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Rating: Regarding this album, I read somewhere that "If Goebbels had done propaganda this well, we would all now live under the Third Reich." Propaganda, from November 1974, is an excellent album, even if its fame today is perhaps a bit overshadowed by its superb neighbor Kimono My House, the undisputed masterpiece of the Sparks, released in May of the same year. But Propaganda, with its consistently high-level songs and no fillers, is hardly inferior to its illustrious predecessor. It’s an album that holds its own among the glam magna opera, and it’s something more than the Day at the Races to a Night at the Opera, the Pin Ups to an Aladdin Sane, the Samwise Gamgee to a Frodo Baggins.
The mastery of the Mael brothers is unparalleled, and the vocal acrobatics, falsettos, and concoctions of Russell perfectly match the absolute command of charlotte-like Ron's keyboards and the lyrics filled with surreal and over-the-top humor. Eleven shards of frenetic and baroque glam, never cloying and always engaging. A fresh and sparkling album like prosecco with aspirin. Fizzing.
Seriously: apart from Great Cinema, have you ever heard this word used outside of some insipid advertisement? The ones with the acid/pastel tones of the mid-'90s, before the 2000s came with their bird droppings colors and the overuse of the word "exclusive"?
An album to listen to always, at home at work at play, smirking behind those who dig from the '70s to pull out the same old things: beautiful for sure, but after a while, what a bore.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Propaganda ()
(Ron Mael)
"Hello soldier boy," oh boy, she's spewing out her
propaganda, propaganda
Might makes right, though you are wrong,
you're right to fight her
propaganda, propaganda, propaganda
"Come to our side," she does say
"Come on over," she does say
Well I don't need more
Competition for
Her affection
You should fight on
Fight on
Over there
02 At Home, At Work, At Play ()
(Ron Mael)
At home, at work, at play
I know you're unavailable from dusk to dawn
Or if you were available you'd bring along
A lot of what could only be a hindrance to me
I ain't a glutton for a lot of sweaty company
You gotta catch her while she's still at home
You gotta catch her while she's still at work
You gotta catch her while she's still at play
The only way is at home, work, or play
Time really flies when it ain't that much time
You better shave half your face at a time
And brush the front of your teeth, leave the rest
And be with her when she's not with the rest
Stop, there's gotta be a million girls like her, though
I can't think of one
So you catch her while she's still at home
And you catch her while she's still at work
And you catch her while she's still at play
Don't let her calendar be any cause to pout
There is a bit of time when there are few about
I'm gonna skirt the issue of her popularity
And just avail myself of all the time that she is free
You gotta catch her while she's still at home
You gotta catch her while she's still at work
You gotta catch her while she's still at play
Cause half the day she's at home, work or play
And time is fleeing the scene of the crime
The act of passing out wrinkles and lines
To every person regardless of race
To every person regardless of face
Stop, there's gotta be a million girls like her though
I can't think of one
So at home she says you butler well
And at work she says you're typing well
And at play she says you caddie well
Stop, There's gotta be a million girls like her though
I can't think of one
So you catch her while she's still at home
And you catch her while she's still at work
And you catch her while she's still at play
I'm gonna love you under incandescent light
I'm gonna love you under fluorescent light
The glaring sun above should not inhibit us at all
I'm very glad to know that your libido never palls
Stop, she's unique, especially at home
Where you're butler, maid, and often cook
And at work together juggling books
Or at play between the tennis sets
Or at play before she's placed her bet
Or at play while she's still slightly wet
Or at play while she is dripping wet
03 Reinforcements ()
(Ron & Russell Mael)
I'm on guard again but unprepared to fend for myself in a battle
You wont tell me why the shrubbery moves
Or why there always has to be subterfusion
You wont even say "at ease"
After waging a costly siege
When a potentate ain't so potent in his state he summons help fast
Unilaterally I withdraw
What was peace is now a grand coup d'etat
The Purple Heart for valour please
And no heart for you Denise
Reinforcements, reinforcements
I could use a strong rear guard
Reinforcements, reinforcements
First the left flank, then the right
I'd sooner work the PX tonight
Spoken: You intercept my S.O.S in order that no
news of my distress will ever reach the
homefront and about my camouflage,
well, it didn't work on you ... in fact most
things they tell recruits never seem to do
Raise my rank if I should last another night so tortuous
Reinforcements, reinforcements
I don't want a tete-a-tete
Reinforcements, reinforcements
Let's reach accord, and ink a pact
Then, please dismiss your regiment
06 Don't Leave Me Alone With Her ()
(Ron Mael)
The Exodus is on
The impetus is gone
Nobodys having fun
How about another drink
Or maybe just a snack
The rest will be here soon
Here, let me take you mac
I know its started slow
Theres still no need to go
Dont leave me alone with her
Every home is Rome alone with her
And if you all go, who'll say no to her
Dont leave me alone with her
Dont my sweat and shaking register
Cause if you all go, who'll say no to her
You look at her and say, "She looks OK to me"
I look at her and say, "She looks OK to me"
The reasons very clear
You're watching her with me
Dont leave me alone with her
Every home is Rome alone with her
And if you all go, who'll say no to her
Unwitting chaperons, how come you cannot see
Unwitting chaperons, how come you cannot see
A Hitler wearing heels
A soft Simon Legree
A Hun with honey skin
De Sade who makes good tea
Dont leave me here to be
Dont leave me here yo be
Dont leave me alone with her
Dont my sweat and shaking register
Cause if you all go, who'll say no to her
Dont leave me alone with her
Dont leave me alone with her
Dont leave me alone with her
Dont leave me alone with her
Every home is Rome alone with her
And if you all go, who'll say no to her ...
