SPARKS – This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Us (1974)

Sparks is an American pop and rock duo formed by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals) in Los Angeles. The duo is noted for their quirky approach to songwriting; their music is often accompanied by sophisticated and acerbic lyrics—often about women, and sometimes containing literary or cinematic references– and an idiosyncratic, theatrical stage presence, typified by the contrast between Russell’s animated, hyperactive frontman antics and Ron’s deadpan scowling. Russell Mael has a distinctive wide-ranging voice, while Ron Mael plays keyboards in an intricate and rhythmic style. They have been much more successful in Europe than in their native U.S., though they maintain a loyal cult following in the States.

Career highlights include “This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us”, which reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart in 1974; the disco hit “The Number One Song in Heaven” in 1979, resulting from a collaboration with Giorgio Moroder and marking a stylistic shift towards new wave/synth-pop; “When I’m With You”, which made the Australian and French Singles Charts in 1980; the single “I Predict”, which provided Sparks’ first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 60 in May 1982; the 1983 single “Cool Places” with the Go-Go’s rhythm guitarist and vocalist Jane Wiedlin, and “When Do I Get to Sing ‘My Way'”, which was the top airplay record in Germany for 1994.

Zoo time is she and you time The mammals are your favourite type, and you want her tonight Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers This town ain’t big enough for the both of us! And it ain’t me who’s gonna leave!

Flying, domestic flying And when the stewardess is near, do not show any fear Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat You are a khaki-coloured bombardier It’s Hiroshima that you’re nearing This town ain’t big enough for both of us! And it ain’t me who’s gonna leave!

Daily, except for Sunday You dawdle in to the café where you meet her each day Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat As 20 cannibals have hold of you They need their protein just like you do This town ain’t big enough for the both of us! And it ain’t me who’s gonna leave!

Shower, another shower You got to look your best for her, and be clean everywhere Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat The rain is pouring on the foreign Town, the bullets cannot cut you down This town ain’t big enough for the both of us! And it ain’t me who’s gonna leave!

Census, the latest census There’ll be more girls who live in town, though not enough to go round Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat You know that this town isn’t big enough Not big enough for both of us! This town isn’t big enough Not big enough for both of us And I ain’t gonna leave!