Trust me #95
Sparky's Dream by Teenage Fanclub
Teenage Fanclub released the pure sunshine bubblegum power-pop rush of Sparky's Dream 30-years ago, in May 1995. Perfect timing ahead of what was a lovely, warm and hazy summer. I wonder how many times I've listened to the song, how many times I've sung along at concerts, or while playing air guitar in in front of the mirror!
Sparky's Dream was the lead single from the Fanclub's Grand Prix album. Penned and sung by bassist Gerard Love, the song bursts with a vibrant energy from the playful opening riff to the closing chord.
Gerry sounds like he is head over heels and I love the way he portrays his love, desire and affection in the lyrics. Dig a little deeper and he is pining for a love that he lost after possibly falling too hard and too fast.
If she lived in space, man, I'd build a plane
Out of luck so beam me up to hear her talking again
She painted pictures, that never dried
Always try and keep the feeling alive
Love has a beautiful way with words, weaving vivid imagery in an honest and dreamy way. This continues through the chorus and I appreciate the line magic eyes to read between the lines so much more after typing it out. The lyric seems so simple, the melody is so catchy and I must have sung it hundreds of times, yet I think I've only just appreciated how clever and deep it is. The power of pop!
Need a crystal ball to see her in the morning
And magic eyes to read between the lines
I took a wrong direction
From a shooting star
In a love dimension
Fading fast from taking this too far
Teenage Fanclub use the chorus as a springboard into a short 15-second instrumental that just keeps the groove going, leading into a short verse/bridge. The opening line is pure Gerry Love, encapsulating a feeling in just 6 words and then there is an immediate gorgeous follow up - he is going to hang on to this love, possibly forever. He won't forget.
That summer feeling, is gonna fly
Always try to keep the feeling inside
Sparky's Dream lifts you up from the off and keeps you there with an unrelenting momentum, we're straight back into another chorus and then an outro of magic balls to see her in the morning and crystal eyes to read between the lines. Timeless pop!
Sparky's Dream is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE. Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.
I asked the Teenage Fanclub Fanclub for their memories of hearing the song for the first time.
Shona McAllister - 30-years ago I was living in France and one of my very best friends sent me Sparky's Dream. I wasn't having the best time, but that was a ray of sunshine bursting through. It still feels magical.
Richard Miles - I remember hearing it being played on Radio 1 when they did the Radio 1 roadshow!
Kevin Robertson - It reminded me of Pictures Of Lily at the chorus but the guitar sounds on this and the whole of Grand Prix are about as sweet an overdriven tone as you could find.
Craig Tilstone - I first heard it on Jo Wiley and Steve Lamaq's Evening Session - essential mid-90's listening and a huge shaper of my teenage music tastes. It would have been the second TFC song I ever heard, with them playing Mellow Doubt a few weeks earlier. Sparky's Dream fizzed and jangled and chimed and blew my mind. A 30-year infatuation was born!
Aidan Nicholas - Takes me back to living in my first bought flat in the 90's and listening to the excellent GLR radio.
Ian Palmer - I heard it first via my cousin having recorded it off Radio 1. I went and bought it the next day.
Matthew Tokley - THE perfect pop rock song.
Peter Rowe - First time I heard it was on their 'tour' of Glasgow at the Renfrew Ferry. Sounded great on first listen!
Mark Dinh - It's the sound of summer (95) for me. Hard to believe that's a lifetime ago. Just like Regret by New Order is for 93. What makes the song for me is the incredible background harmonies around the 2.5 minute mark /outro. Got a magic ball that (ahh ahh ahh ahh woo woo woo) bit.
Jamie Smith - When I saw them at Portsmouth Pyramids back in 95, Norman said it was Zig and Zag's favourite song!
Rob James - It reminds me of an amazing holiday my now wife and I had many years ago, driving through the Italian Lakes and Switzerland with Grand Prix almost on a loop in the car. Don't want to get too dark, but my kids have strict instructions to make sure it's the song I go out to. If you know what I mean ...
Elena Montana - I was late to the party = although technically I am never late, other people are just early! Have seen some people write that Gerry wrote this about Juliana Hatfield (with the caveat that it could just be apocryphal!). Only the writer knows the truth after all!
Graham Williamson - Reminds me of my sons birth in 1995.
John Inwood - Just the best song they have written.
1 comment:
Great album, bought it when it came out in '95. That was a good read, thank you. Love all of their albums.
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