KZbin from a tv show in the 70s, its worth alook !

[@mightyV444]

And I just found out via the _Justin Hawkins Rides Again_ channel that Sparks released a new single only a few days ago, featuring Cate Blanchett and called 'The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte' 🙂 And apparently the title of _this_ song is actually 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us', without the 'The', despite them singing it on the actual recording 😄

[@annabackman3028]

That "the" appears two times, I think 🤔, and yet a great majority hear and remember "for THE both of us". I guess you have heard Justin Hawkins' cover of 'This Town', but did you know that in the video, there's a scene when a guy comes rushing up from nowhere, and the guard, Russell, takes him out, that wasn't rehearsed. That guy really came out of the blue, an intruder, and Russell reacted on instinct. The director (I don't remember who) thought it looked so cool he kept it in the video 😂 It's not obvious, but in college Russell played quarterback in the school team.

[@mightyV444]

Hi! @@annabackman3028 😀 The info that Justin Hawkins covered that Sparks song must've gone right past me, and I have not seen his clip yet either 😅 But apparently, the song's title, despite 'the' being sung twice, is actually 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us' 🙂

[@stuartfishman1044]

Sparks should have been huge off of this song alone. This is next level pop music. Too bad they didn't get their commercial due back then.

[@gerrykelly4413]

Strange reviewing a song that’s nearly 50 years old, Sparks doing a tour this year + new album out May 2023.

[@annabackman3028]

Start from the beginning. But they missed the two first albums. And not to forget, 'Computer Girl'!!! January 7, 1967. I love that one 💖

[@gregoryadkins2213]

Listen to upstairs!My ALL TIME FAVORITE SONG!

[@wayne_twentyfive]

Yes guys, you are correct .. This was indeed STRANGE .. But it was also frickin' FANTASTIC !!!

[@hanierfamily]

We want to do the documentary on them, but Cynthia doesn't think her back would let her sit in that chair for 2 and a half hours.

[@wayne_twentyfive]

@@hanierfamily Co-incidentally, I have only recently got hold of the Sparks documentary and am going to watch it myself shortly .. Should be fascinating, as they are such an interesting band with unusual but wonderful music .. Hope you both get to see it yourselves at some point .. bad backs aside !😉😃

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

This came out in 1974 , I watched their videos on Top of the Pops , the biggest weekly chart show in the uk at the time . 3 things came up A. It’s a banger of a track , even though I was 12 I could see that . B. The singer had a really high voice. C. I never questioned why Hitler was playing keyboards on this song . Pity you aren’t watching the vid from the time . Yeah , he DID look like Hitler and played up to it by being mental 😮 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@mariewylie7079]

Sparks have influenced many,many great bands in their long career ..I've loved them from the start...this tune is ICONIC!!

[@dankryskalla8490]

Sparks, the greatest band you've never heard of.

[@darlenej.maloney4955]

This is the first song I ever heard by them. I was all of 15 or 16. I fell in love immediately. Sparks are such an amazing band. But you either get them or you don't. The secret to their music is their sense of humor and their ability to constantly re-invent themselves musically. They are about to release their 26th studio album on Island Records. And they tour all the time. I am going to see them again in June at the Beacon in NYC. Just to be fair, you should listen to their newer stuff. They have a song called "All That" and I bet if you give it a first listen, you will like it. Just saying! lol But thanks for the reaction. The Mael Brothers rock! ♥

[@yorkiegeoff1825]

Me too 👍😆

[@DIDCOTTWIST]

They are still great Live

[@DIDCOTTWIST]

You should try one of their newer songs Lawnmower it's great 👍🏻

[@petermizon4344]

SPARKS WERE GREAT AND FOR A TIME QUEEN WERE THERE SUPPORT BAND

[@annabackman3028]

Not really "a time", just one time. How much I wish more...

[@sexpistol7712]

Sparks are fantastic

[@norton750commando]

One cannot watch or listen to a video of a Sparks song without reading the lyrics, they are the best part of the experience. If you really want to hear a great song from them. listen (and read) to Up Here In Heaven.

[@annabackman3028]

'Here in Heaven' is my favorite on 'Kimono My House'! It beats 'This Town', I mean, who can resist lines like: "Do I qualify as dearly departed or am I that sucker in the sky The fall guy for the first and the last time?" Just to fit in "fall guy" is so clever, he took a dive, the Romeo of the song. Must be the saddest and most hilarious lyrics ever written 😅 "It is hell, knowing that your health, will keep you out of here, for many, many years" Champagne bubbles in the melody, running and bouncing! Or was it Russell bouncing 🤔? Or both. It's just a fantastic song🤩💖💖💖💖💖

[@robertbagley9199]

Absolutely took the charts by storm in the UK nothing vaguely similar! Try "When do I get to sing 'My Way'" a different style and a brilliant video too.

