096: Sparks - Music That You Can Dance To (1986) - Music That You Can Dance To

Sparks opens Music That You Can Dance To with the most literal mission statement imaginable. After being told to make something more danceable, they responded by turning the phrase itself into a title — and then actually delivering it. The result is a very mid-80s Sparks single: electronic, stylish, slightly dry, and packed with period details, from the drum sound and sax touches to the high backing vocals and glossy club feel.

We talk about how well it works as an opener. It immediately sets the tone for the album’s synthetic world, but without going for a huge, explosive chorus. Instead it builds gradually, adding layers and atmosphere as it goes. For us, that makes it a strong first track, even if it feels like it stops just short of becoming a full-scale anthem in the studio. The live version, with a real band behind it, gives it some of the extra punch that the recording only hints at.

Lyrically, it’s simpler than a lot of classic Sparks, but very knowingly so. The song more or less explains itself as it goes — “stark naked modern music,” “no heavy message” — which fits perfectly with the concept. It’s not intricate Ron Mael wordplay so much as Sparks defining a mode, and enjoying the joke of doing exactly what they were told.

We also get into the many single edits and club mixes, the self-directed video they made in Russell’s living room, and the fact that while the single didn’t become a mainstream hit, it did become their biggest Billboard dance-chart success to that point. As album openers go, it’s another reminder that Sparks almost always know how to start strong.