I was sad because a piece of good music was being used to sell a product, continuing the trend of the commercialization of music. Yet, at the same time, I was glad the song was getting some air play and may find a new audience.
Beyond that, “True” summoned up on an odd experience for me. It started out as a memory, that research revealed was not the case. I thought I may have misremembered, or misheard it in the first place. Then, some subsequent research turned me on to a different, much more touching and meaningful memory.
Such is the power of ballads such as “True”.
The song
“True” came out in 1983 and went on to hit number one in the United Kingdom, the band’s native land, as well as number five in Canada.
“True” came out in 1983 and went on to hit number one in the United Kingdom, the band’s native land, as well as number five in Canada.
It was also Spandau Ballet’s first top 10 hit in the United States when it peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
Misremembering
For some reason, when I first heard “True” on some countdown show, I thought the announcer told me the band had hit the top 10 after it had already broken up.
I never gave that much thought until I hit Wikipedia to learn more about “True”.
For some reason, when I first heard “True” on some countdown show, I thought the announcer told me the band had hit the top 10 after it had already broken up.
I never gave that much thought until I hit Wikipedia to learn more about “True”.
Well, it turned out Spandau Ballet was active all the way until 1990 then, after a break, again from 2009 to 2019.
Obviously, I heard wrong. Perhaps, I just assumed that because I never heard another peep out of Spandau Ballet. Wikipedia also reveals they did release several follow-up singles and albums but never did hit the top 10 again.
Band members blamed that lack of chart success on the record label. Interestingly, I read Pat Benatar’s autobiography “Between a Heart and a Rock Place”, and she complained about having all sorts of problems with the same record company.
Musical memory
My research did jog loose a different memory of “True”, something I should have remembered.
My research did jog loose a different memory of “True”, something I should have remembered.
John Hughes is one of my heroes, because in so many ways he gave voice to my life as a teenager. Although his tetralogy “Sixteen Candles”, “The Breakfast Club”, “Pretty in Pink”, and “Some Kind of Wonderful”, has been dubbed a bunch of teen angst movies, it is much more. It reflected the emotions and feelings I was having. I could relate to those stories.
He also pioneered the use of music in movies for maximum emotional impact. One of the first examples was in 1984 in “Sixteen Candles” where he used “True” in a high school dance scene.
It is all coming back to me now.
Parting thoughts
“True” is a ballad that really is part of my soundtrack of the 1980s. It just seemed to resonate with me and all the emotions I felt as a teenager from angst to insecurity to the feelings I developed for girls and the ensuing rejection.
“True” is a ballad that really is part of my soundtrack of the 1980s. It just seemed to resonate with me and all the emotions I felt as a teenager from angst to insecurity to the feelings I developed for girls and the ensuing rejection.
That really is true.
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