[@williamr3840]

The album cover is FANTASTIC! :0)

[@Uarehere]

I once sang this song at karaoke to a roomful of 20-somethings. They hated it! 😂

[@hanierfamily]

That would have been fun to see.

[@grahamrogers3345]

Please react to SPARKS song "All That" from just last year. They are still going strong.

[@todwest]

The thing to remember about Sparks is that they have a very deep absurdist streak. When I first heard them back in the late '70's I just thought they were weird. But they kept getting lots of airplay on KROQ so I couldn't avoid hearing a lot of their stuff. But then it suddenly dawned on me that what they were doing was tongue-in-cheek and it was like there was an audible click in my head. I've loved them ever since.

[@yorkiegeoff1825]

Legends 🙏

[@simoncoley303]

It's brilliant and the sparks stare was so weird.

[@mightyV444]

Being more familiar with some of Sparks' later and easier accessible stuff, I didn't like this song at all when I first heard it. But that's been changing positively over the years and with each new time of it popping up for me, so I really enjoyed listening to it together with you two today, too! 😁👍

[@dankryskalla8490]

I got kicked out of my college dorm room in 1978 over my love of Sparks. My suite mates HATED them. It was great!

[@hanierfamily]

Badge of honor.

[@Sandy-dd4le]

Absolutely one of my favourite things ever. Ron's disconcerting stare is still a childhood nightmare! Siouxsie And The Banshees did a great, if not too dissimilar version on their covers album. There's also a pretty cool documentary about them, it's on Netflix(in the uk anyway)

[@hanierfamily]

We were considering watching that documentary. But, we hadn't heard them before.

[@Sandy-dd4le]

@@hanierfamily it's worth a look. It's directed by Edgar Wright, director of Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz etc. The production values are through the roof and it has decent contributors.

[@jonathancole833]

I certainly remember seeing Ron’s stare as a child!

[@annabackman3028]

​@@jonathancole833 I had more problems with Russell's giant eyes!😂 Unnaturally big, somehow like the eyes of a cow!🫣 I have changed my opinion, he had, still has, beautiful eyes.

[@LindaRoy]

“The notes were lined up…they were where they’re supposed to be.” That cracked me up.😅Always fun to see a reaction to this song. Sparks are an acquired taste to be sure, but they are brilliant! Thanks for a fun watch. 🙂

[@annabackman3028]

It wasn't acquired taste for me. Just had turned 14, and heard 'Propaganda', the whole album. I was flabbergasted! This was in December 1975. Not a bad word about Russell's voice, his vocal cords are my only never ending true love of my life 😂😂

[@grahamboffey457]

Solid drumming.

[@sexpistol7712]

Art rock ,glam rock

[@martinstubbs7974]

1974 and years ahead of its time.

[@stugtrauts3692]

Truly great song from the 70s, not to long ago they collaborated with Franz Ferdinand to do this song , and quite a few years back Siouxise and the Banshees did a great cover

[@ArchieGlover1]

Sparks are 54 years into their career and a new album is due next month. They just cannot be pinned down genre wise and are one of the most intelligent bands ever. Pleeeeeease play more!

[@hanierfamily]

I guess we're due another experience. Soon.

[@Jontor11]

Sparks are AMAZING! They are quirky, lyrically funny, and just strange. But their cult catalogue from the 70s are treasured today. And they are still going strong today with new albums that are still quirky and innovative. If I would pick one cult group, it would be Sparks.

[@druidswillow1052]

One of my favourite tracks from the Glam/Art Rock era, Still sounds strange but in a brilliant way, Will never tire of this tune it reached No 2 on the UK singles chart in April '74, Please react to more tracks from this era, Cheers Jim, UK

[@wordsmith52]

Better listened to with the official video or live perfornance from 1970s.

[@stevensprunger3422]

I’ve been following Sparks since the beginning and to my surprise my best friend in high school John Thomas produced their album in the early 90s called Lil’ Beethoven An album you might want to check out They’ve been through several different types of genres the past many years and this particular song was a big hit in England…… You’re fine that this particular vocal style on this particular song is not exactly one that you will hear through many of the different types of music they do

[@samguberman2288]

Got to play Sparks with lyrics, they are so clever and unique

[@mainmanjimmiblue]

Sparks may be an acquired taste. I love'em. Check out Siouxsie + the Banshees' version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2iZoHljdqmBb6s Happy New Year!

[@Gill3D]

Go big - try 'Falling In Love With Myself Again', also by Sparks.

