063: Sparks - Angst in my Pants (1982) - Nicotina

“Nicotina” is one of Angst in My Pants’ most dramatic and distinctive deep cuts—a compact, operatic mini-epic that blends jagged guitar riffs, 80s synth colours, and a breathless vocal performance. Its opening nods to John Barry gives way to a frantic, tightly packed arrangement that feels closer in spirit to Whomp That Sucker than the smoother textures elsewhere on the album.

Lyrically, the song is pure Sparks: a cigarette personified as a seductive, short-lived woman named Nicotina, complete with a tragic arc, witty imagery, and double meanings that turn addiction into romance. The repeated “Nicotina’s gone…” section is one of the album’s most gripping moments, giving the song a dark emotional undercurrent beneath the humour.

Though never a major single, the track became a cult favourite among fans and was performed live occasionally in 1982, revived again during the Revenge of Two Hands, One Mouth shows, and briefly in 2017. Its energy, sharp writing, and dramatic structure make it one of the standout album tracks of Angst in My Pants—a song that feels underrated even within Sparks’ large catalogue.