07 Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth ()
When she's on her best behaviour
Dont be tempted by her favours
Never turn your back on mother earth
Towns are hurled from A to B
By hands that looked so smooth to me
Never turn your back on mother earth
Grasp at straws that dont want grasping
Gaze at clouds that come down crashing
Never turn your back on mother earth
Three days and two nights away from my friends
Amen to anything that brings a quick return to my friends
To my friends
Never turn your back on mother earth
I'll admit I was unfaithful
But from now I'll be more faithful
Never turn your back on mother
Never turn your back on mother
Never turn your back on mother earth
08 Something for the Girl With Everything ()
(Ron Mael)
Something for the girl with everything
See, the writings on the wall
You bought the girl a wall
Complete with matching ball-point pen
You can breathe another day
Secure in knowing she wont break you (yet)
Something for the girl with everything
Have another sweet my dear
Dont try to talk my dear
Your tiny little mouth is full
Heres a flavour you aint tried
You shouldnt try to talk, your mouth is full
Something for the girl with everything
Three wise men are here
Three wise men are here
Bearing gifts to aid amnesia
She knows everything
yes yes everyting
She knew way back when you weren't yourself
Something for the girl with everything
Heres a really preatty car
I hope it takes you far
I hope it takes you fast and far
Wow, the engines really loud
Nobodys gonna hear a thing you say
Something for the girl with everything
Three wise men are here
Three wise men are here
Where should they leave these imported gimmicks
Leave them anywhere
An-an-anywhere
Make sure that theres a clear path to the door
Something for the girl with everything
Something for the girl with everything
Something for the girl with everything
Something for the girl with everything
Three wise men are here
Three wise men are here
Three wise men are here
Three wise men are here
Heres a patridge in a tree,
A gardener for the tree
Complete with ornithologist
Careful, careful with that crate
You wouldn't want to dent Sinatra, no
Something for the girl who has got everything,
Yes, yes, everything
Hey, come out and say hello
Before you friends all go
But say no more than just hello
Ah, the little girl is shy
You see of late shes been quite speechless,
very speechless
She's got everything
09 Achoo ()
(Ron Mael)
Who knows what the winds gonna bring when the invalids sing
"La las" with a powerful sting thatll stop any opera or any Bing
Sing, spread the news across the land
All winners will be also-rans
Achoo-one size fits everyone
Achoo-one breath, the deed has been done
Grey hair and dash and flair give you doctor an air
I'm hurt, but the choise that you made is an obvious
one for a girl who needs care
I do hope that he makes you well
Say, is there any cure for Hell,
Achoo-one size fits everyone
Achoo-one breath, the deed has been done
Sing, ile de France and everywhere
You can't ignore that sort of air
Achoo-one size fits everyone
Achoo-one breath, the deed has been done
So, open wide, open wide and say, open wide and say goodbye, you'll be OK
Achoo-he's gonna whisk you away
Achoo-he's gonna make you OK
10 Who Don't Like Kids ()
(Ron Mael)
Who don't like kids, who don't like kids
Who don't like kids, who don't like kids
Who don't like kids, who don't like kids
You got a cigar, heres a couple more
because the offspring are springing through swinging doors
into a world of "Aint he cute, he looks a lot like his father" and Here comes another
Of that proof that Im not just a vegetable,
the little Proof that Im more than a mineral,
the little Proof that Im just like the next guy,
whoever he may be
Who don't like kids, who don't like kids
Crawl, walk, running around
Living proof that I'm really sound
They'll ensure Im always around
And your bit and my bit'll do their dance
to body rumblings And tumblings and rote romance
and all the while I'm thinking,
deeply thinking, hey whats it gonna be Sod or celebrity
(Boy or girl)
(Boy or girl)
Oh well its off to work
And so long baby, kiss him goodbye for me
Who don't like kids, who don't like kids
Crawl, walk, running around
Living proof that I'm really sound
They'll ensure Im always around
Who don't like kids, who don't like kids
Who don't like kids, who don't like kids
Who don't like kids, who don't like kids
There's more in the wings shall we bring them on or
Shall we just sit and talk 'til the early morn and
Recite sweet nothings (sweet, nothings)
In everybodys ear
Who don't like kids
Who don't like kids
Who don't like kids
Who don't like kids
Crawl, walk, running around
Living proof that Im really sound
They'll ensure I'm always around
Who don't like kids
Who don't like kids
Who don't like kids
Who don't like kids
Living proof that I'm really sound
They'll ensure I'm always around
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