New Wave's Last GREAT Bass Line
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- #bass #basshistory #analysis #transcription #paulthompson
Checking out one of the most creative bass lines in pop music: Tears For Fears' iconic "Head Over Heels" from the 'Songs From the Big Chair' album (1985). I'll show you just how the bass makes everything work in this song, why articulation is so important in music, and how counterpoint plays a big part in the song's arrangement. I'll also talk about Curt Smith and exactly what he used to make this bass line sound so unforgettable.
Make sure you check out this video ( • Is This The Greatest B... ) for a note-by-note tutorial on how to play this amazing bass line by my friends over @talkingbasslessons!
Website: www.paulthompso...
Instagram @pdbass74
Twitter @pdbass74
As a child of the 80's, I can whole-heartedly say Tear For Fears was an essential part of the 80's musical landscape. I can't imagine the 80's without them.
I was a young adult in the ‘80’s and you are absolutely correct, Tears For Fears was an essential element of the soundtrack of the ‘80’s. “EWTRTW” was the greatest pop song of the decade.
They had 2 songs, you sound unstable
@@SatansSimgma - Okay, you like (to the point of bragging about it) licking up Satan's smegma (THIS is the proper spelling of that word) and you have little, if any, clue what you're talking about (and you obviously didn't watch the video you're commenting about) or you'd know they had more than that... The video listed at least three (maybe four) of their biggest hits.
And yet you're calling another person unstable?
C'mon, man!
Absolutely spot on
@@SatansSimgma Why so bitter? Still butthurt about Milli Vanilli losing their Grammy? 😘
Roland and Curt are musical geniuses.
I alwyas heard that roland was the driver of this musical vehicle, whereas, curt was just a friendly passenger.
Still, the hurting - what a great drive!
@@stiiffyrabbitRoland was the main songwriter, but Curt put them on the map with his lead vocals on all their early hits. Roland didn’t like his own voice in the beginning and he wanted Curt to sing all the singles.
Actually Ian Stanley was the musical mastermind of TFF
@@stiiffyrabbit Ian Stanley figured out their sound and musical ideology.
@@stiiffyrabbit Apparently Kurt wrote many of the early songs.
I've written this before here but it never fails to positively surprise me how respectful, humble and elegant you are when talking about other people's prowess as musicians. We need more people like you in this world.
Agreed
I agree. The emition of this song, the breath taking bass line and the non-stop build during this whole track, was brought out in your wonderful critique.
Really well said. He loves great music and he doesn't care who writes it.
Honestly any real musician should be this way! We're all creatives, we can all appreciate others' skills. Even if genres are different, we should all be here to help eachother fulfil our visions and elevate our skills.
Totally. This guy knows how to listen and ENJOY music. 🫡
I can't listen to this track without wanting to immediately hear 'Broken' at the end. It's pure 'Power Windows' era Rush.
Just found out it was not part of HOH, but a segue.
Heck yeah that version kills
"RUSH!!! Power
Windows??"
What 'chu know about,
"Territories"?!!?
"What 'chu know about it?!?"
@@busterheine3806I play drums and I've studied Rush for a long time. I know a lil bout Territories!
And the bass line in Broken is excellent too.
People used to put Curt Smith down. But he plays fretless bass live. The guy rocks.
That's something I never understood, people putting him down. He's brilliant!
Jealous of their natural talent and overnight success. Not a bad album made by them. Ian Stanley having a studio at their disposal was very convenient however. Picture perfect 80's success story really.
Who put him down? I want names!
I've literally never heard anyone put Curt Smith down.
Haters can kick rocks. Barefoot.
Their music seriously holds up over the decades. They were ahead of their time then and are still pioneering today. TFF is an incredible band.
When The Tipping Point came out, it was as though no time had passed since Roland and Curt were last together, and yet, their new music sounded fresh and modern, even though it sounded like their music from 1989...they were so ahead of their time. Love those guys. So glad they are back together, writing and performing.
The bass line on this song always stood out to me too. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone ever talk about it before.
Rick Beato did in a "What Makes This Song Great?" Video. He especially liked how the slides in the 3rd bassline elevated the ending.
