NewYearsDayProject | a song a day blog

I've talked about " Shout " and " Head over Heels ," but neither of those massive hits is the most remembered song from the post-punk band  Tears for Fears . You're unlikely to hear a track from their follow-up to  Songs from the Big Chair  in the grocery store, not the album's title track that is subtly about ejaculation, " Sowing the Seeds of Love ." Nor would you hear the later  Gary Jules - covered  " Mad World " for the film  Donnie Darko   and featured on every nighttime drama from Tears for Fears' first album. " Everybody Wants to Rule the World " is Tears for Fears' biggest song, yet the lyrics seem to contradict the easy melody of the song, making it slightly misunderstood.    ONE HEADLINE, WHY BELIEVE IT?   The syncopated guitar riff, the airy keys, and the somewhat chill vocals of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" act as a siren song, distracting listeners from the truly sinister theme of the s

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 Orzabe

When completing the score for the 2001 cult psychological thriller Donnie Darko , score composer Michael Andrews produced a cover of the 1982 Tears for Fears minor hit “ Mad World .” The film, set in 1988 the month preceding the election of George H.W. Bush, features a soundtrack of post-punk bands and even includes Tears for Fears’ “ Head Over Heels ” in a scene toward the beginning of the film. “Mad World” serves as the film’s emotional climax; however, the original version was extremely ill-suited for that role in the film. ALL AROUND ME ARE FAMILIAR FACES. Before every grocery store in America played “ Everybody Wants to Rule the World ” and Tears for Fears became a household name in America because of their major hits on the record Songs from the Big Chair , the band released their 1983 debut, The Hurting . This album included several singles the band had released the year prior, including the band’s third single “Mad World.” The song was successful in the UK and a few other co

I've talked about " Shout " and " Head over Heels ," but neither of those massive hits is the most remembered song from the post-punk band Tears for Fears . You're unlikely to hear a track from their follow-up to Songs from the Big Chair  in the grocery store, not the album's title track that is subtly about ejaculation, " Sowing the Seeds of Love ." Nor would you hear the later Gary Jules - covered " Mad World " for the film Donnie Darko and featured on every nighttime drama from Tears for Fears' first album. " Everybody Wants to Rule the World " is Tears for Fears' biggest song, yet the lyrics seem to contradict the easy melody of the song, making it slightly misunderstood.    ONE HEADLINE, WHY BELIEVE IT?  The syncopated guitar riff, the airy keys, and the somewhat chill vocals of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" act as a siren song, distracting listeners from the truly sinister theme of the song. L