1986 saw the release of Madonna’s “True Blue” Album…an album inspired by her love for Sean Penn, her husband at the time. In fact, “True Blue” was one of his favorite expressions.

That said, another inspiration came from Madonna’s love for the music of Motown. After all, she grew up near Detroit, and as someone who also grew up in that area, I can attest to the fact that Motown was a major influence on the musical tastes of at least two generations.

In particular, the album’s title cut–and lead single–was a nod to Motown girl groups like The Supremes and Martha & the Vandellas. 

It became a Top 10 hit in 18 countries, including the US, where it appeared on FOUR charts: #3 on The Hot 100, #4 on the Dance Sales Chart, #5 on both the Dance Club and Adult Contemporary Charts.

Fun Fact: Two videos of the song became popular on MTV: the official video featuring Madonna having fun with her friends, AND the winning amateur entry from the channel’s “Make My Video” contest.

You can check out both videos below!

“True Blue: ” Truly a Great tribute to Motown (and Sean Penn)…and a Great Song of 1986!

Official Video:

Mike Cook