Talk:True (Spandau Ballet song)

Song meaning
I remember reading somewhere that he wrote this after having cheated on his girlfriend or something. Anyone know anything more on this topic and/or think it is worth including in the article (assuming some elaboration could be found)?--68.163.70.14 20:06, 28 September 2006 (UTC)


 * On the face of it, the lyrics are abstract and meaningless in a classical 1980s style e.g. "I bought a ticket to the world / and now I've come back again". I admire Tony Hadley for keeping a straight face when singing it live. This chap tries to analyse the lyrics (unconvincingly) but I can't find any contemporary interviews with the band. -Ashley Pomeroy (talk) 17:12, 2 October 2008 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:True - Spandau Ballet.jpg
Image:True - Spandau Ballet.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

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BetacommandBot 15:41, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

Covers/Samples
There are currently 23 cover versions or songs that sampled the song listed. Do we really need that many? We should limit it it versions that entered the charts and are known to the general public. I believe just a mention that it has been covered by several artists should be enough. Bigar (talk) 23:27, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

Poorly sourced content in the article
I trimmed two sentences from the article on 16 June 2019 and gave reasons for the trimming of the two sentences and poorly sourced references in my edit summaries. My edits were subsequently reverted.

First reference: An article about cricket. I can't see it verified in the reference about cricket that Luke Williams is a music critic who described it as one of the worst songs ever recorded.

Second reference: Blog source. Please see WP:RSE and WP:GOODREFS. Guidelines state: Blogs, social media and fan sites are not usually acceptable.

Third reference: Blog source. As per WP:RSE and WP:GOODREFS. Guidelines state: Blogs, social media and fan sites are not usually acceptable.

Fourth reference: The article in the reference merely states "10 Songs We Never Want to Hear Again." A journalist says: "You know how couples will actually have "a song," that tune that supposedly captures their undying devotion to one another? That's the one I never want to hear again. It's Spandau Ballet's "True," and when we were too young to know better, my wife and I declared this our song. She agrees with me today that this song blows like Larry King on birthday cake candles."

In my view, this is not hugely notable or important that this guy and his wife previously loved the song but now don't want to hear the song again. WP:NOTNEWS.


 * The Guardian is as notable as it gets. Per the information and links provided on journalist Luke Williams's Wikipedia page, he has penned articles for several high-end publications, and has written extensively about various subjects besides sport. I'm not aware of any Wikipolicy that declares song articles can only include opinions from those who function specifically as music critics.


 * The blogs in question are not self-published (they're instead published by very notable sites in the Tampa Bay Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer), nor are they being used to reference anything other than journalist opinion. The linked Wikipolicies are immaterial.


 * "10 Songs We Never, Ever Want to Hear Again, Ever" (you edited out the two instances of "ever"); "this song blows like Larry King on birthday cake candles"; "...we despised it". That reads a lot like unfavourable commentary, published by a notable outlet in the Houston Press.


 * The "Reception and legacy" section opens with five references exclaiming the song's greatness. Some balance doesn't hurt. Micky Moats (talk) 17:29, 17 June 2019 (UTC)


 * For the first reference, which is a long article about cricket, please can you point out in the article in The Guardian where does it state Luke Williams's views and what does he say about the song?


 * There was still criticism of the song for balance after I trimmed two sentences. I kept intact that Michael Hann described the song in The Guardian as "dreadful wine-bar soul".


 * In the article "10 Songs We Never, Ever Want to Hear Again, Ever", in my view this is just the personal opinion of a guy and his wife who used to like the song and now they happen to hate it. It's not hugely notable in my view.


 * Other songs featured in "10 Songs We Never, Ever Want to Hear Again, Ever" include Karma Chameleon by Culture Club, in which the writer says: "F*** you Boy George" and Hotel California by the Eagles. I note that neither of those two song articles currently feature either a mention or a reference to "10 Songs We Never, Ever Want to Hear Again, Ever". There is already criticism for balance for the song being "dreadful wine-bar soul" and I think this reference is giving undue negative weight to the personal opinion of a journalist and his wife.


 * The third reference states: We at the Big Blog asked some newsroom staffers to give us their picks for the best and the worst love songs of all time. Please can you point out who is describing "True" as one of the worst love songs of all-time? The text in the Wikipedia article states "has been described as one of the worst songs of all-time" not "one of the worst love songs of all-time".


 * A random pick for worst love song by one newsroom staffer? How many newsroom staffers are there – is this really hugely notable? In my view it's not hugely important and it should be trimmed as WP:NOTNEWS.


 * Kind Tennis Fan (talk) 23:05, 17 June 2019 (UTC)
 * Your fifth point did raise WP:SYNTH concerns that I've tried to iron out. Clearly, we disagree about the quality of the referencing, and should wait for the input of others. All the best. Micky Moats (talk) 21:53, 18 June 2019 (UTC)

Overly detailed template
What is it that you feel is an excessive amount of intricate detail? Danaphile (talk) 17:09, 4 November 2022 (UTC)