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.
This Is The Love
Spandau Ballet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is the love
I was miles away
Lost within another day
Stepping out with feet of clay to get by
Couldn't buy more time
Couldn't even spin a dime
You went by
This is the love
This is the love
This is the love
This is the love
I was waiting on a train
That wouldn't come again
Then you passed like summer rain
Now this is the love
These streets were all I knew
Couldn't find a map to you
No one could tell me what to do
I was right
These walls we built will hide
Somehow you could touch the sky
You torn the roof right off the line
Now we fly
This is the love
This is the love
This is the love
This is the love
I was working on a scheme
To build a warm love
Now I'm looking at a dream
This is the love
When the lights turning blue
And the radio's off
There are songs in my head
And the frequence is strong
When time runs away
And the days don't seem long
You know that you fell
We want to belong
Sing your song
I was waiting on a train
That wouldn't come again
Then you passed like summer rain
Now this is the love
This is the love
This is the love
This is the love
This is the love
When the lights turning blue
And the radio's off
There are songs in my head
And the frequence is strong
When the lights turning blue
And the radio's off
There are songs in my head
And the frequence is strong
When the lights turning blue
And the radio's off
There are songs in my head
And the frequence is strong
The lyrics of Spandau Ballet's "This Is The Love" speak about finding love unexpectedly, and the transformative power that it has on one's life. The song opens with the singer feeling lost and stuck in his life, unable to move forward. He describes himself as having "feet of clay", suggesting that he is unable to make decisive steps in any direction. However, things change when he meets the person who will become his love. In the second verse, the singer describes how he had been searching for his love, but was unable to find them until he met them unexpectedly. He also mentions how the walls he had built up around him prevented him from feeling joy or freedom, but with his love, he is now able to "touch the sky" and "fly."
The chorus repeats the phrase "This is the love" four times, emphasizing the magnitude and significance of the singer's emotions. The bridge of the song describes how even in difficult times, such as the "lights turning blue" or the "radio off," the singer's love remains strong and he is able to hold onto it. The final verse repeats the idea that the singer had been waiting for his love but was unable to find it until now. He ends by calling his love a dream and affirming that this is, indeed, the love that he has been searching for.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the love
The feeling between us is genuine and strong
This is the love
The feeling between us is genuine and strong
I was miles away
I was lost and preoccupied in my own thoughts
Lost within another day
My mind is constantly racing and I feel disoriented
Stepping out with feet of clay to get by
I am taking shaky steps and trying to keep moving forward
Couldn't buy more time
I am unable to slow down time or have more of it
Couldn't even spin a dime
I am unable to make any progress or change my situation
And then the world went all sublime
Suddenly, the world became beautiful and perfect
You went by
I saw you and it changed everything
I was waiting on a train
I was waiting for something that may never come
That wouldn't come again
I have missed my chance and it will never be the same
Then you passed like summer rain
You came into my life unexpectedly and made it better
Now this is the love
What we have now is real and worth holding onto
These streets were all I knew
I was stuck in my own routine and couldn't find a way out
Couldn't find a map to you
I couldn't plan out a way to be with you
No one could tell me what to do
I had to figure things out on my own
I was right
My instincts about you were correct
These walls we built will hide
We put up barriers that kept us apart
Somehow you could touch the sky
Being with you made me feel limitless
You torn the roof right off the line
You showed me a new way to live and love
Now we fly
Together, we can achieve anything
When the lights turning blue
When everything seems dark and uncertain
And the radio's off
There is no outside noise or distraction
There are songs in my head
My mind is filled with thoughts and feelings about you
And the frequence is strong
It is a constant and intense feeling
And the days don't seem long
Time passes quickly when I am with you
You know that you fell
You also feel that strong connection between us
We want to belong
We feel complete and whole when we are together
Sing your song
Express your love and feelings openly and honestly
Contributed by Cole O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.