50ft Queenie 2,787 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Since I got a bunch of interest in my Erotica thread, lets go for round 2 and talk about True Blue. If someone asked me what I thought of this album a few months ago I would say it is in her top 4 or 5 but recently I listened to it all the way through and my opinion has changed. I dont know what is is about this album, but for me there is just something missing that keeps it from being put at the level of say Erotica or Like a Prayer and I cant really put my finger on why that is. True Blue is a giant step up from Like a Virgin but sometimes I think it is slightly overrated and labeled a masterpiece. It feels really weird to say that because it is her best selling album and has so many classic songs. I remember how huge this album was in the 80's and the tour that went along with it, the image change really caused a stir and nowadays it seems to be very highly regarded by a lot of Madonna fans, or old school ones atleast. It is a very good album but every time I listen to it, something is holding True Blue back for me, one reason might be because the tracks feel very disjointed like there is no main themes driving the record. I want to know how its regarded by the rest of you, do you think of it as one of her best or have mixed feelings on it like me? Also despite my issues with the album, I will always regard Live to Tell as one of the greatest songs Madonna ever recorded which will stand the test of time and Papa Dont Preach is pretty great also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabiolous 5,487 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 The singles are legendary, the album tracks not so much, unlike Like a prayer that has solid album tracks. judas2015, NothingReallyMatters, rlittler81 and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aiwa08 16,188 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 The first time I really loved Madonna without being a fan. All the singles, the video-clips, the remixed edits (including Where's The Party from You Can Dance), THE EXTENDED VERSION OF "OPEN YOUR HEART": Pure pop perfection. With Live To Tell she began to show her true potential. But the album has two problems, Jimmy Jimmy and Love makes the world go round. And that is the reason why the album is not perfect. Anyway, it was an incredible era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prayer 14,248 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Essential, iconic and a 80s blockbuster. But terribly overrated at the same time, in my opinion. It's far from perfect and doesn't have the layers and little things to keep discovering with time that most of her other albums have. It's Madonna playing the pop game and achieving commercial perfection, but without her usual edge (except for "Live To Tell"). Also, the mid 80s production doesn't help much - but this happens with all 1986-1988 pop albums, to be honest, most of them sound terribly dated today. I don't know, I guess you had to experience that era in real time to understand how big it was, maybe? CVMAD, 50ft Queenie, kesiak and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aiwa08 16,188 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 28 minutes ago, Prayer said: I don't know, I guess you had to experience that era in real time to understand how big it was, maybe? The whole world loved her. She was everywhere (radios, TVs, News...) It was a crazy era (in the good way). Prayer and Rebel 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realityisalways 4,011 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 One of her most dated albums IMO. Alpha 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drownedboy 1,655 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Perfect one and an essential step on her carreer, but of course later works showed much more sides of her. But as for 1986, what she had to do and she did it perfectly. What a carreer this woman has had, lately sometimes I forgot it because of the Madame x era mess. Angelo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtg1987 10,148 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 I won’t have any bashing of this album except that Jimmy Jimmy is terrible so you bitches can calm down when you say it’s overrated- otherwise you might aswell say all her albums are overrated it’s the album that made her a superstar- the images, videos , remixes etc so how can it be overrated? If it wasn’t she wouldn’t be the legend she became Starchild, Rocco Comelon, Aiwa08 and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nowheretohide 249 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 6 minutes ago, Drownedboy said: Perfect one and an essential step on her carreer, but of course later works showed much more sides of her. But as for 1986, what she had to do and she did it perfectly. What a carreer this woman has had, lately sometimes I forgot it because of the Madame x era mess. I fully agree with every single word. This record marks a fundamental step in her career. Iconic singles and videos. Weak songs: JJ and LMTWGR. Highlight: Live to tell, to date one of her best ballads. Drownedboy and Aiwa08 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enrico 15,786 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 First album I heard, first album I bought, it stays dear to my hear. Tell me which album has a better collection of 5 top class singles. Live to tell is one of the most mature Madonna songs. Papa and Open are Madonna at her best: provocative but with meaning, with a great sound and a great video which really deserve to be called art. With La isla bonita she was ahead of that time. I personally like Jimmy Jimmy because it reminds me of someone I used to know. Love makes the world go round is cheesy but an acceptable closer in the spirit of the Live Aid. Alexei, rlittler81 and mouse 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocco Comelon 5,251 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 The artwork alone shows how great this album is. I also love how they engineered this album. Also, this album shows the diva side of Madonna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post steady75 9,564 Posted January 3, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted January 3, 2022 Her first concept album. I have a theory that Like A Virgin was too actually but that's deep and for another time. The Rebel With A Cause. The 50's imagery. The leather jacket, The first real lean into her Italian Heritage. White Heat, Jimmy Jimmy and True Blue being the tracks that themed that record along with the Papa video imagery. Those blockbuster singles two of which having profound message. Flawless artwork for album and singles, Incredible videos for ALL of the singles which we previously hadn't had. Adult contemporary Madonna and her first forays into club dance music with the Open Your Heart 12" remix. La Isla being her most lasting and defining hit. The Poison Penns the Michael Jackson rivalry, her first real save the world anthem performed at Live Aid in Love Makes The World Go Round. Her first fully delivered era really. What's not to love? It's a perfect time capsule of the time and if you're viewing it through a Madonna 2022 lens or even just a 90's lens it's not gonna stack up to later projects. But as a stepping stone for the time. It was flawless. Remember her fans were largely between 10 and 15 yrs old at this time and this was 1986. None