It's important that people realize that, with what we do, we aren't necessarily the ones saying what's being said. It's a character… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
We're always just trying to keep ourselves interested enough to make music that will excite other people in the same way that… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
Some songs are sort of born in the studio but some songs are really half-written in the studio. — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
We always start with the music even though people assume that the lyrics are the essence. — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
To have a Beatle doing an impression of you, I almost retired at that moment. — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
That's what I was gonna say. It seems like songwriters should express who they are through what they're doing rather than trying… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
That's something we really enjoy - incorporating things that don't ordinarily find people breaking into song. — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
We're not on a mission to uplift people, but music in general has such a profound effect on people. — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
I feel there are Sparks songs that are somehow both commenting on a song while at the same time being the song.… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
When we started it was only for the fun. We never had any thoughts of legacy or anything like that. It was… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
The impression that you give to other people in an external way changes over time so it becomes harder to convince people… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
When we first started in Los Angeles, we thought of ourselves in our own delusional way as being a British band, even… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
I can't think of a band that has made 19 albums, and hasn't either moved into what I call the manor class,… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
When we first started it was just Russell and myself and a guitar player, Earle Mankey, and unlike virtually any other band… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
Songs like 'So May We Start' and 'We Love Each Other So Much' aren't song-songs; they're more like rhythmic speaking, not in… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
Gould recorded Bach's 'Variations' twice but the 1955 one was so fresh. He had a quirky approach to playing and he looked… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
There has been times when we've had really great commercial success in various parts of the world. And the sensibility is something… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
I like the jarring thing, both in the music and the lyrics. That's why a lot of times our songs have a… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
Even though we try not to be nostalgic about drawing from old music, I'm always inspired by things like old Cole Porter… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
To us the music is the most important element and they lyrics are something that adds an extra element. — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
We just thought that bands from the U.S. in general were just really boring, and they didn't represent what we felt pop… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
One tries to be uplifting in one's songs, but occasionally a cloud appears in the sky and one's demeanor leads to songs… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
I like music where it can be taken in at many levels, as far as the emotions behind it. Somebody like Miles… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
It's always hard to analyze the effect of your nationality and your surroundings or anything like that. I think in some ways… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
In a certain way, longevity is its own kind of success. While we would like to be in the position of those… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
I don't think it's especially praiseworthy that even in those periods when things around us were kind of dire, we were working… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
Yeah, 'Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth.' I almost hate to admit what it was originally intended to be, but it's… — Ron Mael Copy Share Image
Even before we had a band, the merging of music and movies just seemed so perfect. — Ron Mael Copy Share
Having more people accepting what you're doing - that's the kind of limelight we really cherish. — Ron Mael Copy Share
We just thought that bands from the U.S. in general were just really boring, and they didn't represent what we felt pop music should… — Ron Mael Copy Share
When things are sequenced really hard, it has an effect similar to the one power chords had in the '70s. — Ron Mael Copy Share
I'm so happy that the first time Russell and I saw 'Annette' with an audience was at the Cannes Film Festival, and even more… — Ron Mael Copy Share
We detested folk music because it was cerebral and sedate and we had no time for that. But the Byrds were OK because they… — Ron Mael Copy Share
Of course everybody wants to be filthy stinking rich. But we've seen the effect that having that kind of massive success has had on… — Ron Mael Copy Share
People have told me repeatedly of how scared they were of seeing me on television. — Ron Mael Copy Share
We kind of have a cranky side of ourselves, so when people get upset about what we're doing, we kind of feel that we're… — Ron Mael Copy Share
There aren't enough people fighting for being conservative with your sexual tastes. There's a little too much adventuresome stuff going on, so it's good… — Ron Mael Copy Share
There is something encouraging about the rebellious spirit of the Internet. It's like the modern equivalent of punk - anyone can make a record.… — Ron Mael Copy Share
It's almost as if the most successful people don't put too much effort into being so brilliant at what they do, that they're just… — Ron Mael Copy Share
We're not trying to be esoteric. There is that about what we do, but we like to be there at the table with everybody… — Ron Mael Copy Share