@@Bobbnoxious the One Song podcast (which is great!) also did an episode on the song
Mean either and i didn't know Curt played the bass and i'd seen them live in the hazy '80s.
Yes! As I "roam in the realm of covers" (lol), Everybody Wants to Play Everybody Wants to Rule the World, but this one... I'm still amazed not one of my known fellow bassists ever talk about this!
I grew up in the '80s but I always had a crappy stereo or radio without much bass response so I never heard any of this stuff at the time. It's wild to re-listen to all the '80s music I was into at the time and hear this entirely new (to old me) dimension. It's really noticeable with Big Country as one example. Back then I always wondered why Tony Butler was even in the band at all, but now I realize how amazing his bass playing actually was.
I've always loved this comment from Curt on the band Japan's genius bass player, Mick Karn, and talking about why they were looking for a studio where they could be alone. "If you work in a big studio complex, you walk down the corridor and hear Mick Karn playing bass next door, and he’s so good you wonder why you bother.”
Brilliant comment there plasticsoul. Mick Karn was an exceptionally gifted bass player. Taken from us too soon. He played on Bill Nelson’s Chimera album, which is mind-blowing. If you like his playing and have never heard Chimera you must seek it out. I played Tears for Fears Sowing the Seeds of Love album recently while cooking and my daughter and son-in-law walked in and heard it and were blown away. They are in their mid-30s and had never heard the album. Now they are fans.
The bass line on Head Over Heels is sublime and a great tone.
Curt Smith is a very underrated player.
I think you're right- it's not so much the technique, it's the creativity.
SO Macca was an influence? Mmm.
And what a GORGEOUS record ❤
That was always my favourite. Aaaah the nostalgia.
Poor sod , he has to be in a band with the other bloke
@@Play-gl2ywRoland is a very talented musician, too.
I'm sitting in my big chair listening to this classic
I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE
Don Freeman here. Tears For Fears are one of my favorite bands and an incredible songwriting duo since day one. I wore out Songs From The Big Chair all the time when it was released. Head Over Heels is great songwriting , arranging and production and simplicity. Every part serves the song, composition. Had the pleasure of seeing them live at The Forum in L.A and they were great and understated when it fit. They closed with Sowing The Seeds of Love which is a masterpiece in my opinion. Peace.
Sowing The Seeds of Love always felt like a Beatles tribute to me. Has an "I Am The Walrus" vibe
Without knowledge of the art of music there’s no way to be able to realize what a masterpiece this song is . Thank you for educating us .
Curt Smith is such a vastly overlooked bass player. His parts captured all the essential elements of music; rhythm, melody and harmony. His choices of basses has evolved very interestingly over the years too; Steinberger, Warwick and now Duesenberg hollow bodies.
Another excellent analysis, Bassman ✌️❤️
Indeed, it seems he rarely comes up in the conversation when we talk about great bassists. He clearly approaches his bass lines with a songwriter's mentality, so they serve the song more than showing off his chops, but he has given us glimpses into his playing prowess. I love players like him. Colin Moulding is another one who's clearly thoughtful about his lines. Of course, there's also McCartney and plenty of others.
@@BassByTheBay Check out Charlie Colin on Train’s first three albums. Very much the same school of thought and a tone all of his own. Such a shame he passed away this year at 58 🙏❤️
It's like he never heard of a Fender P-Bass or something, you know?
@@YippeeSkippie426 😁
@@BassByTheBay Interesting, because Curt Smith (at least in the early days of TFF) was not really a songwriter.
May 2, 2010 the first time Tears For Fears went to the Philippines. The venue was sold out. We could not almost hear the band as the crowd was singing almost every song on the set. It was the greatest concert I have ever seen.
A great duo from the UK. Interestingly, another brilliant Head over Heels titled album and a must hear - by Poco - features Timothy B Schmidt on bass; he later joined the Eagles.
@@Afficionadoh Tim actually replaced Raindy Meisner on BOTH Poco and Eagles.
@@bpabustan Poco was first Jim Messina's band but Paul Cotton and Tim, Rusty Young and George Grantham (drummer) were the band for many years after Richey Furay left. Great band but the Eagles were commercially more effective.
