"True Blue" is a song by American singer Madonna from her third studio album of the same name (1986), released as the third single on September 10, 1986, by Sire Records. Written and produced by Madonna and Steve Bray, the song deals with Madonna's feelings for her then-husband Sean Penn. A dance-pop song, it features instrumentation from a rhythm guitar, a synthesizer, keyboards, and drums. The main chorus is backed by an alternate one, incorporating a chord progression generally found in doo-wop music.
Madonna singing "True Blue" on the Who's That Girl World Tour (1987)
Madonna sporting a blond bouffant short haircut, drives a 1957 Ford Thunderbird convertible with her girlfriends in the back, in the 1950s-inspired, blue-themed video for "True Blue"
Madonna performing an acoustic version of "True Blue" on the Rebel Heart Tour (2015–2016)
True Blue (Madonna album)
True Blue is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on June 30, 1986, by Sire Records. In early 1985, Madonna became romantically involved with actor Sean Penn, and married him six months later on her 27th birthday. Additionally, she met producer Patrick Leonard while on the Virgin Tour, and formed a professional relationship with him. The first songs they created together were "Love Makes the World Go Round", and the ballad "Live to Tell", which was featured on At Close Range, a film which Penn starred. On late 1985, Madonna and Leonard began working on her third studio album; she also enlisted the help of former boyfriend Stephen Bray, with whom she had worked on her previous record Like a Virgin (1984). Titled True Blue, the record saw Madonna co-writing and co-producing for the first time in her career. Inspired by Madonna's love for Penn, to whom she dedicated it, True Blue is a dance-pop album that features influences of Motown sound, girl groups, and Latin pop.
Lucy O'Brien compared the album's cover art to the work of American artist Andy Warhol (picture)
Madonna singing second single "Papa Don't Preach" on the Who's That Girl World Tour. The song became the singer's fourth to reach the first spot of the Billboard Hot 100.
Madonna performing final single "La Isla Bonita" on 2023—2024's the Celebration Tour. The song reached the first spot of Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.
Image: Madonna Rebel Heart Tour 2015 Paris 2 (23751664999) (cropped)