“Head Over Heels” by Kids in the Way (Partial Repost), Tuesday, November 28, 2023

No '80s New Wave playlist is complete without a song from Tears for Fears. The band was a huge hit producer on a few of their albums; however, like Third Eye Blind in the late '90s, Tears for Fears peaked early in their career in the mid-‘80s. Their second #1 hit, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," is their "grocery store classic," meaning it's so popular they play it in the grocery store. "Head Over Heels" is a song about falling in love getting older and not meeting the expectations others set out for you. Singer Roland Orzabel said of the song "It is a romance song that goes a bit perverse at the end." One does wonder why there's a gun and who the second verse is about. Is it him or her? Two memories are strongly connected to this song. First was the cover by the Christian band Kids in the Way. Second was the opening montage of 2001's Donnie Darko.

ONE LITTLE BOY, ONE LITTLE MAN, FUNNY HOW TIME FLIES. Roland Orzabel and Curt Smith were part of a ska-influenced, mod-rock band called Graduate. The group toured across Europe, but Roland and Curt felt more at home in the studio. They began playing with new toys, the latest studio technology to come into recording--new synthesizers and drum loops. With these new effects, the new duo only needed to add their voices, a guitar, and a bass. Under the moniker Tears for Fears, the duo's single "Mad World" started growing in popularity in the U.K. and abroad, and the studio band took to touring again. The band's second album, 1985's Songs from the Big Chair   released 5 of the 7 tracks as singles. The album had two #1 Hot 100 hits, "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." The duo has talked about their writing process, writing songs that were very personal to them. They never shy away from introspection or writing emotional lyrics. It's no wonder why the Emo acts of the early '00s oven site Tears for Fears as their post-punk ancestors. Tears for Fears' music videos haven't aged well. The image of '80s music videos like Tears for Fears and A Flock of Seagulls put me off of '80s music for years. The video for "Head Over Heels" is set in a library in which the "hot librarian" is hushing the band as they are performing in the library. By the end of the video, we see that Roland has married the librarian, and they are an old married couple. Roland is in his personal residence which has a sizable library. Recently, Tears for Fears announced a new record coming out in February 2022. The interview cycle now sees the duo, video chatting from their very English homes, complete with extensive libraries.

I MADE A FIRE, I'M WATCHING IT BURN. Christian Rock band Kids in the Way recorded “Head Over Heels” for their 2005 sophomore record Apparitions of Melody. The band seemed to be on their way to becoming the next big Christian Rock band. Following their immature debut Safe from the Losing Fight, the band’s follow-up record blended alternative with post-hardcore emo rock. The band released a deluxe edition of Apparitions and a third record, A Love Hate Masquerade, the band’s most mature effort, but then the band broke up. “Head Over Heels” is perhaps a nod to influence from Kids in the Way. Tears for Fears’ influence can be heard in many of the ‘00s emo. The band was name-checked by Relient K’s song “In Love with the ‘80s” (Pink Tux to the Prom). The speaker says “My favorite band will always be Tears for Fears.” They even recorded their own version of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” for their K Is for Karaoke compilation. But Kids in the Way’s version of “Head Over Heels” is stereotypically ‘00s emo. Singer Dave Pelsue screams the second verse, bringing the emotional lyrics to the forefront. It’s not the same vibe of a song that opened the cult classic Donnie Darko, but somehow it seems perfectly inspired by the dark film that kicked off the angsty aughts.

Tears for Fears:

Kids in the Way:

 Donnie Darko scene: