1983 Songs: True

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In reviewing the other month-long countdowns of “40 years” and “50 years” ago songs, I’ve found it interesting that the songs from the 70s tend to be better-known than the ones from the 80s! I guess that’s because they were playing “Smoke on the Water” at the same time they were playing these songs…and eventually kept playing “Smoke on the Water.” Oh, well. Here’s another one from 1983 that I love. True - Spandau Ballet And you’re thinking, hey, didn’t you use this in the “hot sax” countdown? Yes, I did! Thanks for noticing! This is the song that Spandau Ballet is relegated to singing for the rest of their lives. And that’s okay, because this is a terrific song. We had an easy listening station on in the office when I was stationed in Hawaii, and I found this song to be an oasis from “Say Say Say” and the Lionel Richie ballad du jour. (Can’t believe the guy who did “Say You, Say Me” was in the band that did “Brick House.” What happened, Lionel????) And if you’re wondering, yes, Spandau Ballet did have other songs. Their more-like-new-wave-80s song “Gold” was a hit as well (and I like that song, too). But wow, this song and those lyrics (“with a thrill in my hand and a pill on my tongue;” “take your seaside arms [a reference found in the novel Lolita] and write the next line”) and that sax solo!?!?!? I know this much is true: this is a good song. True Written by Gary Kemp Recorded by Spandau Ballet From True, 1983 Listening to Marvin all night long: