There was so much crappy adult oriented music in the market back in 1986 that even then as a tween I already knew that the world sucked and that fortune favoured the boring and not the brave.
How many times did we have to put up with listening to Dire Straits and Paul Simon back then? Honestly back then Australian radio (like American radio just with loads of Jimmy Barnes and Cold Chisel) really sucked!
Of course they never played anything from True Blue back then but the five singles from the album turned out to be enduring classics and sold a bucket load everywhere.
Everyone could find a single to relate to during Madge's Monroe phase.
There was the super sweet title track for romantics or Live to Tell for those who who wanted to get all broody and vengeful. There was Open Your Heart for budding stalkers and of course, Papa Don't Preach for all of us kids of Italian heritage who had independent streaks, and were determined to make our own choices regardless of the consequences ("I'm keeping my baby!").
But my favourite track remains La Isla Bonita. Love that song and the video which left me with an obsession with excessive votive candles and whoever the hell San Pedro was. A colossal and unexpected moment in pop even if it meant that we then had to put up with every second rate pop singer taking on a Latin track in homage (I'm looking at you Geri Halliwell, not Gloria Estefan).
True Blue: not the best Madge album but certainly one of the most memorable.
Happy 30th!!!