Russell Mael

“There's just a certain sensibility to Ron's lyrics that's been consistent since day one, album one, through to the 'Hippopotamus' album. A world view that's unique.”

“We wanted to do something that couldn't be pigeonholed.”

“We always turned to the U.K. bands because they were bigger than life and celebrated not only a strong, vital, vibrant musical sensibility, but also image was important when they came here looking sharp or provocative.”

“Our entire career has been unplanned. Things have really happened by chance, despite our best efforts to do things in a more orderly fashion.”

“We're never lumped in as being an L.A. band in any kind of context.”

“Yeah, we've been offered lots of advice over the years about not moving on from something that is successful, but it's just in our nature to need to feel that what we're doing is exciting to us.”

“Occasionally and all-too-infrequently a song comes along that jolts you and you prick up your ears.”

“You can retire from your career after having a Beatle portray you in any sort of way, let alone in a music video that lasts forever.”

“Over time I think we've gotten better at kind of sensing when we're just kind of going through the motions and when we're doing something that really kind of shows the passion that we want to demonstrate in the record.”

“You're always searching for that new thing you can impose on the givens of pop music - that's when the change becomes something exciting, and not just because we want to say we're chameleons all the time.”

“We were this evil thing disco.”

“You do know about us in the type of music and the lyrics and their sensibility. Through that you do know something about our lives.”

“There's a daily routine and we're pretty methodical about it. We have a work ethic. Ron shows up on time and well groomed.”

“After a few aborted attempts at movie projects, to have 'Annette' be so well received to be the opening night film at Cannes was like a dream come true for us.”

“The 'Annette' movie is something really unique and special for us, as we were able to create not only the story for it, but also the music.”

“We liked being able to do a movie musical that's not traditional in how a movie musical has to be. 'Annette' is not an upbeat film, with an upbeat ending, which a lot of musicals tend to have.”

“A lot of the people who like Sparks, they feel like it's this well-kept secret that they're part of.”

“That album, 'Lil' Beethoven,' was special to us because we wanted to try to figure out a new context to place our music in, and not rely on the usual instrumentation - guitars, bass and drums - that gives rock or pop music its power, energy and excitement.”

“Ron's songwriting and my singing are something that can't be detached from each other. They are inseparable.”