{"id":16006,"date":"2015-12-02T06:58:41","date_gmt":"2015-12-02T06:58:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=16006"},"modified":"2015-12-02T07:02:35","modified_gmt":"2015-12-02T07:02:35","slug":"essential-advent-calendar-sparks-christmas-without-a-prayer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2015\/12\/essential-advent-calendar-sparks-christmas-without-a-prayer\/","title":{"rendered":"Essential Advent Calendar: Sparks – ‘Christmas Without A Prayer’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"advent<\/p>\n

Sparks release their traditional (once every 41 years) Christmas song, ‘Christmas Without A Prayer’ on 4 December.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Christmas without a prayer
\nNo one to go to church with
\nAnd run their fingers through my hair
\nNo one to buy me
\nThings I don\u2019t want
\nBright-coloured ties
\nMonogrammed things
\nAn album by Wings<\/p>\n

Christmas without a prayer
\nNo one to feed the birds with
\nFrom cold park benches, icy air
\nNo one to tell me
\n(The) first date\u2019s too soon
\nNo one to show me
\nPictures of her kids
\nThe first I\u2019ve heard of kids<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sayin\u2019 a prayer
\nI feel it
\nI\u2019ll never despair
\nI feel it
\nI\u2019m layin\u2019 it bare
\nI feel it
\nI know there\u2019s a brighter day<\/p>\n

Christmas without a prayer
\nNo one to eat Thai with
\nIt\u2019s all that\u2019s open, anywhere<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Sparks<\/p>\n

Every 41 years, US band Sparks releases a Christmas single. It’s become a tradition of sorts, with their previous release, in 1974, ‘Thank God It’s Not Christmas’, appearing on their third studio album, ‘Kimono My House’. Sparks have released 23 creatively bold albums, with their highly visual stage presentations viewed throughout the world, including Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival, London’s Royal Festival Hall, and the LA Film Festival.<\/p>\n

Speaking about the single, Sparks founders Ron and Russell Mael said:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAs the tradition has been in Sparks, every 41 years marks the time to share an ode to Christmas. \u00a0It’s 2015, and ’tis the season. So please celebrate our “Christmas Without A Prayer” release. \u00a0And stay tuned for exciting Xmas news for 2056\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Their music has been cited as a major influence on musicians as varied as Morrissey, Mini Mansions, Bjork, The Ramones, Faith No More, Sonic Youth, and Nirvana. Varied and diverse they may seem when viewed separately; but when viewed as a group who’ve been influenced by Sparks, one has a bit of an “ah ha!” moment.<\/p>\n

\"Sparks<\/p>\n

November 27 saw Sparks release\u00a0the heavyweight vinyl box set Sparks: The Island Years,<\/a> a collection of the band\u2019s four Island Records studio albums (‘Kimono My House’, ‘Propaganda’, ‘Indiscreet’, and ‘Big Beat’) from 1974-1976, along with a newly-created adaptation of the 1979 compilation, ‘The Best Of Sparks’, punningly retitled ‘The Rest Of Sparks’.<\/p>\n

‘Christmas Without A Prayer’ is out on 4 December, but is available to preorder now from iTunes<\/a> and Google Play<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Find Sparks on their website<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Sparks