True (Spandau Ballet song)

Infobox Single |
Name = True


Artist = Spandau Ballet
from Album = True
B-side =
Released = 1983
Format = 7", 12"
Recorded = 1982
Genre = New Wave, Synthpop
Length = 6:29
Label = Chrysalis Records
Writer = Gary Kemp
Producer = Jolley & Swain
Last single = "Communication" (1983)
This single = "True" (1983)
Next single = "Gold" (1983)

"True" is the title track from Spandau Ballet's 1983 album "True". It was composed by group leader Gary Kemp, and is a six-minute (in its original album version) slow ballad-like love song that in part pays tribute to the late Motown artist Marvin Gaye and the sound he helped to establish. The song was recorded before Gaye's murder a year later.

The song was a huge worldwide hit, peaking at #1 in the UK for four weeks and charting highly in 20 other countries. It was their biggest and most remembered song in the US, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1983 and topping the adult contemporary chart for one week. The group has been forever branded as one hit wonders there as a result, despite having had several hits in other markets.

In 1985, the band performed the then two-year old song during Live Aid. A new mix by Tony Swain and Gary Kemp was released in 2002 on the compilation album "Reformation".

It has been covered and/or sampled by:
*1991 by PM Dawn on the single "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss"
*1997 by Backstreet Boys on the single "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss"
*1997 by Queen Pen featuring Chico DeBarge on the single "It's True"
*1997 by Shades on the single "Serenade"
*1998 by Alex Braydon on the single "True"
*1999 by Fleetwood Mac featuring Bill Clinton
*1999 by Underworld 805 Family on the single "True"
*2002 by Perry La Marca Orchestra on the single "True"
*2003 by Arnee Hidalgo on the single "True"
*2003 by Duvall on the single "True"
*2004 by will.i.am & Fergie from Black Eyed Peas
*2004 by Silkk the Shocker on the single "Be There"
*2005 by Nelly on the single "N Dey Say"
*2005 by Paul Anka on the album "Rock Swings"
*2005 by Cary Brothers on the single, "True"
*2005 by Gary Kemp on the soundtrack "Le Demon De Midi"
*2006 by Lloyd on the single "You"
*2006 by Z-Ro on the single, "Continue 2 Roll"
*2006 by Thomas Anders on the single, "True"
*2007 by Celsius on the single, "True"
*2007 by on the single, "True"
*2008 by Joanna Wang on the single, "True"

In the media

Versions of "True" have featured in:

Film

* "Sixteen Candles" (1984)
* "The Wedding Singer" (1998)
* "Charlie's Angels" (2000)
* "Not Another Teen Movie" (2001)
* "Grind" (2003)
* "Duplex" (2003)
* "50 First Dates" (2004)
* "Sky High" (2005)
* "" (2006)
* "Wedding Crashers" (2006)

Television

*"Cold Case"
*"King of Queens"
*"Shameless"
*"The Office"
*"The Simpsons" (twice)
*"Veronica Mars"
*"Spin City"
*"MTV Cribs"
*"Psych"
*"Romeo!"
*"Spaced"
*"Two Pints of Lager & a Packet of Crisps"
*"Gilmore Girls"
*"Ugly Betty"
*"Top of the Pops" - It was the number one single on the 1,000th edition of Top of the Pops.
*"Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job"