Gold by Spandau Ballet

Album: True (1983)

Charted: 2 29

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Songfacts®:

Band member Gary Kemp started writing this song as a spoof of James Bond theme songs, specifically Goldfinger.

"When I wrote the True album I was still living in a council house with my mum and dad and my brother," Kemp told Uncut magazine. "One of my great heroes was John Barry, and with 'Gold' I think I was probably trying to write a James Bond thing of my own. I wrote it all on my guitar at home."
Gary Kemp recalled the writing of this song to The Mail on Sunday March 13, 2011: "I used to get my brother Martin to come in when I was writing songs to give an opinion, muck about on his bass to see if I was going in the right direction. He loved 'Gold' from the start so I knew that I was on to something.

There's no formula to writing a song like that, but the title is key, there's no point writing a great melody and not knowing what the title is. It's so hard to put the title over a melody you've found – it's better to think: I have a great title, a great opening line, how do I make that into a song?"
The band was made up of Tony Hadley (vocals), Gary Kemp (guitar), his brother Martin Kemp (bass), Steve Norman (guitar), and John Keeble (drums). Both Kemp brothers appeared in the film The Krays in 1990. Martin Kemp later acted in the BBC soap opera East Enders as Steve Owen. In 1998 Hadley, Norman and Keeble sued Gary Kemp, the chief songwriter, for a greater share of the royalties, but lost the case.
"Gold" is the follow-up to "True," Spandau Ballet's biggest hit. The band is very popular in many parts of Europe, especially in their native England, but "True" and "Gold" are their only songs to make much impact in America, where they got a lot of airplay on MTV.
The BBC used this song in their coverage of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Comments: 15

Javier Ospina from ColombiaGold is about a young daughter visiting her poor father days before her wedding
Daniel from MiamiThis is the song from a poor father to his daughter
Joe from Floridai like the pace of the song, it is elegant, the voice powerful...uplifting song...I try to sing it...keep practicing...is amazing when you try to emulate voices...and particular this song is great. Gold should have been number 1 in UK and US. Have the rhythm, the lyrics, the chorus that only number 1 songs has it. For me is better than "True". The band looks mint in those suits plus sound is sharp and powerful. "There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing..." we are GOLD.
C Fallon from AustraliaI always thought it was about the goldrush
..but now i would like to apply it to Ironman
Chez from UkI’m glad to hear it was written as a James Bond spoof, I’ve always thought it was overrated and a bit ridiculous. They did record some good songs, but all you ever hear nowadays are Gold and True. I remember their first appearance on Top of the Pops, when they were New Romantics with ruffled shirts and scarves for headbands. I bought Paint me Down as a single, but was never a massive fan.
Dieselestate from Third Rock From The SunChant No. 1 & Only When You Leave are much better songs.
Dieselestate from Third Rock From The SunI believe that Gary Kemp had his father in mind when he wrote this. His Dad was a Solid Gold Dyed in the Wool Labour Man. I think Gary enjoyed the Tory Pratt Tony Hadley singing lyrics about Socialism. I'm a Dyed in the Wool Communist and I wet myself laughing about that. Please Gary tell me it's true.
PS: So glad to see that Martin's recovered.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 17, 1983, Spandau Ballet performed "Gold" on the weekly syndicated television program, 'Solid Gold'...
At the time "Gold" was at #37 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, four weeks later it would peak at #29 {for 2 weeks} and it spent twelve weeks on the Top 100...
And on August 14th, 1983 it reached #2 {for 2 weeks} on the United Kingdom's Singles chart, the two weeks it was at #2, the #1 record for both those weeks was "Give It Up" by K.C. and the Sunshine Band...
The British group had a total of four records on Billboard's Top 100 chart, one made the Top 10, "True", it peaked at #4 {for 4 weeks} on October 2nd, 1983...
Besides "Gold" and "True", their two other Top 100 records were "Communication" {#59 in 1983} and "Only When You Leave" {#34 in 1984}.
Susan from Airdrie, -I find this song really uplifting. The voice is amazing & I love the lines in the chorus: "You are gold, always believe in your soul. You've got the power to know you're indestructible, always believe it." I like to play it for my kids, hoping the message will sink in. Actually for me, too! ;)
Eddie from Ba, ArgentinaThe Extended Version of this tune is fantastic.
Agnes from Glasgow, ScotlandSteve Norman played guitar in the early days of the band. Watch the video for To Cut A Long Story Short. It was later he switched to sax and percussion.
Gondring from West Chester, PaI particularly enjoy lines like, "These are my salad days slowly being eaten away," but I'm interested in hearing what this song says to different people.
Pete from Nowra, AustraliaLuke i concur,,, great band .......great songs
Luke from Manchester, EnglandBrilliant band, brilliant songs
Elson from Los Angeles, CaSteve Norman actually played saxophone and percussion.

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