Hey I was there, too. TFF were awesome!
@@domdomdominique right on!
The slides in the coda just take the song to another level.
I got to see them not too long ago in Toronto with my daughter and they still crush it. So talented. Amazing concert.
I wish I had known they'd be in Toronto I would have attended whatever the cost. This is the sound of my youth. TFF were one of the hugest musical acts of the 80's.
I saw TFF in Toronto too, about a year ago. We probably saw the same show. Absolutely amazing show!
I absolutely love the bass line in the bridge of the song "Pale Shelter".
Funny you mention that Pale Shelter is my ATF Tears For Fears song. And this one is #2.
@@fantasyguru26💯💯🎯🙏👏👏pale shelter is the most sublime song & the musicianship is amazing. The extended version is beautiful & elevated the song wonderfully. One of my top ten fave songs. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
I have the actual keyboard it was written on with notation in the back of the manual.
Pale shelter MY FAVORITE!
@@andrewchampion33Did you go to Bath to buy it off Roland ?
Head Over Heels is the song why I got into bass playing.
The BEST example of the versatility of musicians in the eighties.....EXCELLENT
A great decade for great bassists - Andy Taylor, Peter Hook, Mark King, Curt Smith, Nick Beggs amongst many.
That bass has a beautiful tone.
You're an excellent communicator, combining competence with enthusiasm and empathy.
agreed
I'm not sure how I missed those bass lines. But now they've been revealed - brilliant!
It's about time someone spoke on this bassline. Thank you
I could not agree with you more. This is one of the best songs of the 80’s. I’ve always loved the bass-line and the arrangement. As usual, you did a great job at illuminating the bass’ contribution to a great work of pop music.
👍👊
My favorite 80s song. Honestly, one of my favorites ever.
I KNEW which one you were referring to, the moment I looked at the thumbnail! This bass line(s!) is right up there with Duran Duran's, John Taylor's "Rio", without a doubt.
Rio baseline is absolutely mind blowing especially when it’s isolated.
John Taylor is the best bass player I've ever heard
This is their best song IMO. LOVE it.
Superb band always remember a story Curt told about listening to Mick Karn in the next studio and saying he could not compete with him.
My favorite track from Tears for Fears. Thank you for this video as I never paid attention to what the bass was doing in this song.
Holy cow. 40 years later and I'm just now starting to appreciate the bass in this song. Listened to the song a million times, but never gave the bass a second thought. Neat!!!
One of the greatest bands ever.
That “yeah!” at 1:47 has always been a big hook of this song for me
When you were actually around when these songs were beaten to death by radio and MTV. It made them hard to appreciate. Thanks for showing us how cool these songs actually were. I honestly had no idea on this one. I tuned the song out weeks after it came out.
So, so true. I was a metalhead then, and still am now, but have come back to appreciate so many of those “overplayed” songs of the 80a that were in fact underheard…
100%, I can barely stand listening to anything from this record as it was so ubiquitous. I’m more down with The Hurting, though clearly Songs is an excellent album.
I can't imagine being tired of these songs. I still listen to them today, and never stopped.
I didn’t learn to love it til I rewatched the video in about 2006. I hated it in the 80s too! Hated the synth drums the most back then. I love the song now though! Weird. Had to let its raging fire burn down in order to appreciate it ;)
@@JeffMTX I actually played bass for a short stint back in the 80s. I really like watching this guys show. He is full of a lot of really good info.
Super bass line. I really love this one. So…I can’t help but think this line has some roots going back to 1982 with Pretenders bass line on ‘My City Was Gone’ [Tony Butler]. Anybody else hear that? -But anyway, supreme kudos to both Curt and Roland. Saw them live back in the early 90’s and they were fantastic. Cheers.
Tony Butler of Big Country played it? I had no idea! He and the band both deserve more appreciation; Stuart Adamson RIP.
Got the chance to see them in 2022 and it was a great show. No slow moments, just perfect.
Caught them on that tour as well, they were amazing. Roland's voice is as good as it's ever been.
