048: Sparks - Whomp That Sucker (1981) - Tips for Teens

We kick off Sparks’ band-reborn, new-wave era with “Tips for Teens,” the punchy opener and UK lead single from Whomp That Sucker. It’s classic Mael: a breathless hook, razor-sharp humor (“I’ve got a snapshot of your Aunt Maureen—she’s 90 and you’re a teen”), and a tight live-band snap from the Bates Motel lineup. We dig into the song’s arrangement (that frenetic keyboard break!), the boxing-themed video, and how KROQ airplay helped revive Sparks’ LA momentum even without a U.S. single. Plus: why this one belongs on any early-’80s Sparks “best of,” and how it roared back into the setlist in 2022.