After spending an entire month looking back at the 80’s, I realized one thing. I need more. Luckily, a couple of fellow music fans on Twitter came up with the brilliant idea to highlight #30DaysOf80sMovieSongs during the month of April. I couldn’t resist at the opportunity to keep going, to keep listening, and to keep celebrating the decade that has meant more to me than any other from a musical standpoint. Each day I’m playing a different soundtrack favorite on the Mental Jukebox.
Movie: Bright Lights, Big City
“True Faith” is far more than just a great song. It was a new direction for the band. A stake in the ground from New Order that, whether you liked it or not, stated they were now moving boldly into a new dance rock phase. There were clear signs of dance rock throughout the band’s history, the most notable examples being “Blue Monday”, “The Perfect Kiss” and “Bizarre Love Triangle”. But “True Faith” was the point where it started to feel like the synth gods won — and the rock roots were losing their hold.
The dance stuff from New Order is not my favorite side to the band, but “True Faith” is probably my favorite of the bunch — even ahead of the aforementioned classics. Stephen Morris’ drums are in attack mode from the get go. The bass synth does its thing, but then Hooky’s signature upper octave foray sneaks in like a slithering snake to break up the dance party. Sumner’s lyrics are some of the most memorable, endearing words he’s written — a nostalgic gift for their fans.
“My morning sun is the drug that brings me near to the childhood I lost, replaced by fear.”