Their songs are in some of my earliest memories. Simply timeless.
I knew exactly what this was going to be before the first note! I was only 9 when this was released and remember liking it, but by the time I was 12, 13, 14 I could really appreciate by the lyrical themes and playing. I finally saw them live 2 years ago and was overcome with emotion. He not only plays this but does backing vocals. Not easy!
Tears were a gift to music ! Saw these guys live 5 years ago. Still got that magic. Excellent musicians. 10/10
Curt's note selection is flawless.
I will definitely go see them....Again
Saw them in 1985, when they toured the USA. Awesome Concert
Saw a lot Great Bands in Concert in the 1980's.
We are now going to see them again....40+ years later
Tears for Fears IS phenomenal. Their 80s work stood head and shoulders above the so much other 80s music. Fun fact, I just listened to their 2021 release, The Tipping Point this morning. The song No Small Thing is one of those songs I could listen to again and again.
Tickets are too pricey for me now but I saw them on the Seeds of Love tour with the incomparable Oleta Adams in I think 1990 and again 20 years later when I was lucky to get front row seats in front of Curt. Excellent performances.
Oh my gosh- so jealous. That tour was so legendary … and he was very nice to look at in 1990 especially
This is one of my all time favorite songs. The bass lines is amazing.
Seeing TFF on a stage in Germany April 1985 was such an experience. They were kind of well known for “Shout” at that point but noone had really experienced them here. So when the lights turn on they open straight with Mothers Talk - Broken I - Head over Heals - Broken II in the 1st 15 Minutes followed by Pale Shelter and everyone in the audience was literally blown away…and it just got better from there..those were the epic concerts that people remember decades later..
This is crazy! I’ve been playing THIS Bass line all summer (2024) It’s a great bass line and a great song actually!!
Good work pd.
I appreciated him putting up the definitions in a music context.
Curt Smith - man of many talents👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Man, I'm so glad you've highlighted this epic track and Kurt's mind blowing bass lines. This is without doubt my favourite Tears for Fears track because of the bass complexity and relationship with the other instruments as you rightfully pointed out. I've been lucky enough to see them a few times, the last time was in Nimes colosseum in the south of France a couple of years ago and they just get better and better every time I see them. One of the best bands you can see live so do it if they're ever in your time zone.
The baseline is fantastic, you’re right, but it is you, the narrator, the producer of this channel, that made this video great. You brought to life something I hadn’t thought of, and you articulated it perfectly. Bravo!
bass line
These two guys are genuine musicians! One of the greatest duos'!
Great video, Paul!
This duo was one of the most distinctive "voices" of the 2nd British invasion (New Wave). Brilliantly crafted songs, great musicianship, excellent production.
Tears For Fears, were too pop'y, and ear friendly to be New Wave ! Nothing wrong with that tho done properly . XTC, Echo And The Bunnymen, etc were wot i would call NW ? TFF were defo more mainsteam .
@@stephenbennett1643their first album was defenitly not mainstream. A large portion of their second album wasn't either.
My first record was Help from the Beatles that I played all the time on my little orange and white plastic record player but Songs from the big chair and Like a Virgin was the first two records that I bought for myself with my own money
Don't forget about the bassline of "Advice for the young at heart"!! Love it❤
"Head Over Heels" has always been one of my all time favorite songs by any artist!!!! It's pure 80's flavor and feel, I can't get enough of it.
It’s also timeless and could have been made today or in 100 years.
This, Change and Mad World...chills. Love that they are still out there making music 🙂
Saw TfF play with Daryl Hall & John Oates @ PPG Paints arena a few years ago...two of the greatest pop duos ever...they played quite a long set! Including the hits, and as I recall, Mad World, and I think they might have even played Break it Down again. Great concert, and Curt played much of the bass parts as well. So cool! Thanks for this breakdown!
Love your analysis of these old 1980s tracks. Grew up with them but never thought anything more than they sounded great but you take it to another level.
My favorite Tears for Fears song, the articulation as you explained gives it a lot of soul.
I love your channel. You have very big ears in all the good ways.
I absolutely love Curt’s base line in the song The Hurting.
They were really an amazing band.
