Music Review: Spandau Ballet "Communication"
Spandau Ballet
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Communication
Album: True
Year: 1983
Tony Hadley is unable to reach his girlfriend in the fretful "Communication."
A cautious organ and sly "oh's" open the single, setting a distrustful tone. In the first verse, Hadley says conversation begs more questions than answers. He finds words and phrases are not being said. He watches how his friends' talk with their girlfriend and they receive the message clearly. He explains to her his feelings about relationships and romance. However, he pays close attention to how she responds. He even says "I love you" to her, despite not getting a response.
In the chorus, he says he's doing everything he's supposed to do and yet isn't getting any results. He's at his wit's end.
In the second verse, he informs her face to face to talk to him through a Telex (which is a telegraph) or in person. However, it's always one of her friends who called him up to break a date. He's heard rumblings that she's cheating on him. He has shaded sunglasses on, a hat, and a heavy coat so she won't recognize him. She finds one of her favorite spots and waits to see if she shows up there. He waits and finds that she's seeing someone else. He says he could go over her house tomorrow and tell her it's over. He could her write her a long, nasty letter and yell at her on the telephone.
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, the sly "oh's" are sung again. He says that he's hoping she will call him on the phone. He's eager to see if she’ll tell him the truth. However, after several hours, he realizes it is more aggravation he could do without. He says he has better things to do and cuts her out of his life.
The chorus is sung again.
The "oh's" fill out the last 25 seconds of the song.
Hadley has repeatedly told his girlfriend to discuss where they stand. However, she still continues to let her friends convey what she wants to say. After for so long, he's had it and given up on her. He's glad to be out of the relationship.
His vibrant vocals balk at his dismissive girlfriend with melodramatic flair.
The prudent arrangement clashes with the bubbly and dense "oh's" It bops along, blissfully ignorant to the context of the song.
The lousy "Communication" breaks down with a noisy thud.
Album: True
Year: 1983
Tony Hadley is unable to reach his girlfriend in the fretful "Communication."
A cautious organ and sly "oh's" open the single, setting a distrustful tone. In the first verse, Hadley says conversation begs more questions than answers. He finds words and phrases are not being said. He watches how his friends' talk with their girlfriend and they receive the message clearly. He explains to her his feelings about relationships and romance. However, he pays close attention to how she responds. He even says "I love you" to her, despite not getting a response.
"Communication always leaves me in incomplete/The grass is greener, but it's grown beneath my feet/Love inspiration is a message on a wing/But I have left in the words you'll never sing."
In the chorus, he says he's doing everything he's supposed to do and yet isn't getting any results. He's at his wit's end.
"Communication let me down/And I'm left here/Communication let me down/And I'm left here/And I'm left here."
In the second verse, he informs her face to face to talk to him through a Telex (which is a telegraph) or in person. However, it's always one of her friends who called him up to break a date. He's heard rumblings that she's cheating on him. He has shaded sunglasses on, a hat, and a heavy coat so she won't recognize him. She finds one of her favorite spots and waits to see if she shows up there. He waits and finds that she's seeing someone else. He says he could go over her house tomorrow and tell her it's over. He could her write her a long, nasty letter and yell at her on the telephone.
"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."
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, the sly "oh's" are sung again. He says that he's hoping she will call him on the phone. He's eager to see if she’ll tell him the truth. However, after several hours, he realizes it is more aggravation he could do without. He says he has better things to do and cuts her out of his life.
"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."
The chorus is sung again.
The "oh's" fill out the last 25 seconds of the song.
Hadley has repeatedly told his girlfriend to discuss where they stand. However, she still continues to let her friends convey what she wants to say. After for so long, he's had it and given up on her. He's glad to be out of the relationship.
His vibrant vocals balk at his dismissive girlfriend with melodramatic flair.
The prudent arrangement clashes with the bubbly and dense "oh's" It bops along, blissfully ignorant to the context of the song.
The lousy "Communication" breaks down with a noisy thud.