In the early 1980s, the British band Spandau Ballet released the iconic single ‘True’. The song quickly became a global smash hit, reaching the top of the charts in both the UK and US.
It is one of their most beloved songs to this day and has been covered by many artists over the years. But who was behind its instantly recognisable sound?
The answer is that ‘True’ was heavily sampled from another song, ‘Glow’ by British synth-pop group Heaven 17. The two bands had a close relationship – Spandau Ballet were signed to Heaven 17’s record label and often collaborated together musically. It was Heaven 17 who suggested sampling their own track for ‘True’, which Spandau Ballet eagerly accepted.
The sample at the heart of ‘True’ is recognisably Heaven 17’s ‘Glow’: a four-note synth line that has become one of the most iconic musical samples in history. After some minor changes to fit it into Spandau Ballets arrangement, Heaven 17 agreed to let them use it in exchange for a percentage of royalties.
Since then, ‘True’ has been sampled countless times by artists from all genres including hip hop acts such as Dr Dre, Jay-Z and LL Cool J. Its unmistakable melody has become so embedded in popular culture that it is almost impossible to imagine pop music without it.
Conclusion:
In summary, ‘True’ by Spandau Ballet was heavily sampled from ‘Glow’ by British synth-pop group Heaven 17. The four-note synth line at its heart is one of the most iconic musical samples in history and has been used countless times by many different artists since its release in 1983.
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The iconic 80s song, ‘True’ by Spandau Ballet was written by the band’s lead singer and songwriter, Tony Hadley. It was included on their 1983 album ‘True’, which shot to number one in the UK and was certified platinum. The song has been covered by many artists since its release, including Simply Red and La Bouche.
True, the hit single by British band Spandau Ballet, has been a staple of the music industry since its release in 1983. Written by frontman Gary Kemp and guitarist Martin Kemp, True was an instant success, reaching number one on both the UK and US charts. As a result, it has become one of the most recognisable songs in popular music history.
The 80s British pop/rock band, Spandau Ballet, released their chart-topping hit “True” in 1983. The song was an instant international success and its popularity has only grown over time. As a result, many other artists have covered the track over the years.
The song True by Spandau Ballet has been around since the early 80s, and is one of the most beloved hits of the decade. The song was written by Gary Kemp and Steve Norman of the band Spandau Ballet, who were a leading part of the New Romantic movement in Britain. The song was released on their third studio album, True, in 1983.
True Spandau Ballet was a British new wave and synth-pop group formed in London in 1979. The group achieved mainstream success in the early 1980s and enjoyed a string of Top 10 hits, including the Grammy Award-nominated single “Gold”. The band was led by singer Tony Hadley and featured Gary Kemp, John Keeble, Steve Norman, and Martin Kemp.
True by Spandau Ballet is one of the most iconic songs of the 1980s. The song was released in 1983 and quickly became a worldwide hit, reaching the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart and two in the US Billboard Hot 100. It has since been covered by numerous artists and featured in countless movies, TV shows, and commercials.