Your channel is just so fantastic. I don't know much about music or the bass but I've always loved both. It seems to me the importance of bass and the genius of some of the great bass players is massively under appreciated. Thanks so much for helping to change this and educating people like me.
I remember playing this album repeatedly on cassette tape in 1986. At the time, I didn't know why this music made my heart sing but now I know why. Love the break down on this song. 🥰
This is why I love the genius of Tears For Fears. They are amazing and absolutely fantastic live too💜❤️👍🏿👏🏿
I remember when that cut dropped. Damn! I love Tears For Fears. Great artists. Thank you for breaking this down.:)
Possibly TFF's finest song and that run on side 2 of "Songs from the Big Chair" where it links from Broken through Head Over Heals and back to Broken, is genius. Great video. Lovely to see those bass lines being played up close.
It's about time I heard good things about that song! It's my favourite. There is something about it that is mundane and grandiose at the same time. And the bass! Just amazing.
I'm not a huge fan of the pick, but the bass solo on Shout had me obsessed. Amazing!
It's actually a synthesizer. If you listen to the isolated Shout "bass" track all the bass parts are synths.
Great music great band. I've seen them live a few times amazing! Wonderful tunes and melodies interacting beautifully. The last Album the Tipping Point was excellent and there is a new one just released. In '85 I wore out the grooves on this album.
This was a really great analysis of the song! I always feel like Tears For Fears' best tracks are overshadowed by their two biggest hits.
I always had a soft spot for Curt Smith. I saw their first concert outside the UK in Paris in the early 80s where for an encore they played their first and only album at the time, The Hurting. I had heard about them before most people around me listening to The Jhon Peel Sessions. I was blown away with the innovation of that first album, it's pro-rock-like album theme with a more modern alternative and new wave style. They were awesome to see. Thanks for cutting this video. I wasn't aware of how innovative his style is.
Damn, that was Curt Smith playing that line? I always thought it was Pino. Sounds exactly like something he would come up with. Kudos to Curt! A great performance.
As a bass player from the 80s this is one of my all time favorites.. thanks for sharing
Seems like every YT channel I listen to has rushed out to cover Tears for Fears recently. I'm not complaining. Really, I'm not.
Back in the day when I didn't know anything about music, I thought they were too pop for my blood - but they were certainly a guilty pleasure. They grew on me over the decades, such that I bought their next few albums. Now I use their bass lines as part of my practice routine, and I'm quite pleased to see my favorite YT channels analyzing their music.
Need more TTF!
I’ve been a fan since the beginning and they still put on an amazing show. The musicianship is stellar.
I introduced my three daughters to Tears for Fears on our drives out into the country and about our state during their very young years. They used to sing along with the classics "Everybody.." and "Shout" but when it came to the other tracks they'd go quiet. One day I asked them "why they didn't so g the other songs, didn't they like them?" First my eldest said "Well, you always talk about the bass lines and parts of these songs that we 'need to hear'...so we let you say that...and we listen". I was taken aback. My youngest daughter said "I like when you explain the way the music is 'layered' for our listening." Years later I randomly dropped in to see them at their mother's and 'Songs From the Big Chair' was cranked on the speakers in the house and the girls were belting out every word. Before I walked in I needed to compose myself because I realized that all those drives all the time I'd helped them learn to 'listen through the music' to the essence of the recordings and the detail of the writing for each part had stuck with them. They greeted me with "oh, this bit with the keyboards here....oh, so good!" And "listen to that bass line, it's so chunky!" I was moved to tears. All of my insistent and persistent explanations of the building blocks of music had stuck. I felt so happy to hear my girls had developed ears for music unlike their peers. They actually 'heard' these compositions and many others I had spent years introducing them to. If that is all I've passed onto them, the ability to truly appreciate music and all of its components...then I am a very happy father.
BTW...I love your passion and respect for music and all genres. Thank you for your videos.
Just saw them this past summer (2023) and they literally gave me goosebumps. Thank you for this video.
One of the best bands ever and what a fantastic bassline! Thank you!
