"The Real Thing" is a song by the English band ABC, released as the second single from their fifth studio album, Up (1989).

The song peaked at No.

68 on the UK Singles Chart, their lowest charting single there since "Vanity Kills" in 1986.

On its release, Lisa Tilston of Record Mirror wrote, "ABC seem to have gone full circle, with the beginning of this sounding just like 'The Look of Love' set to a dance beat.

Fair, but not their best.