of them wanted a Kate Bush sounding art piece. This was primetime Saturday Night popcorn and heavy petting 50's teenage rebellion where idealistic love, bad boys, partying, acting out, teenage pregnancy , unrequited love and summer holiday romances were the subject matter ......and the world was all the better for it. Get into it mouse, Aiwa08, Alexei and 8 others 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steady75 9,564 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 3 hours ago, Ziggy Stardust said: Since I got a bunch of interest in my Erotica thread, lets go for round 2 and talk about True Blue. If someone asked me what I thought of this album a few months ago I would say it is in her top 4 or 5 but recently I listened to it all the way through and my opinion has changed. I dont know what is is about this album, but for me there is just something missing that keeps it from being put at the level of say Erotica or Like a Prayer and I cant really put my finger on why that is. True Blue is a giant step up from Like a Virgin but sometimes I think it is slightly overrated and labeled a masterpiece. It feels really weird to say that because it is her best selling album and has so many classic songs. I remember how huge this album was in the 80's and the tour that went along with it, the image change really caused a stir and nowadays it seems to be very highly regarded by a lot of Madonna fans, or old school ones atleast. It is a very good album but every time I listen to it, something is holding True Blue back for me, one reason might be because the tracks feel very disjointed like there is no main themes driving the record. I want to know how its regarded by the rest of you, do you think of it as one of her best or have mixed feelings on it like me? Also despite my issues with the album, I will always regard Live to Tell as one of the greatest songs Madonna ever recorded which will stand the test of time and Papa Dont Preach is pretty great also. further to my post above I'd probably say the album hasn't aged but you have. As have I. This is the way of the world and idealistic follies of youth seem less potent when you realise the world isn't the optimistic fun fair you thought it would be. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Régine Filange 2,582 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Love it from start to finish, a fun record Alexei 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfalfa_HampusFL 1,138 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Perfect 80s pop album, no complaints about it from me... still love all the songs... even like Jimmy, Jimmy ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deathproof 10,553 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 One of the all time greatest pop records of all time. One of the all time greatest Madonna records of all time. Anyone that disagrees is not a real fan. mouse and RUADJAI 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mouse 436 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 A masterpiece Arrangements, album and singles covers, video clips. Everything is perfection. deathproof, wtg1987 and Aiwa08 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drownedboy 1,655 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 (edited) I must add that her vocal work on this was very important: she sounds deeper but yet very sweet and girlie, a important side of her becoming the pop icon she was. Also the Patrick Leonard magic changed her forever, without him we would not have Madonna in our lifes as we have her. I always liked the lyrics of White heat, really about being brave and strong and about having the control of your path, a quinteessentisl madonna stament that I love. Edited January 3, 2022 by Drownedboy (see edit history) Enrico 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piksel8 619 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 The iconic look she had on the cover matches the vibe and sound of the entire album. A complete step up from Like a Virgin indeed. From what i recall there was drastic change on the set of synths used that separated it from LAV that made her sound more mature hence why she was immediately considered to be at the same level as MJ in a short amount of time and was barely compared to pop princess acts like Tiffany and Debbie Gibson (even after over a year later). Definitive of what the late 80's pop sounded like. RUADJAI 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicinferno 3,657 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Besides Love Makes The World Go Round it's a pretty flawless album. I don't find myself listening to this album much aside from the singles but I do enjoy tracks like White Heat and Jimmy Jimmy once in awhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steady75 9,564 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 The synths on this album are remarkable. It shares a lot of the DNA of Michael Jacksons Bad which was sonically brilliant. The same slap bass on Papa and some of the drums and synth sounds are pretty much identical. You can probably hear it most in Another Part Of Me. It's all so upfront and clearly audiable after the muddiness of a lot of Like A Virgin True Blue has the clarity of the debut turned up to eleven. The whole thing just pops off. Piksel8, mouse and kesiak 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sultrysully 2,864 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 TRUE BLUE is LIFE! It remains a masterpiece and the strongest evidence that Madonna belongs seated, front row, in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. M was a Rock and Roll GODDESS on that album. M was a badass and I loved the entire era down to the leather jacket, bleach blonde locks and fingerless gloves. Gone was the Material Girl chirps, and the Like a Virgin sex kitten homage. M was not thrashy on guitars ?yet but she became a Rock and Roll Icon during that era. Madonna was hard for the first time, became equals to Prince and Michael Jackson, and surpassed every on e else on the global rock and roll stage. #PapaDon’tPreach #OpenYourHeart #LiveToTell #WheresTheParty #TrueBlue #JimmyJimmy #WhiteHeat #LoveMakesTheWorldGoRound #LaIslaBonita Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dylanlioncourt 5,773 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 I love the album and era! What an amazing single run, the extended mixes, the videos, the photoshoots. As an album, I stop right after La Isla Bonita though, maybe I'll warm up to the final two tracks one day. RUADJAI 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pootz333 2,680 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 White Heat would have been a big hit single. The True Blue video is my least favorite look of all time. A Golden Girls cameo would have been beyond iconic. To this day, I cannot enter a CVS without hearing that song though. Every time. 35 years later. Impressive. Low key one of her longest lasting hits. Even people that don't like her love that song. And the same goes for pretty much all the singles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUADJAI 14,896 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 The songs are undeniable but White Heat, Jimmy, and LMTWGR can take a walk. If you replace them with Causing a Commotion, The Look of Love, and Who's that Girl it would be absolutely majestic. CVMAD and Piksel8 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.