Awesome Band. Iconic, they deserve much more views today. Iam so glad beeing young those days
It's nice how start's off as broken instrumental then it goes into head over heels than at tours the end it's goes back into broken to end the song.
Thank you for that great video. Tears for fears are one of the greatest 80s Band. I loved them so much ....
They produced a few masterpieces ❤
Finally someone tallks about this amazing bassline ! When I think of the greatest representatives of POP it's Tears for Fears that comes into my mind. Every single note they play makes sense and serves the song.
As a duo they they have a particularly unique and attractive take on Beatles song-smithing.
Some timeless tracks.
Did you know that they ripped, XTC's Senses Working Overtime,for " Sowing The Seeds Of Love " Roland reveiwed it on Round table BBC Rad 1and loved it ! Andy Partridge, mentions it in the XTC Autobiography " ChalkHills And Children ! But decided to take it as a compliment as lawsuits, can be very exspensive as XTC found out with they're former manager. Check the songs out AP has a point. You can defo hear the simalarities .
Agreed but to my ear the Beatles never wrote anything as powerful as 'Shout'
@@stephenbennett1643 which aspect is the most similar in your opinion?
Yeah, I’ve always heard similarities between XTC and Tears for Fears. XTC was amazing, and their sound evolved almost as fast as did the Beatles.
I saw Tears For Fears and Hall & Oats at one concert. We couldn’t have been more happy 🥳😎🥳
Wonderful! Such a great song, and a stunning bass line from a musician who is so good his bass playing is often overlooked.
One of the absolute GREATEST basslines out there! So much emotion while constantly moving and grooving!
Every time I watch one of your videos, I get something out of it. Thanks!
Yes! The creativity in this bass line is just sublime. And the Coda…just wow. I always thought Pino was playing it.
I woke up today with this song in my head. What an amazing coincidence!
This is such a fun line and to me is decidedly an autumn song. Perfect timing for the season
When Head Over Heels goes into Broken...there is some sick bass in that also
One of my favorite bass lines from the 80's era of music, and there are a whole lot of great bass lines from that time period. Thank you for breaking it down and putting a smile on my face. Cheers.
Subscribed.
I was just listening to this song yesterday and marveled at the distinctive bass line. I'm not even a bass player. Genius.
I knew what this one would be right away! I love how well "composed" this line is - such a great concept and woven so tightly into the song. Thank you for spotlighting the articulation - such a huge part of what makes this line (and song) work so well. Cheers to another great video, thank you!
Whatever the sound was on the Donnie Darko DVD, Dolby Surround Sound?, it sounds excellent. Sounded great in the cinema too.
Great song. The bass lines on Broken are killer too. I think of the whole thing Broken > HoH > Broken as one song, it's the only way to really listen to it... 🙂 The whole Songs from the Big Chair is a great album and one of my 80s favorites.
Nice work for a pure 80's gem, thanx. Btw, can't forget this absolute brilliant scene too in Donnie Darko, with this song fitting perfectly to create this unique 80's atmosphere, rahhh...
Articulation … Perfect description, Paul . Great tune🙌🏽
I love this channel. This particular video examines everything there is to learn about what the featured song is doing musically, and the particular role the bass is playing in it. There's a sound that some music has that I identify as "lush", where it sounds full and complete and in need of nothing else. Head Over Heels re-defines the lush sound or expresses lush in a way I hadn't heard before.
The video is still one of my very favorites, set in the library where the song was inspired, but surreal because you can't play the song in the library. Instead, the video is the point of view from inside the singer's mind. Oh, and the synth solos are more passionate than I ever though synth music could be.
Of course, I'm a rocker, and I was too cool to openly like Tears For Fears at the time, so I just secretly knew there was something special about their music. I'm really happy for this opportunity to take a close look at this music with a really respectable musician. Thank you for making this.
Man, been subscribed to your channel for a long time. Need to address that I LOVE your approach to bass guitar related videos. The way you put a historical perspective, mixed with musical explanations is perfect. Keep the good work! Cheers from Brazil!
Paul is simply the best!
So true!
I'm sure it's been said before but I LOVE how you get me to completely "re-hear" songs I thought I already knew like the back of my hand!