Sparky's Dream
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"Sparky's Dream" is a song recorded by Scottish rock band
Teenage Fanclub Teenage Fanclub are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Glasgow in 1989. The group were founded by Norman Blake (Scottish musician), Norman Blake (vocals, guitar), Raymond McGinley (vocals, lead guitar) and Gerard Love (vocals, bass), al ...
. The song was released on 22 May 1995 through
Creation Records Creation Records Ltd. was a British independent record label founded in 1983 by Alan McGee, Dick Green, and Joe Foster. Its name came from the 1960s band The Creation, whom McGee greatly admired. The label ceased operations in 1999, although ...
, as the lead single from the band's fifth studio album ''
Grand Prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural ''Grands Prix'') most commonly refers to: * Grand Prix motor racing, a form of motorsport competition ** List of Formula One Grands Prix, an auto-racing championship *** Monaco Grand Prix, the most prestigious ...
''. The song was sung by its author and bassist Gerard Love rather than the usual lead singer Norman Blake. The song peaked at number 40 on the UK Singles Chart. The song has widely been considered among the group's best.


Background

Vocalist and guitarist Norman Blake suggested the song's title when the band were recording demos for no particular reason; "it seemed like a good title because it was kind of dumb," Love told fan-site operator Chris Bray in 1995.


Reception

Reviews of the song upon its release were positive; ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' columnist Troy J. Augusto dubbed it "hypnotically sweet." In a negative review of ''Grand Prix'' in ''
Spin Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spin (physics) or particle spin, a fundamental property of elementary particles * Spin quantum number, a number which defines the value of a particle's spin * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thr ...
'', reviewer Jason Cohen singled out "Sparky's Dream" as a "pleasant" if melodramatic highlight.
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
biographer Matt Collar has since listed it among the band's "best-loved" tunes, while
Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...
reviewer Sam Sodomsky selected it among the band's "greatest". James Cosby at
PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...
ranked the song as the band's best, praising its "pure pop rush" as embodying "everything great about the ower pop" ''
Paste Paste is a term for any very thick viscous fluid. It may refer to: Science and technology * Adhesive or paste ** Wallpaper paste ** Wheatpaste, a liquid adhesive made from vegetable starch and water * Paste (rheology), a substance that behaves as ...
'' writer Ben Salmon placed the song at number two on his 2018 ranking, calling it a "classic love song ..and a melodic monster."


Charts


References

{{Teenage Fanclub 1995 singles 1995 songs Creation Records singles Jangle pop songs