Artwork for podcast The Burning of the Midnight Amp
124: Sparks - Gratuitous Sax and Senseless (1994) - Now That I Own the BBC
Episode 12421st July 2026 • The Burning of the Midnight Amp • Frode, Trond & Chris
00:00:00 00:18:50

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Sparks take one of their most absurd ideas and somehow turn it into an irresistibly catchy pop song. In this episode, we explore "Now That I Own the BBC," a playful satire built around the unlikely premise of accidentally buying Britain's national broadcaster for five pounds.

We discuss the song's infectious 90s Europop sound, its tongue-in-cheek lyrics, the many remixes it inspired, and the wonderfully surreal music video. We also compare the bright, upbeat album version with Ron Mael's much darker spoken-word reading of the lyrics, revealing a completely different side to one of the album's most entertaining singles.

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