Sparks is an American pop and rock duo consisting of brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals), formed in 1968 in the Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles as the band Halfnelson. The duo is noted for their quirky approach to songwriting; their music is often accompanied by sophisticated and acerbic lyrics—sometimes containing literary or cinematic references—and an idiosyncratic, theatrical stage presence, typified by the contrast between Russell's animated, hyperactive front-man antics and Ron's deadpan scowling. Russell Mael has a distinctive wide-ranging voice, while Ron Mael plays keyboards in an intricate and rhythmic style. Their frequently changing styles and visual presentations have kept the band at the forefront of modern, artful pop music. Career highlights include the glam rock song "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us", which reached No. 2 on the UK singles chart in 1974; the disco hits "The Number One Song in Heaven" and "Beat the Clock" in 1979, resulting from a collaboration with Giorgio Moroder and marking a stylistic shift towards new wave and synth-pop; "When I'm with You", which made the Australian and French Singles Charts in 1980; the single "I Predict", which provided Sparks' first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No.
