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.
Communication
Spandau Ballet Lyrics
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The grass is greener, but it's grown beneath my feet
Love inspiration is a message on a wing
But I have left it in the words you'll never sing
Communication let me down
And I'm left here
Communication let me down
Telex or tell me but it's always second-hand
I'm incognito but no rendezvous' been planned
Dictate or relate I could send it to your home
"Return to sender" I could sing it down the phone
Communication let me down
And I'm left here
Communication let me down
And I'm left here, I'm left here, I, I, I
Dictate
Relate
Dictate
Relate
I'm sitting and waiting by the telephone
Waiting for the bell to ring
Short change fumble, 'Dial a heart' trouble
And I ain't got time for searching through the rubble, oh no
Well, oh, no
Communication let me down
And I'm left here
Communication let me down
And I'm left here, I'm left here, I, I, I
I'm left here
I'm left here
I'm left here
I'm left here
I'm left here
I'm left here
I'm left here
The lyrics of Spandau Ballet's song "Communication" revolve around the theme of broken communication in relationships and how it can leave one feeling incomplete and disconnected. Tony Hadley, the lead singer of the band, sings about the difficulties of communication and how it has let him down. He uses a range of metaphors, including "the grass is greener but it's grown beneath my feet" to describe how sometimes the things we need are right in front of us, but we fail to see them.
The lines "Love inspiration is a message on a wing, but I have left it in the words you'll never sing" suggest that the person he is communicating with may never truly understand or appreciate the depth of his feelings, as he has failed to express them properly. The song also makes reference to various modes of communication, such as telex and telephone, but the lack of meaningful communication remains a constant theme throughout.
Overall, the song portrays the frustration and loneliness that can result from a lack of effective communication in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Communication always leaves me incomplete
I feel unsatisfied after communicating, as though something important is missing
The grass is greener, but it's grown beneath my feet
The things I want are already near me, but I don't appreciate them
Love inspiration is a message on a wing
Love is a fleeting feeling that can inspire and uplift us
But I have left it in the words you'll never sing
My love has been left unexpressed and unheard
Telex or tell me but it's always second-hand
I receive communication indirectly, instead of directly from the source
I'm incognito but no rendezvous' been planned
I am hiding my true identity, but no meetings have been arranged
Dictate or relate I could send it to your home
I could instruct or tell you something by sending it to your address
"Return to sender" I could sing it down the phone
I could express my intention to retract a message by singing it over the phone
I'm sitting and waiting by the telephone
I am eagerly waiting for someone to call me
Waiting for the bell to ring
Anticipating a phone call or message
Short change fumble, 'Dial a heart' trouble
Experiencing difficulties with a phone service, leading to disappointment and frustration
And I ain't got time for searching through the rubble, oh no
I don't have the energy or patience to sift through the debris of failed communication
Communication let me down
I have been let down by poor communication
And I'm left here
I am alone and unfulfilled
I'm left here, I'm left here, I, I, I
Repeating the previous line to emphasize the sense of abandonment and disappointment
Dictate
Giving orders or instructions
Relate
Sharing details or information
I'm left here
Feeling isolated and unfulfilled
Lyrics © REFORMATION MUSIC INC
Written by: GARY KEMP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind