Sparks' 25th album, The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte, is finally with us at the end of next week. Following the title song in March, a second single and video dropped on Friday.
Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is, track three on the album, is a glorious 4-minute romp that recalls their classic run of albums on Island in the mid-1970s. Which is fitting, as Sparks have returned to the label after four and a half decades for this release.
The video is comprised mainly of crying babies and on-screen lyrics which articulate a desire to return to the womb, mere hours after clocking the world that they've been born into.
I'm biased of course, but this song is brilliant. Links to purchase the album are here.
Nothing is as good as they say it is
That's the way it is, I wish I'd known beforehand
I was born just 22 hours ago
But I want to go back to my former quarters
Mama mama, can you accommodate
Mama mama, tell me I'm not too late
Mama mama, can you co-operate
This will not work, I'm sure
Nothing is as good as they say it is
And I'd be remiss if I weren't honest with you
This is not a place that I can exist
Not ungratefulness, I just don't want this, want this
Mama mama, is there a remedy
Can I just go back to where I used to be
I was happy where I was previously
Just floating there, stood tall
Mama mama, please sympathise
This has been such a bad surprise
I won't ask any more from you
I can live with a lousy viеw
Nothing is as good as they say it is
That's the way it is, I wish I'd known beforеhand
I was born just 22 hours ago
But I've seen enough to make a wise decision
That's the way it is, I wish I'd known beforehand
I was born just 22 hours ago
But I want to go back to my former quarters
Mama mama, can you accommodate
Mama mama, tell me I'm not too late
Mama mama, can you co-operate
This will not work, I'm sure
Nothing is as good as they say it is
And I'd be remiss if I weren't honest with you
This is not a place that I can exist
Not ungratefulness, I just don't want this, want this
Mama mama, is there a remedy
Can I just go back to where I used to be
I was happy where I was previously
Just floating there, stood tall
Mama mama, please sympathise
This has been such a bad surprise
I won't ask any more from you
I can live with a lousy viеw
Nothing is as good as they say it is
That's the way it is, I wish I'd known beforеhand
I was born just 22 hours ago
But I've seen enough to make a wise decision
All your standards must be so very low
This is not a place that I'd want to go
How can you exist in a place like this
I surely can't, oh no!
Take a look around and you'd understand
This is not a place I could ever stand
Ugliness, anxiety, phony tans
It ain't for me, that's all
Thank you both for this special chance
Were I born in the south of France
I would feel less resistant to
Somewhere that just deserves adieu
Nothing is as good as they say it is
That's the way it is, I wish I'd known beforehand
Nothing is as good as they say it is
That's the way it is, I wish I'd known beforehand
All your standards must be so very low
This is not a place that I'd want to go
How can you exist in a place like this
I surely can't, oh no!
Nothing is as good as they say it is
Nothing is as good as they say it is
This is not a place that I'd want to go
How can you exist in a place like this
I surely can't, oh no!
Take a look around and you'd understand
This is not a place I could ever stand
Ugliness, anxiety, phony tans
It ain't for me, that's all
Thank you both for this special chance
Were I born in the south of France
I would feel less resistant to
Somewhere that just deserves adieu
Nothing is as good as they say it is
That's the way it is, I wish I'd known beforehand
Nothing is as good as they say it is
That's the way it is, I wish I'd known beforehand
All your standards must be so very low
This is not a place that I'd want to go
How can you exist in a place like this
I surely can't, oh no!
Nothing is as good as they say it is
Nothing is as good as they say it is
Do you think they were exposed to Eurovision in that first 22 hours??
ReplyDeleteCould be, Mike!
DeleteThat song speaks volumes to me.
ReplyDeleteI think Sparks tapped into my psyche in a way that the Manchester Racist never did.
DeleteI haven't paid too much attention to the new material, but I'm told by someone who went along that the gig in Glasgow the other week was ridiculously good.
ReplyDeleteNot too sure about 'Nothing Is As Good.....', which seems to lean quite heavily on pace of music they made on the album with Franz Ferdinand. It's probably one that'll grow on me.
Pace-wise, it's pretty consistent with a number of Sparks' 21st century album tracks including the FFS 'super group', though feels a bit more indebted to/inspired by their 1970s material.
DeleteNot every Sparks song immediately hits me but, as you say, they do all eventually grow with repeated listens.