That rock band near the end of the movie was singing some song. It went something like, "big boys, big boys" (the chorus). It was the scene where they were trying to dismantle the bomb on the rollercoaster track. I didn't think that song was ever going to end.
That band is called Sparks.They have been selling records for 35 years. I'd like to see some of the so called musicians of today do as well.
shareHowdy
I actually liked the song. thought it fit the movie and scene pretty well :)
The King of TV Comedy : John Ritter
There is a brief clip of the bad playing a different tune, Fill 'Er Up, which is my favorite Sparks tune. Somewhere around the hose I have the Sparks LP on vinyl that those tunes came from.
shareThe song is called Beat Boy, by the way.
No, actually it is "Big Boy". One of their biggest hits..
http://www.lyricstime.com/sparks-big-boy-lyrics.html
That song seemed like it went on for 20 minutes........20 minutes of "Big boy....big boy..........he's got me shaking, cause he's tough......big boy.....BIG BOOOOY."
It was 1977. Maybe everyone in the audience was on ludes.
I saw it at a drive-in in 1978.
I had to leave the car, because that god-forsaken song wouldn't end.
I've never seen the film since, but I've never forgotten (although I can't
remember the melody-thank god) how horribly stupid that song/band was.
For those of you that are trashing Sparks... they actually did a show at Magic Mountain, where part of this movie was filmed, a few years before; it was at the Showcase (I think it's now the Golden Bear) Theatre. In fact when I was there a few weeks ago they had a refurbed Revolution train (decorated the same way as when it opened) waiting on the transfer track.
If you don't know what Magic Mountain is, then why are you watching this movie in the first place?
Anyways, I would MUCH prefer Sparks (a somewhat respected rock band... FGI) now to the gospel and cheerleader/dance related events that plague Magic Mountain (and my chances of waiting less than 1 hour for a decent ride) every other weekend... wouldn't you?
So don't trash yesteryear until you know what you've sacrificed it for. ;)
Enjoy your stupid cheerleaders,
av
[deleted]
So here it is nearly two years after I posted the original message and I catch this on TV once again. The song went on for 7 awful minutes! still as annoying as the first time.
Hah hah!
Great song.......and Fill Er Up is even better!
Anyone remember Beat the Clock and Number One Song in Heaven?
Love Sparks!
And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all.
I still have the two Sparks albums I bought while at college. I remember getting such a kick out of seeing the guys in this movie! I'm watching it right now for the "umpteenth" time, and I might have to cave in and go to bed before seeing them again.
What a great group! I can't imagine people not loving their music or complaining at how long it goes on! Do you people never go to concerts?! Songs don't wrap up in a few minutes! Sheesh!
*giggle* Sorry 'bout that, but I'm very protective of this movie, which I've loved since it showed up on HBO waaaaaay back when. Maybe part of the attraction is that I've never been to an amusement park, and it does look like fun, far different from a county fair.
~~MystMoonstruck~~
I sat through this movie with my brother years ago (he grew up with this, he's a huge fan of 70's movies, and George Segal), only saw it that one time, and still remember that freaking song. Totally agreed, thought it was a very weird scene.
"Big Boy" isn't exactly one of their best songs, but they've got tons. Look them up and see how much they've done. Their recent stuff is great but has gotten zero airplay.
shareThe song is not actually THAT long. It plays on a loop while the guys try to dismantle the bomb.
I'm a huge movie & music nerd and had never heard of these guys. Something is very familiar about their keyboard player though (is this who Paul McCartney is miming in the "Coming Up" video?).
Anyway, I wasn't sure if they were real or a parody. I understand music sucks worse today, but these guys were horrible! They sound like some kind of weird new wave/punk/Cheap Trick amalgam. Their vocalist was a complete spaz!
So, was the band that opened for Sparks real too? They played a disco/funk instrumental that threw the crowd into a frenzy!
Just an interesting update to my old post:
I was watching an old Saturday Night Live from 1980 and Father Guido Sarducci interviews Paul McCartney who debuts the video for "Coming Up." He does indeed verify that the keyboard player he is imitating is "Sparks," although this is the name of the band and not the guy himself. At any rate, there you go.
"If you don´t know what Magic Mountain is, then why are you watching this movie in the first place?"
Now this certainly is one weird question we´ve got here. As for the band, they definitely had consulted the manual for punk rock behaviour on stage and went dutifully through all the obligatory unhinged hopping and guitar smashing, even though they obviously had little faith, and saw little purpose, in any of that "rebellious" behaviour. Didn´t know punk rock hit the mainstream that early - to the extent that they were invited to perform at such family friendly social events.
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan
According to Wikipedia — and take that for what it's worth — Sparks (which was a band from the LA area so they were close enough to do a Magic Mountain gig) got the part after KISS turned it down.
And "Tiger Beat" supposedly reported that the Bay City Rollers were going to be the band in the movie..... Ooops!!
dude that's my jam!!
i'm joking but i had to lol at your post of being tortured by the song again two years later
-as i'm writing this that song is playing in the background via a tv showing of rollercoaster
LOL, wow my hearing is bad. I thought they were saying "decoy" the entire time. Actually would have been an appropriate song then since they were dismantling a bomb.
That's why I never listen to that stuff, can't understand a word they're saying!
"Milo, I've told you again and again - please, don't walk on the chickens!"
I'm laughing too; I thought they had been singing, "vic-to-ry."
share[deleted]
It is so funny reading these comments on this band. I had never heard of them even though I saw this movie when it originally was in the theater and I loved Rollercoasters plus I had been on the Rebel Yell many times at Kings Dominion prior to the movie being made and after. But I was reading up on this movie and what is so funny to me about these comments is that I read on IMDB that the band calls this movie the biggest mistake of their career lol. Well no wonder everyone saw and heard them in this movie and tend to think the music and that song is annoying so they didn't support the group. LOL too funny.
shareSparks appearing in this movie was clearly not a career highlight, ha ha. But yeah, I think they're an interesting band.
Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!
Screw you man!
Sparks are awesome.
~ That's much too vulgar a display of power, Karras.
It's depressing how long ago it's been since I posted this thread.
shareI hope you've learned the error of your ways over the past 8 years.
shareYes, this thread could just be kept on going by all the people who (like me) love Sparks and (like me) found the constant looping of Big Boy in Rollercoaster to be hysterical and annoying.
And yes, it was definitely Ron Mael (the ace keyboard player and main songwriter of Sparks) who Paul McCartney was referencing in the Coming Up video, complete with austere shirt and tie and the trademark Chaplin moustache.
Big Boy, the song is from Sparks 1976 album Big Beat. A classic.
i also really enjoyed the movie and was kinda entertained how annoying the not ending BIG BOY loop was:)
They hate us 'cause they ain't us