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Sparks

Sparks, often known as the creative brainchild of brothers Ron and Russell Mael, became a creative force that rocked the international music scene since the 1970s. Nimble navigators between multiple musical genres, they have remained enduring and poignant for almost five decades. The epitome of their uniqueness lies in their music videos - a theatrical exaggeration brimming with avant-garde appeal. Take for instance, "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" where Russell, like a charismatic peacock, dominates the screen in his flamboyant style while Ron, with his eerie composure and striking mustache, lurks enigmatically behind? Their stark contrasts merely fuel the poignancy of their music, making their videos an unforgettable spectacle.

Some of their music videos even pushed the boundaries of convention. "The Number One Song in Heaven," directed by Gary Kutcher, was an unusual synth-pop saga in stark contrast to their glam rock era. At that time, the use of black and white and the integration of German expressionist imagery with electronic music marked a courageous and fresh perspective. Similarly, their colourful, pop-ish video for "When I'm With You" appeared like a delightful jab at their contemporaries who took themselves too seriously. Did you know an inexplicable cow costume features in that video? Yet, it is this very quirkiness and fearless exploration of their identity through their music videos that makes Sparks an unforgettable phenomenon in the music history.

They teamed up with notable music video directors like Giorgio Moroder and Todd Rundgren, synchronising music with visuals in a way that hadn't been seen before. Who can forget the puppet extravaganza in "The Calm Before the Opera" directed by Tim Sutton, which blended high culture with facile symbolism, hinting at their topical satirical stance? The ripples that Sparks created in the pond of music are still visible and influential, proving that it's not just their names that can strike up a fire.

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