True Blue (Madonna song)
Written and produced by the singer and her collaborator Stephen Bray, in Australia, New Zealand, and most European countries, it was released as the album's third single on September 29, 1986.A dance-pop song that takes influence from Motown and girl groups from the 1950s and 60s, its lyrics address Madonna's feelings for her then-husband Sean Penn.In early 1985, Madonna began dating actor Sean Penn, whom she met in the set of the music video for her single "Material Girl".[4][7] Composed alongside Bray, the title track was described as Madonna's "unabashed valentine" for Penn, and influenced by the "direct antecedents" of her sound: Motown, girl groups from the 1960s such as the Shirelles, and songs like "Chapel of Love" (1964) by the Dixie Cups.[13] Personnel working on the song included Bray on drums and keyboard arrangement, alongside Fred Zarr; Bruce Gaitsch played guitar while background vocals were provided by Siedah Garrett and Edie Lehmann.[29] "True Blue" has not been included in any of Madonna's major compilations, but was part of The Holiday Collection ―a four track EP released exclusively in the United Kingdom in August 1991.By all reasonable measures, it should be disposable pop fluff; but in Madonna's hands, it's an impossibly charming slice of puppy love — albeit a naive one".[32] Matthew Rettenmund, author of Encyclopedia Madonnica, hailed it a "sweet tune" that features the singer "at her chirpiest and most flirtatious", and "best illustrates [the album]'s ―and Madonna's― dedication to Penn".[35] For the Chicago Tribune, Jan DeKnock also praised its girl group influence, and described the song as a "charming [...] perfect end-of-summer confection that will do equally well with pop and adult contemporary listeners".[36] James Croot from New Zealand website Stuff said it was the "crowning glory" of the parent album; "[a] toe-tapping 1950s-inspired ditty [...] pop-song confection perfection.[37] For Los Angeles Times' Robert Hilburn, "['True Blue'] mixes the innocence of '50s R&B, with the punch of Spector's '60s classics for a contemporary blend of 'In the Still of the Night' and 'Be My Baby'".[22][42] Even though he named it "dated and simplistic", Terry Hearn from The Metropolist concluded that, "hearing this [song] from the woman who was singing 'Like a Virgin' could be disorienting, but what a feat it is to shock people by being so simple and pure.[28] The official music video for "True Blue" was directed by James Foley, with whom Madonna had worked on "Live to Tell" and "Papa Don't Preach", and aired outside of the United States.[74] Upon release, the staff of British magazine Record Mirror compared the video's aesthetic to that of American television series Happy Days, and said it was as "cute as a choc bar commercial".[75] Mark Elliott noted that, following the controversy "Papa Don't Preach" and its video had caused, "True Blue" was "nothing [that would] worry the parents, which was probably something of a relief to record company executives".[68][80] Fans were called on to make and submit their own video for "True Blue, and the winner would be awarded a trip to MTV's New York studios, and granted a check for $25,000 by Madonna herself.[82] In Gender Politics and MTV: Voicing the Difference, author Lisa A. Lewis wrote that although many featured Madonna wannabes and a wide range of concepts, they all focused on the song's theme of true love.[81] There were some, however, that dealt with other themes such as power: One had schoolgirls owerpowering and tying up a teacher who spoke ill of Madonna; in another, an American girl and a Russian boy grow up to become president of the United States and of the USSR, respectively.[82] Aired as the official "True Blue" video in the United States, Gracia and Guest's entry spent weeks in high rotation on the network's Dial MTV countdown program.[88][89] On the Rebel Heart Tour, the song was re-worked in an acoustic doo-wop style, with Madonna playing the ukelele from atop a tire stack.[93] The performance of the song at the March 19–20, 2016 shows in Sydney's Allphones Arena was recorded and released on the artist's fifth live album, Rebel Heart Tour (2017).
SingleMadonnaTrue BlueB-sideDance-popbubblegum popWarner Bros.Songwriter(s)Stephen BrayProducer(s)Papa Don't PreachOpen Your HeartYouTubestudio album of the same nameMotowngirl groupsSean PennBillboard Hot 100James FoleyWho's That GirlRebel HeartDarren HayesMaterial GirlPatrick Leonardthe Virgin TourLike a Virginthe ShirellesChapel of Lovethe Dixie Cupsdoo-wopI–vi–IV–Vkeyboard arrangementFred ZarrSiedah Garrettbubblegummydance popAlfred Publishing Inc.time signaturecommon timebeats per minuteB majorchord progressionvocal rangeoctaveschorusBetty BoopbridgecompilationsBillboardJ. Randy TaraborrelliMaury DeanMatthew RettenmundAllMusicCyndi LauperSlant MagazineChicago Tribuneadult contemporaryLos Angeles TimesRobert HilburnSpectorIn the Still of the NightBe My BabyHeaven Must Have Sent YouRolling StoneDavitt SigersonObserver–ReporterHuffPostGreaseHanky PankyThe Wichita EagleHouston PressEntertainment WeeklyThe GuardianJude RogersUSA TodayIdolatorSay You, Say MeDancing on the CeilingLionel RichieBrenda LeeHot Dance Club SongsRecording Industry Association of Americasingles chartBritish Phonographic IndustryAustralian Recording Industry AssociationEuropean Hot 100 SinglesThunderbird convertibleLive to TellMichael BallhauscinematographyMarlene Stewartpoodle skirtElvis PresleyhairdoDebi MazarErika BelleTop of the PopsRecord MirrorHappy DaysLouis VirtelThe BacklotVultureYahoo!Madonna wannabesVenezuelaAngel GraciaDial MTVGeffen RecordsList of cover versions of Madonna songsList of Madonna tribute albumsukeleleRebel Heart Tourconcert toursJeffrey HornadayFlashdanceacousticgas stationThe Sydney Morning HeraldAllphones ArenacoversRoyal Philharmonic OrchestraIndependent record labelPaper Bag Recordsindie rockWinter GlovesHannah Georgas