[@petermizon4344]

YOU MIGHT FEEL A BIT OF QUEEN IN THIS

[@jontallon73]

Sparks have influenced everyone (who matters)

[@jamesrowe3606]

Good choice and a great song, but I wish you'd watched them performing it. Russ and (especially) Ron in performance are a sight to behold.

[@Packard63]

Strange....Sparks, you have not heard nothing yet!

[@salfordsteve22305]

Loving that you're appreciating some of the songs of my youth. Got a little suggestion for you. This is a band from Youkshire England from mid to late 70's. Bebop Deluxe. I was a friend of the leader Bill Nelson's younger brother. Bill is probably one of the most underrated guitarists. Check out No Trains To Heaven. Even if you dont do a reaction to it please give it a listen, I promise you'll not be disappointed.

[@hanierfamily]

It's on the list.

[@richardmorton4762]

You should see the keyboard player 😱

[@richardmorton4762]

The album Kimono my House had some great and quirky songs on it.. like most of their albums.

[@JasonUmbrellabird]

You do some great songs. How about Another Girl, Another Planet by The Only Ones?

[@highpath4776]

When the UK could take in Sparks the songs by Queen and Kate Bush seemed tame by comparison

[@punkpopnotdead]

you need to check out Adam Ant prince charming

[@Andrew-wl2mt]

Think they are still making music.

[@Kevvinm]

They put out an album in 2020. I saw them in March.

[@oenthusiast]

They are! I saw them 8 times in 2022, and they're scheduled to release a new album in May of next year,

[@annabackman3028]

Next, 'The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte' will be out in May the 26th.

[@broederbond60]

Why don't you two read the lyrics?

[@viriatojrv5357]

Hello, you have a fantastic channel. Very good videos and interesting music. I subscribe to your channel. You might react to one of the best and most powerful female voices in international music, Monica Naranjo. She is amazing, a wonderful voice. Greetings from Spain and I leave the link to the video.

[@kevcall]

You should have had a version with the lyrics.. They're quite 'out there ' lol "Frantic" is a great description.. Yeah the lyrics you need to see written down

[@hanierfamily]

Oh yes. We saw the lyrics. Someone posted it in the comments. It did not end the confusion.

[@johnwalsh128]

@@hanierfamily it's about the fear of not getting the girl as there are so few of them who live in the town. And the narrator imagines a western style shootout between him and his rivals to get the girls affections.

[@viriatojrv5357]

Monica Naranjo - Perdida (Lost) kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioqVq5iYjppmipo

[@marksandsmith6778]

Any get the shower 🚿 joke?

[@hanierfamily]

No, I guess we missed it?

[@marksandsmith6778]

@@hanierfamily Zoo time is she and you time The mammals are your favourite type, and you want her tonight Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers This town ain't big enough for the both of us! And it ain't me who's gonna leave! Flying, domestic flying And when the stewardess is near, do not show any fear Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat You are a khaki-coloured bombardier It's Hiroshima that you're nearing This town ain't big enough for both of us! And it ain't me who's gonna leave! Daily, except for Sunday You dawdle in to the café where you meet her each day Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat As 20 cannibals have hold of you They need their protein just like you do This town ain't big enough for the both of us! And it ain't me who's gonna leave! Shower, another shower You got to look your best for her, and be clean everywhere Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat The rain is pouring on the foreign Town, the bullets cannot cut you down This town ain't big enough for the both of us! And it ain't me who's gonna leave! Census, the latest census There'll be more girls who live in town, though not enough to go round Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat You know that this town isn't big enough Not big enough for both of us! This town isn't big enough Not big enough for both of us And I ain't gonna leave!

[@Kevvinm]

Most of their songs have a great sense of humor. Any reason why you guys don’t bring up the lyrics to a song ? Either during or after.

[@hanierfamily]

We had started to. We didn't want to lose the audience breaking down the lyrics.

[@Kevvinm]

@@hanierfamily I can see that , a lengthy break down of lyrics could lose some people. A song by sparks you may know is Cool places. Jane Weidlin of the Go Gos does a guest vocal. It was probably their highest charting song in the US and had a lot of AirPlay on mtv. I’ll recommend the documentary Sparks brothers as well.

[@annabackman3028]

​@@Kevvinm Isn't it amazing, what a little romance could do?😅

[@pauloconsolin2022]

react to wagakki band s- senbonzakura mv

[@marksandsmith6778]

Eagles fans?

[@hanierfamily]

Huh?

[@summertime_blooz]

This record is 50 years old. God, I'm old.

[@annabackman3028]

Released in May 1974. And now they are back on Island records!