Spandau Ballet are a popular British pop band most prominent during the 80s… Read Full Bio ↴Spandau Ballet are a popular British pop band most prominent during the 80s, at the beginning of which they were forerunners of the British new romantic movement. Its members are singer-songwriter Tony Hadley on vocals, brothers Gary Kemp and Martin Kemp on guitar and bass respectively, with Gary also supplying background vocals, Steve Norman on saxophone, and John Keeble on the drums. Gary Kemp also wrote or co-wrote most of the group's music and lyrics.

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.

Confused
Spandau Ballet Lyrics

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Ooh I don't get it, what the hell it is
All the things we say
In the papers, oh, read the papers
Read them yesterday

You hear it again from another friend

And I'm running, turning or walking

In the mirror of it all
So confused now, we're not amused now
We're not coming at all

I see no change, I'm just the same

Lost in this place, just from my face
Guess I'll never be found
Ooh, where do I go? Which way do I follow?
I'm coming around

Face it, boy; you've had your time to choose
Come on now, you got no time to lose

Is this the way out, so I can sit out
Just another way here
Ooh, when you get there, oh I'll bet cha
People standing out there

I've had enough of getting rough

And I'm running, turning or walking
In the mirror of it all
So confused now about the news now
We're not coming at all

I see no change, I'm just the same

Lost in this place, just from my face
Guess I'll never be found
Ooh, where do I go? Which way do I follow?
I'm coming around

Face it, boy; you've had your time to choose
Come on now, you've got no time to lose

All I get is, oh, what the hell it is
All the things we say

In the papers, read the papers
Read them yesterday

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Spandau Ballet's "Confused" reflect the feeling of being lost in the chaos of the world, the constant bombardment of information, news, and opinions that flood our senses every day. Lead singer Tony Hadley expresses confusion and frustration as he tries to navigate through all the noise, trying to make sense of the conflicting messages he hears from his friends, the media, and himself.

The repetition of "all the things we say / In the papers, oh, read the papers / Read them yesterday" reinforces the idea that the media shapes our reality, often distorting or oversimplifying complex issues. The lines "Is this the way out, so I can sit out / Just another way here" suggest a desire to escape this overwhelming world, to find a safe and peaceful place where one can make sense of things without being bombarded with external influences.

The chorus repeating "I see no change, I'm just the same / Lost in this place, just from my face / Guess I'll never be found / Ooh, where do I go? Which way do I follow? / I'm coming around" reflects the struggle of trying to find a way forward, of feeling stuck in one's own thoughts and unable to move forward. The call to "face it, boy, you've had your time to choose / Come on now, you've got no time to lose" is a call to action, to take control of one's life and find a direction, however uncertain that may be.

Overall, "Confused" is a reflection of the constant barrage of information that surrounds us and the struggle to find a sense of direction in a world where messages are often conflicting and confusing.

Line by Line Meaning

Ooh I don't get it, what the hell it is
I am feeling confused and uncertain, not understanding what is going on

All the things we say
Everything we talk about and communicate

In the papers, oh, read the papers
Newspapers contain relevant information about recent events

Read them yesterday
I have already read them and trying to process their content

You hear it again from another friend
I receive duplicated news from different sources and people around me

And I'm running, turning or walking
I am trying to navigate my way through this confusing situation, either by moving quickly, changing course, or taking more time to think

In the mirror of it all
Reflecting on my actions and how they affect the situation

So confused now, we're not amused now
I am feeling completely lost and bewildered by the situation, with no sense of humor

We're not coming at all
We are not taking any action or making any progress at all

I see no change, I'm just the same
Nothing seems to be changing, and I feel stuck in the same place

Lost in this place, just from my face
I feel completely lost in this situation and feel like nothing makes sense anymore

Guess I'll never be found
I have no idea what to do or where to go next, and feel like I'll never find my way out of this situation

Ooh, where do I go? Which way do I follow?
I am feeling completely lost and don't know where to turn or what path to take

I'm coming around
Starting to gain a clearer understanding and perspective on the situation

Face it, boy; you've had your time to choose
I need to confront the reality of the situation, realize that I need to make a decision, and take responsibility for my choices

Come on now, you've got no time to lose
I need to act quickly and make a decision, since time is running out

Is this the way out, so I can sit out
I am wondering if this is a way to escape or avoid the situation, so I don't have to deal with it

Just another way here
This seems like another possible route or alternative solution

Ooh, when you get there, oh I'll bet cha
I am curious about what will happen once I reach my destination, and imagine different scenarios in my head

People standing out there
People are waiting outside, possibly for me or for someone else

I've had enough of getting rough
I am tired of dealing with the difficult and challenging aspects of this situation

So confused now about the news now
I am feeling even more confused and uncertain about the situation because of new information or updates

I see no change, I'm just the same
Nothing seems to be improving or changing, and I feel stuck in the same place

Lost in this place, just from my face
I am feeling completely lost and unsure of what to do next, and feel like I cannot trust my instincts

Guess I'll never be found
I am feeling completely hopeless and unsure if I will ever be able to figure things out or find a solution

Ooh, where do I go? Which way do I follow?
I am feeling completely lost and unsure of which path to take or decision to make

I'm coming around
I am starting to gain clarity and perspective on the situation, and am closer to making a decision

Face it, boy; you've had your time to choose
I need to realize that I have had enough time to think and reflect, and it is time to make a decision

Come on now, you've got no time to lose
I need to act quickly and make a decision, since time is running out

All I get is, oh, what the hell it is
All I can gather from this situation is confusion and uncertainty

All the things we say
We have been discussing this situation for a while, but nothing is making sense or coming together

In the papers, read the papers
The newspapers are providing information about the situation that is hard to understand or process

Read them yesterday
I have already read the newspapers but the information is not making things clearer for me

Contributed by Chloe B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

Φανης Χατζηθεοδωριδης

3y↑5

Great band!!!!!!!

Old Soft Rock

2y↑2

Sometimes I forget how much Phil Collins has been part of my life...from my teens to my fifties...from Genesis to his solo career. I’m drenched in nostalgia. So many memories.