Sparks are an American pop and rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1967 by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals). Known for their quirky approach to songwriting, Sparks' music is often accompanied by sophisticated and acerbic lyrics, often about women or Shakespearean literature references, and an idiosyncratic, theatrical stage presence, typified in the contrast between Russell's animated, hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's deadpan scowling. They are also noted for Russell Mael's distinctive wide-ranging voice and Ron Mael's intricate and rhythmic keyboard playing style.
Tommy is a 1975 British satirical operetta fantasy drama film written and directed by Ken Russell and based upon The Who's 1969 rock opera album Tommy about a "psychosomatically deaf, mute, and blind" boy who becomes a pinball champion and religious leader. The film featured a star-studded ensemble cast, including the band members themselves, Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Elton John, and Jack Nicholson.
The Velvet Rope is the sixth studio album by American singer Janet Jackson. The album was released on October 7, 1997 through Virgin Records. Prior to its release, she renegotiated her contract with Virgin for US$80 million, the largest recording contract in history at that time.
Kristine Elizabeth Weitz, widely known by her stage name Kristine W, is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and entrepreneur. She is most widely known as a dance music artist. Born and raised in Pasco, Washington, she found early success competing in pageants and talent contests, winning Miss Washington and a preliminary swimsuit award as well as a NFT award in the Miss America pageant. Kristine W is now one of the most popular dance club artists of all time, with 17 #1s to date on Billboard Dance Club Songs. She is currently listed among Billboard's 8 Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists, and she was ranked number three in Billboard's Top Dance Artists of the Decade. She is especially popular in the gay community and is an outspoken supporter of LGBT rights, frequently performing at pride rallies and charity events for pro-LGBT organizations throughout the U.S.
Mayte Jannell Garcia is an American dancer, actress and singer. She was married to Prince for four years and has worked with various artists, including Britney Spears.
"You've Really Got a Hold on Me" is a song written by Smokey Robinson which became a 1962 Top 10 hit single for the Miracles on Motown's Tamla label. One of the Miracles' most covered tunes, this million-selling song received a 1998 Grammy Hall of Fame Award. It has also been selected as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It was covered by English rock group the Beatles on their second album, With the Beatles. Many other musicians also recorded versions.
Gonna Take a Miracle is the fifth album by New York City-born singer, songwriter and pianist Laura Nyro, with assistance by vocal trio Labelle. It was released on Columbia Records in November 1971, one year after its predecessor, Christmas and the Beads of Sweat. The album is Nyro's only all-covers album, and she interprets mainly 1950s and 1960s soul and R&B standards, using Labelle as a traditional back-up vocal group.
The Fabulous Miracles is a 1963 album by The Miracles featuring the million-selling Grammy Hall of Fame hit, "You've Really Got a Hold on Me", one of the group's most popular singles. It also features the chart hits "A Love She Can Count On" and "I've Been Good To You", which The Beatles' John Lennon has identified as his favorite Miracles song. Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson was the principal writer on all tracks, while Miracles members Ronnie White and Bobby Rogers co-wrote with him on several of the album's songs. Although two of the album’s songs, “Won’t You Take Me Back” and “Your Love”, were taken from their debut album Hi ... We’re The Miracles, all eight new songs were released as either singles or b-sides.
Greatest Hits from the Beginning is a compilation double LP by The Miracles released in 1965. This was the first double album ever released by the Motown Record Corporation. It covers most of the group's hits from their pre-1965 albums, such as "Shop Around", "Who's Lovin’ You", "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" and "Mickey's Monkey", as well as the non-album singles from 1964: "I Like It Like That" and "That's What Love Is Made Of". The album was a success, reaching #21 on the Billboard Pop Album Chart. It was also the first Miracles album to chart on the Billboard R&B Album chart, where it was an even bigger success, peaking at #2.
American Idol: Greatest Hits was released on iTunes on June 12, 2007. The album was finally released almost a month after the May finale. The album contains 11 cover songs, by the finalists and Jordin Sparks' winning single. The Collector's Edition contains 76 songs and includes cover songs by top 12 and, again, Jordin Sparks' winning single. Neither collection of songs was released as an actual CD but both are available exclusively through the iTunes Store.
Thomas "Tommy" Sparks is a Swedish-born English singer-songwriter from London. He is known for his songs "She's Got Me Dancing" and "I'm a Rope". His self-titled album was released on 11 May 2009 in the United Kingdom. He co-wrote The Prodigy song "Wild West" featured on the bonus disc for Invaders Must Die. He also features on the Filthy Dukes album Nonsense in the Dark on the song "Messages".
"She's Got Me Dancing" is a song by Tommy Sparks, with its music video directed by American comedian Eric Wareheim. It is the second song from his album, Tommy Sparks. The song was released for download and in shops on 4 May 2009. The song has been used occasionally in the media, including the advertising of PlayStation 3 game EyePet, a television commercial for the iPod Touch, features on the EA Sports video game FIFA 10 and is also one of the songs available to dance to on Just Dance 3.
Breanne Dürenberger, better known by her stage name Breanne Düren, is an American musician best known for her work with electronic music project Owl City and her own solo work.
Tommy and Quadrophenia Live is a 3-disc DVD box set that includes performances by The Who from their 1989 and 1996-1997 tours. Whilst the Tommy part of the set had been already released on VHS, material from the Quadrophenia Tour had not been commercially available previously.
Sparks Fly is the debut studio album by American actress and singer Miranda Cosgrove. It was released on April 27, 2010 by Columbia, Epic and Nick Records. After achieving success as a singer on the iCarly soundtrack in 2008, Cosgrove began planning her debut album with the Columbia label. Musically, Sparks Fly is a pop record that incorporates electropop elements. Contributions to the album's production came from several producers, including Dr. Luke, The Matrix, Espionage, Rock Mafia, Darkchild and Max Martin.
Right Here Right Now is the third studio album by American singer Jordin Sparks. It was released on August 21, 2015 through Louder Than Life/Red Associated Labels (RAL), an imprint of Sony Music Entertainment, and 19 Recordings. Following the dissolution of her original label Jive Records in 2011, Sparks was signed to RCA Records, but after years of failed negotiations to release new material under their label, she was released from her contract in 2014 and signed with Louder Than Life/Red Associated Labels. Sparks first confirmed the announcement of the album's release in November 2014, following the release of her mixtape #ByeFelicia. Right Here Right Now marks her first studio album in over six years, since Battlefield (2009).
"Sparks" is a single recorded by American singer Hilary Duff for her fifth studio album, Breathe In. Breathe Out. (2015). It was written and produced by Christian "Bloodshy" Karlsson and Peter Thomas, with additional writing from Tove Lo and Sam Shrieve, and co-production from Svidden. The song was released on April 7, 2015 by RCA Records, as the album's third single.
Breathe In. Breathe Out. is the fifth studio album by American singer Hilary Duff. It was released on June 12, 2015, by RCA Records. Duff began work on the album in January 2012, but after scrapping the songs she recorded, she resumed the sessions in September 2013, continuing throughout 2014 and 2015. After being signed to RCA Records in 2014, she released the singles, "Chasing the Sun" and "All About You". She later recorded more songs in Sweden in February 2015, and released the single, "Sparks". The resulting album from the various recording sessions has combined Duff's dance-pop sound with EDM and folk-pop elements.
Yes, I'm a Witch Too is a collaboration and remix LP from Yoko Ono. The street date is February 19, 2016 via Manimal Vinyl Records. The LP features remixes and collaborations from Death Cab for Cutie, Moby, Portugal. The Man, Sparks, Peter Bjorn and John, Miike Snow, Sean Lennon, Cibo Matto and others. It is a sequel to 2007's acclaimed Yes, I'm a Witch.
2017 Tommy & More was a United Kingdom 7-date concert tour by British band The Who. The first two nights saw the band performing live in its entirety their 1969 studio album Tommy along with a few classics, with the rest of the tour featuring an extended Tommy set as a centerpiece to an otherwise greatest hits show.
