Initially formed in 1976 in London, England, they didn't reach a stable line-up or decide on the Spandau name until 1978. Their odd title allegedly came from a piece of bathroom graffiti observed during the members early days. Inspired by a mixture of avant-garde synth pop and slick funk. as typified by their early track "Chant No 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)", also known by other titles such as "Chant # 1", the band commercially broke through with an artistic public image as remarked upon as their music. Said track reached the #2 spot in the U.K. and was notable for inclusion of the horn section from the group Beggar & Co, which proved a fruitful collaboration on record.
Spandau Ballet's first two albums, 1981's 'Journeys to Glory' and 1982's 'Diamond', found them also mining their art rock and glam rock roots as their fan-base expanded, the group looking to the works of David Bowie and Roxy Music for inspiration. Both albums charted in the U.K. top 20 and were later certified gold by the RIAA. Additional popular songs from the band in this era include "To Cut a Long Story Short" and "Freeze" (also known as "The Freeze". The group also notably picked up a semi-friendly rivalry with new wave contemporaries Duran Duran.
After four hits in the U.K. followed by a couple of less successful releases, however, Spandau Ballet's chart career appeared to be on the wane. Yet Instinction, re-ignited their fortunes and became the first of eleven consecutive singles to reach the Top 20
Immensely popular in the UK, the New Romantic group eventually mellowed into a mainstream pop act. As with Duran Duran they 'broke America', albeit briefly - the title track of their 3rd album True peaked in the Top 5 of the Singles charts. The song gained a new life in the 1990's and beyond by being sampled in the songs Set Adrift on Memory Bliss by PM Dawn and N Dey Say by Nelly.
After a split in 1990 and a court case almost ten years later involving Hadley, Keeble & Norman suing Gary Kemp over royalties, they announced in March 2009 a reformation.
Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This
Spandau Ballet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A curious smell, an intangible crime
I'm washing my clothes, but the stain still grows
Cover your eyes, the stain still shows
I feel the gaze against my skin
I feel the gaze against my skin
I know this feeling is a lie
There's a guilt within my mind
There's a guilt within my mind
I know this feeling is a lie
I know this feeling is a lie
I don't need this pressure on
I don't need this pressure on
I don't need this pressure on
I don't need this pressure on
I don't need this pressure on
I don't need this pressure on
Oh I should question not ignore
Oh I should question not ignore
Songs are always buried deep
Songs are always buried deep
There's a lion in my arms
There is a motion in my arm
Oh I should question not ignore
I should believe and not ignore
I don't need this pressure on
I don't need this pressure on
I don't need this pressure on
I don't need this pressure on
I don't need this pressure on
I don't need this pressure on
You go down, down
Pass the talk of town
You go down Greek street
Then its underground
Well it's Soho life
For this mobile knife
It's the place to shoot
Friday night beat route
The lyrics to Spandau Ballet's "Chant No 1" talk about the pressure one feels when trying to fit into a certain lifestyle, and the guilt that comes with it. The song starts with the singer checking the time, feeling the pressure of having to appear in a certain place, at a certain time. He also detects a peculiar smell that somehow reminds him of a crime, something intangible that is happening around him. The singer then goes on to describe washing his clothes, but the stain still grows. He feels guilty, but he tries to hide it and tells others to cover their eyes, even though the stain still shows. Then, he talks about feeling the gaze against his skin, which is likely the judgment he feels from others for not fitting in.
The main theme of the song is the pressure to conform and the guilt that comes with it. The singer knows this feeling is a lie, meaning that he knows he shouldn't have to fit into a certain mold to satisfy others, but the guilt still stays with him. He tries to find ways to deal with the pressure, but it keeps weighing him down. He then tells himself that he should question instead of ignoring things, particularly the buried songs (hidden feelings) within him that affect his behavior. He should believe and not ignore these emotions. The song finishes with him repeating that he doesn't need the pressure and the chorus "You go down, down, Pass the talk of town, You go down Greek Street, Then it's underground," which conveys the need to escape from this pressure and find a place where he can be himself.
Line by Line Meaning
I checked the time, it was almost time
I glanced at the clock and noticed that it was almost time for something important.
A curious smell, an intangible crime
I detected an odd odor and sensed that something was amiss.
I'm washing my clothes, but the stain still grows
I tried to remove a stain from my clothes, but it only got worse.
Cover your eyes, the stain still shows
Even if you try to ignore it, the stain is still visible.
I feel the gaze against my skin
I sense someone's eyes on me.
I know this feeling is a lie
I understand that this gut reaction is misleading.
There's a guilt within my mind
I'm struggling with feelings of guilt.
I don't need this pressure on
I can't handle this amount of stress.
Oh I should question not ignore
I should investigate this further and not dismiss it.
Songs are always buried deep
There's always a deeper meaning in music.
There's a lion in my arms
I'm hiding a secret that's weighing heavily on me.
I should believe and not ignore
I need to have faith in something and not brush it off.
You go down, down
You descend.
Pass the talk of town
Beyond the latest gossip.
You go down Greek street
You continue on toward Greek street.
Then its underground
Then you enter the underground.
Well it's Soho life
This is what life in Soho is like.
For this mobile knife
For someone who is quite cunning and adaptable.
It's the place to shoot
It's the perfect spot for a photo shoot.
Friday night beat route
The path to take on a Friday night.
Contributed by Zoe Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@craigathonian
Loved this Renaissance pop from the early 80's and never get tired of this. Seemed to be the last of genuine band music....who knew how to play and sing their own creations. These guys and their contemporaries were truly original....and FUN ❣
@Idcanymore510
Spandau Ballet with Beggar and Co. combo, New Wave and BritFunk rockin' it! Those were the days!
@perfumeaddict1204
Oh how we danced to this. I loved Spandau Ballet.
@thomasfranco5997
OMG! The Brass Section killed it on this track.
@krisztina442
I love Chant No 1. It's a very powerful song, with much energy in it. 🎶 Whenever I hear it, I want to dance... I remember how SB performed this song in the O2 Arena, on the Reformation Tour in 2010. I loved that great performance, too...
@midnightwitch606
My favorite spandau track, love both spandau and duran duran
@glamnesianouveaux2039
Some people seem to forget, well maybe because they weren't around THAT Spandau Ballet were a MAJOR Dance band before True. They made high end and high class dance music for clubs and dressed completely street edge London. I DIE for what Martin is wearing x Chanto No.1 was, is and always will be KILLER!
@thomasfranco5997
You know their stylist was Sade.
@johnstjohn6658
@thomas franco - Really 😮😮😮
@rb7007
Loved the way the Spandau boys faded to the background, to give Beggar & Co some of the limelight.
Respect.
Don’t see much of that with new acts nowadays.