"I Predict" is a song by American
new wave duo
Sparks. It was released in 1982 as the first single from their eleventh studio album ''
Angst in My Pants'', although an effort was made to release "Eaten by the Monster of Love" as a second single. The group promoted the single with an eclectic performance on ''
Saturday Night Live
''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...
(SNL)''. They also performed "Mickey Mouse", another ''Angst in My Pants'' track.
It was their first single to ever enter the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 charts in America.
Music video
A
music video
A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...
made to accompany the single featured Ron Mael in drag doing a striptease dance performance in a
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
nightclub while Russell lip syncs the lyrics to the song. The music video is sometimes erroneously credited to
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 16, 2025) was an American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Lynch was often called a "visionary" and received acclaim f ...
,
but the book ''Talent is an Asset: The Story of Sparks'' credits the video to be done by Steve and Doug Martin in the style of Lynch.
Due to the more "mature and inappropriate sexual themes" and "adult nature" of the video,
MTV
MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...
usually only played it during nightly hours or at midnight.
Track listing
7" vinyl (US, Atlantic 4030)
# "I Predict" – 2:56
# "Moustache" – 3:32
12" vinyl promo (US, Atlantic DMD 325)
# "I Predict" – 2:56
# "I Predict" (club mix) – 6:19
12" vinyl (France, Underdog 8159)
# "I Predict" (club mix) – 6:19
# "Moustache" – 3:32
Personnel
Sparks
*
Russell Mael
Russell Craig Mael (born October 5, 1948) is an American singer best known as the lead singer for the band Sparks (band), Sparks, which he formed in 1971 with his elder brother Ron Mael. Mael is known for his wide vocal range, in particular his f ...
– vocals
*
Ron Mael
Ronald David Mael (born August 12, 1945) is an American musician, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is the keyboard player and principal songwriter in the band Sparks (band), Sparks, which he founded with vocalist, occasional songwrit ...
– keyboards and synthesizers
Additional musicians
*
Leslie Bohem
Leslie "Les" Bohem (born 1951) is an American screenwriter, television writer, and former bassist. He is the son of screenwriter Endre Bohem.
Biography
Bohem played bass in the 1980s with the pop groups Sparks (band), Sparks and Gleaming Spires. ...
– bass guitar and additional background vocals
* Bob Haag – guitar and additional background vocals
*
David Kendrick
David Kendrick (born March 23, 1955) is an American musician who is currently a member of the experimental pop band Xiu Xiu. A former member of Gleaming Spires and Devo, he has recorded and toured with Sparks, Andy Prieboy, and Revolushn. He is ...
– drums
* James Goodwin – synthesizers
*
Mack – synthesizer programming
Charts
References
*
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:I Predict
1982 singles
1982 songs
Sparks (band) songs
Songs written by Ron Mael
Songs written by Russell Mael
Song recordings produced by Reinhold Mack
American new wave songs
Atlantic Records singles