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27听|听Top 100
'True'
Spandau Ballet
鈥淭rue鈥 is without a doubt one of the most memorable ballads of the Eighties and a cast iron pop classic to boot. Guitarist Gary Kemp was heavily influenced by Marvin Gaye and Al Green when he wrote it and wanted to move the band鈥檚 previously dance-orientated |
 Song facts |
| Composer |
Gary Kemp |
|
| Genre |
Pop听 |
|
| Album |
True |
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| Released |
1983 |
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| UK Chart Position |
1 |
|
sound towards a more chart-friendly nu-soul sound.听 But he was at first reticent about showing the song to his bandmates, due to its 鈥渟oft sounding鈥 lyrics 鈥 the theme deals with a songwriter being scared to be honest in his lyrics in case his girlfriend finds out they are about her. He needn鈥檛 have worried 鈥 the track touched a chord with both the band and the public and raced to number one in 21 countries, including the UK. Its success rests on several elements. Singer Tony Hadley reins in his usual histrionics to deliver his most measured vocal ever, Steve Norman鈥檚 saxophone solo lasts for just the right length of time and while the glistening Eighties production instantly dates the song, it doesn鈥檛 spoil it. Spandau recorded it at the legendary Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas, where a long list of stars including Al Green and James Brown have also cut discs. The result is an Eighties classic with more soul than you鈥檇 expect from five Islington boys.
Gary hopes 'True' is a听lasting hit听  |
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Gary wanted to write a song that people would remember five years later. We're sure he didn't think people would still be听playing this tune听in the twenty first century!
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