callowcadet

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HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

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Rehearsals ✅

MAD! Tour starts on Sunday in Kyoto!

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say what you will about the reserve bank of india these are some cracking coins

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"It just seems like that it's the end of creativity so we're - you know, if it's AI being used for medical advances or things like that, then it's being done for a good purpose but when it's just being done out of laziness, that you want a fast way to become creative and produce something creative by essentially stealing from artists then it's, there's no question that it's not good. And sadly, all of those big corporations like Google and you know, they're all, you know, siding up with Trump and everything too, just that no-one has any principles at those companies. You know, money now is more important than having any principles."

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23. If I were in Los Angeles for 24 hours and you were taking me on a whistlestop tour of your hometown, where would we go?  Russell: The beach. We live on the Westside, so it’s a 40-minute drive to the ocean. That’s one thing we've got going for us. Ron: We could take you on the I-405 to show you where our song took place. But the I-405 doesn’t take you to the ocean, so you’d have to make a choice. Russell: Choose the ocean. We’ll take you there. 

The best Sparks interview to date, with my thanks to @where-did-the-groove-go for forwarding it to me. (I couldn't really decide what to highlight because the whole entire thing is a gem.)

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Speaking to Official Charts, Sparks’ Ron and Russell Mael say: 

“We’re so deeply appreciative of the way our new album MAD! has been embraced by all of you, to such an extent that it’s reached Number 2, our highest chart position ever! Hard to believe!  “We will continue - to paraphrase a certain band, Sparks - to “do things our own way,” knowing the support we’re getting from all of you. See you soon on the UK leg of our tour in June and July!”

MAD! also tops a total of five charts this week: the Official Physical Albums Chart, Official Independent Albums Chart, Official CD Albums Chart, Official Vinyl Albums Chart and Official Scottish Albums Chart.

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The article is below if you don't want to click the link.

Russell Mael: ‘Describe myself in three words? One handsome dude’

The Sparks singer on shoplifting red liquorice as a child, a head-to-head with Godzilla, and underselling his life story

Rosanna Greenstreet

Sat 24 May 2025 10.00 BST

Born in California, Russell Mael, 76, and his brother, Ron, first recorded under the names the Urban Renewal Project and Halfnelson, before becoming Sparks in 1972. Two years later, they relocated to London and had a hit with their song This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us. More recently, they composed a radio opera, The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman, collaborated with Franz Ferdinand in supergroup FFS, and released a film, Annette, which won five César awards in 2022. Their 28th studio album is Mad! and their tour comes to the UK in June. Mael lives in California.

What was your most embarrassing moment? Signing away the rights to my life story to a major motion-picture company for a sum that I have since been told was way below the market rate.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? People not remembering who I am.

Describe yourself in three words One handsome dude.

What would your superpower be? The first pop singer capable of going head-to-head with Godzilla.

What do you most dislike about your appearance? Too damn muscular.

If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose? The 1956 Ford Thunderbird.

Who would play you in the film of your life? Cate Blanchett.

What is your most unappealing habit? Not wanting to wear brand-new shoes outside for fear they will get dirty and won’t be brand-new any more.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? A pearl diver in Japan.

What is the worst thing anyone’s said to you? Is that the final mix?

What is your guiltiest pleasure? Watching way too many K-dramas.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “Dichotomy” and “ratatouille”.

What is the worst job you’ve ever done? Shucking oysters one summer in Nice.

If you could edit your past, what would you change? That Sparks predates the Beatles and it’s kind of all too obvious where they got a lot of their inspiration.

If not yourself, who would you most like to be? The Japanese sumo wrestler Takayasu.

How often do you have sex? Monday through Friday, four to six times daily. Then I spend Saturday and Sunday prepping for the next week.

What is the closest you’ve come to death? Watching Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Watching all of Fellini’s movies one summer.

What has been your closest brush with the law? Stealing red liquorice at the local candy shop in third grade. I asked myself: “Is it worth leading a life of crime at eight years old?” I responded: “Yes, it’s red liquorice, for God’s sake.”

What keeps you awake at night? The morality of stealing that red liquorice.

Would you rather have more sex, money or fame? Yes.

What happens when we die? You have to go to the end of the line.

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(most of) sparks commentary for the bandcamp listening party under the cut

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old tumblrcore. if you remember these youre entitled to a veteran's discount

follow forever

"rebagel"

nightposting

the reblog button being on the top

everyone referring to david karp as "daddy"

"can you make this ask rebloggable?"

redux edits

babblr

WHO CHANGED IT FROM FUDGERS TO FUDGERS I WILL KISS THE POPSICLE DONT TICKLE ME JAMBOREE

missing e

"REBLOG IF YOU SUPPORT GAY PEOPLE" (30 gay-themed gifs)

losing post editing because of John Green

hipster bloggers vs fandom bloggers

when messaging finally came out and we had to infect each other with it like we were playing Plague Inc

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Sparks posted to all social media:

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* "Come by with any questions! (Except during bad weather.)" - Russell Mael ** it was Glastonbury

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