SPARKS: The Secret Behind Terminal Jive and When I'm With You

This video essay is a lyrical analysis of the criminally underrated Terminal Jive (1980) by Sparks. It sounds like a collection of simple pop songs by Ron and Russell Mael, but when looked at from the perspective of songwriters writing about songwriting, it becomes a very different album. When I'm with you Just because you love me Rock'n'roll people in a disco world Young girls Noisy Boys Stereo The greatest show on earth I explain why the stories about Georgio Moroder and Harold Faltermeier deriding the album may not be true, and why it was only a hit record in France. It also touches on the albums No.1 in Heaven, Whomp that sucker and Is there more to life than dancing.