091: Sparks - Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat (1984) - A Song That Sings Itself

After the collective low point of “Everybody Move,” we were desperately in need of a palate cleanser. “A Song That Sings Itself” delivers… partially.

We agree this one is clearly an improvement over the previous track, with verses that have a pleasant melody and some interesting harmonic ideas. There’s even a brief moment of optimism early on, hinting at something more adventurous before the full 80s production kicks in. But once the chorus arrives, the song veers sharply into German Schlager / Eurovision territory, complete with associations to Heino, Schlager Elvises, and broad singalong melodrama.

The consensus: not bad, not great. A middle-of-the-road album track that’s listenable, occasionally catchy, but ultimately too generic to feel truly Sparks-like. We’d take it a hundred times over “Everybody Move,” but it’s still nowhere near the upper tiers of the band’s catalogue. Interestingly, it has inspired a couple of cover versions, which says something about its oddly familiar, almost pre-existing melody.

A step up, yes — but still not a revelation. Next up: “Sisters.”