065: Sparks - Angst in my Pants (1982) - Moustache

Side B of Angst in My Pants kicks off with “Moustache,” Sparks at their most knowingly absurd and irresistibly catchy. Built on a tightly looping groove, sharp stops, and two fake endings before the song even hits the halfway point, it’s a perfect example of the band turning the mundane into something gleefully theatrical. The chorus—simply “moustache” repeated with mounting enthusiasm—is impossible to dislodge once it gets in your head.The lyrics celebrate facial hair with deadpan surrealism, mixing self-mockery, identity jokes, and Ron Mael’s own iconic image. The song’s humour is intentional from start to finish, but the arrangement keeps things punchy and unpredictable, especially as the bass line starts to run wild while the track fades out, suggesting a chaotic jam just beyond the listener’s reach.Though released as a B-side to “I Predict” (and later the German Angst in My Pants single), “Moustache” never became a major radio track. Still, Sparks embraced it visually: they created a playful tour-opening video featuring Ron shaving off his moustache—one of the very few times he ever appeared without it—before walking on stage with it magically restored.Quirky, infectious, and deeply Sparks, “Moustache” has become a cult favourite among fans and a standout example of the band’s talent for turning the smallest idea into a full-blown pop celebration.