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Old 05-03-2015, 12:39 PM   #28 (permalink)
ladyislingering
Maelian
 
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Seattle
Posts: 695
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chula Vista View Post
Hey Lil, I think I may have been a bit over the top in plug last night. Sorry if I offended in any way. (I seriously don't remember any details)

Or maybe I wasn't. Damn, haven't had a blackout like that in ages.

Loving Sparks BTW. Can definitely see why you dig them with their T-Rex, Sweet, early Bowie-ish kinda vibe.
I don't actually remember. I've been so drunk, day and night, for the past few days that I can hardly remember how my week went, let alone a plug session. You're ok.

When Sparks moved overseas, they were actually compared to Bowie and Roxy Music quite often (I think Ron and Russell actually brushed shoulders with the boys of Roxy in an airport during that time and nobody said a word to one another - but I could be mistaken) for their theatrical, quirky value alone.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ki View Post
^Yeah, Sparks are great. It took me a little while to get used to Russell's use of the higher vocals, but once you get used to it, you realize how talented they truly are.
One of my favorite things about Sparks is that the Mael brothers didn't actually set out to be musicians in their youth. It was just something they thought they'd try (I think both of them were actually set for art school after they finished high school but I'd have to refresh my memory yet again to be absolutely certain) and it turned into a lifetime career. They'd had no special training whatsoever before they started their journey.

Speaking of which, at the time "The Louvre" was recorded, Russell Mael didn't know how to speak French (later in his life this would improve substantially - Russell is now fluent in the language) and the song had been originally written in English. Being the Anglophiles they were, they felt it necessary to have Josée Becker (whose musical career began and ended just there) translate the lyrics into French.

It's just a song about a statue that's bored with being a statue and would very much like to leave the museum.



Spoiler for LYRICS BELOW:
Le guide me montre et explique
"Celui ci est le changement"
Les touristes s'en donnent à coeur joie
Ils touchent mon marbre froid
Mais mes yeux sont fixer sur la porte

Je sais pourtant que j'dois rester
Parmis tous ces héros tués
Protegeant leur liberté de vivre dans des musées
Mais mes yeux sont fixer sur la porte

Essayer donc de m'enlever
Je voudrais voir si vous oser

Quelqu'un a entendu ma supplique
Depuis quelques heures, je vole
Mais à l'aurore elle me quitteras
Et les murs se refermeront sur moi
Il ne restera plus que le marbre froid

The tourist guide explains my aims
"This one's a monument to change."
The tourists do marvel, they touch my cold marble
But my eyes are fixed upon the door, upon the door

Let's see you lift me
I dare you to try
Let's see you lift me
I dare you to try
Let's see you lift me
I dare you to try
Let's see you lift me
I dare you to try
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You and I,
We were born to die.
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