True (Spandau Ballet song)

True is a 1983 song by Spandau Ballet, written by Gary Kemp and appearing on the album of the same name.

History

Gary Kemp wrote True in his childhood home, where he was also living at the time. In the album version, the new wave ballad lasts six minutes and serves in part as a tribute to Marvin Gaye, who, according to the lyrics, helped establish the musical genre of soul. The song was recorded in 1982, two years before Marvin Gaye's murder, and focuses on Kemp's platonic relationship with Altered Images singer Clare Grogan. Several phrases are also based (including the term: Seaside Arms) on the novel Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, a copy of which Grogan gave to Kemp.

The single True was released on 11 April 1983 and became a number one hit in the UK, Ireland and Canada.

In 1985, Spandau Ballet sang the song at the Live Aid charity concert. In 2015, many Britons voted True as their favourite British number one hit of the 1980s in a poll by ITV. In addition, the song has been used in shows such as The Simpsons (episode: Future Drama), Veronica Mars, Modern Family and Defiance, the films You Can Only Do That When You're Grown Up, A Wedding to Fall in Love (sung by Steve Buscemi), Monster Uni (in a trailer) and Pixels, as well as the game Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

Cover versions

• 1991: P. M. Dawn (Set Adrift on Memory Bliss)
• 1997: Queen Pen (It's True)
• 2001: Laure Sainclair (Vous)
• 2003: Doc Gynéco (Taxi)
• 2004: will.i.am feat. Fergie
• 2004: Nelly (Rapper) (N Dey Say)
• 2005: Paul Anka
• 2005: Cary Brothers
• 2006: Thomas Anders
• 2006: Royal Melody (One Night)
• 2011: Nora En Pure
• 2012: Conor Maynard
• 2015: Nora En Pure (Saltwater Radio Rework)