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Before any other comment, Bombas is a good company who does good things . . .except I have issues with their actual textiles. They are not elastic where they should be, and the designs fit on the UNDERSIDE instead of the OVERSIDE. Missed opportunities.
Hey, you mentioned loving drum sounds on random objects, have you ever seen the performance troupe called "Stomp" ? They're a group kind of like Blue Man Group, just without the makeup and stuff. They do various percussion based performances with random objects, including plastic bags, sticks thumping on the stage, their feet (obviously). It's really cool.
Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears is the Flip Side of Shout, the singers flip roles and we get to see the other singer take the lead on vocals and he has a much deeper sound
I always thought that Roland and Curt have surprisingly similar voices. When these songs were first released (and before seeing the music videos), I couldn't tell them apart sometimes. Eventually I developed an ear for it of course, but I still think it's rare for a band with two lead vocalists to have such similar voices.
Other great New Wave/Post Punk vocalists: SPANDAU BALLET (Tony Hadley): gold, true ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN (Ian McCullough) - no dark things, porcupine, never stop... live from Royal Albert Hall 1984 GANG OF FOUR (Jon King) - live from BBC's Old Grey Whistle test - damaged goods, I love a man in a uniform PETER MURPHY solo - i'll fall with your knife, cuts you up, marlene dietrich's favourite poem BAUHAUS (Peter Murphy is lead vocals on most songs) -sanity assassin, double dare, adrenalin And more from DEPECHE MODE (somebody with Martin Gore on vocals is quite different from Dave Gahan) and THE CURE please.
Anything from Songs From The Big Chair is fantastic. It's their masterpiece. I also kinda love The Hurting, their first album, Pale Shelter and Change are great singles.... As well as Mad World, obviously.
@@chrislano8531 yes! I heard this in an interview at the time of release, very beatles-esque - the thing they seemed most excited about though were the special effects (aka the keyboard swinging down for the solo)
I could be wrong, but when he sings "I'd really like to break your heart" he means to wake them up from their rose colored view of reality - hence breaking their hearts with actual reality!
Woman In Chains is beautifully written song, and Oletta Adams is utterly phenomenal. They absolutely slay Badman"s Song as well. Tears For Fears has an amazing library of work.
Shout is a great TFF hit/pop song, but yeah, pretty hard to beat a ton of tunes off the Sowing Seeds album (can't recall if that's the album name, but it's fire).
I know that SHOUT is iconic and even other songs like EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD or SOWING THE SEEDS OF LOVE are more popular, but the tracks that give me a vibe are PALE SHELTER and MAD WORLD.
Their entire first album, “The Hurting” was SO great! I still play it on repeat! When it came out, critics said it was “too dark”, but I think it’s just really well written and performed music! 👍🏻🎸🖤
Same. 'Songs from the Big Chair' gets just as much play here as well. Beyond that, maybe "Sowing the Seeds of Love" (the song) when I'm in the mood. Anything after that, I don't care for it unfortunately.
Mad World, The Hurting, Pale Shelter, and Change are my recommendations for 80s-era Tears For Fears. Their willingness to confront childhood neglect and abuse and c-PTSD from childhood adverse experiences saved many a life in that era. *raises hand* This song is indeed an anthem!! It was a broader statement about the power of our voices in protest, during the height of the Reagan-era Cold War and in the context of fears of nuclear war. I love that Tears for Fears are still performing and writing songs together (after having been apart for a time) because it feels like we need them and their vulnerable strength more than ever. Thank you so much for this astute and enjoyable critique and analysis!!
One of those rare bands that just have a sound of their own and so many incredible songs and you, lady, are on a roll with all the awesome music you are analyzing lately, there's just something special about seeing you react to the music we grew up with, you just get it ❤❤❤
Thank you Elizabeth, you have been on a roll lately exploring different types and styles of popular music from your core group of metal and I think it's great. Shout is a classic with a lot of interesting things going on vocally that I am eager to hear your take on. If you want to dive more into Tears for Fears I suggest "Sowing the Seeds of Love." It is less repetitive than the super catchy Shout and more varied vocally but still very polished as their sound always was. Every time I think your channel can't get any better it just does, thank you.
Thank you, Thomas. I'm having a lot of fun exploring new content AND diving deeper into some of the artists I've learned to love. I'll definitely see more Tears for Fears as well!
@@TheCharismaticVoiceWoman in chains would be my next choice. The album that included Shout was al about overcoming their horrible youths. Pale shelter is about one of their mothers being a terrible mum.
Tears for Fears released an album in 2022 called "The Tipping Point". A fantastic album that was deeply personal for them. It was Roland dealing with the loss of his wife. He realized he wanted to write music with Curt again. The tour that followed, you could tell they actually enjoyed playing with each other again which wasn't always the case. Also helped that they still sound amazing. Definitely one of the great underrated bands from the 80's. Still putting good music out there.
Just a hint as to the meaning of the lyrics, Roland was really into primal scream therapy trying to get over a terrible home life during his youth. (That is until he actually met the originator of the therapy which brought to him the lesson of, "Don't meet your heroes."}
Exactly! And the lyric “And when you’ve taken down your guard, if I could change your mind, I’d really love to break your heart, I’d really love to break your heart” resonates.
I always took the "I'd really love to break your heart" line to be a continuation of the prior "If I could change your mind" and being directed at someone who is closed off, jaded, or blinded to some condition and if the singer could just open the individual's eyes, the realization of the situation would cause the individual's heart to break.
it does feel like the positive opposite of 3 Libras by A Perfect Circle, which says "I threw you the obvious to see what is left behind the eyes of a fallen angel, eyes of a tragedy... oh well, apparently nothing" (breaks me everytime). I love both songs.
Agreed. I've always seen it as anti-apathy. If something really hits you in the feels, really breaks your heart, it might encourage you to say something (shout).
Shout is a masterpiece of layering - going from simple and sparse at the start, then introducing layers of sound with every repetition, until the massively dense finale...
@@foreveralone11w I do like that song…but I have to disagree. Granted, I don’t think Shout was, either. As an older Xer, Skid Row wasn’t there until I’d already graduated, moved out, had a kid… The truth is that we had a ton of anthem-like songs to choose from! We had some of the best music.
One of the best Tears for Fears songs is "Woman in Chains". And unfortunately, I think it gets overshadowed by the bigger hits. The vocals are impressive and it is another song of positivity that ought to be heard by more people. That being said "Pale Shelter" always gets me. I highly recommend it.
"Sowing the Seeds of Love" is their nod to the Beatles, you'll ADORE the musical changes in it, and I also think it's one of Roland's best vocal tracks. Highly recommend!
"Sowing the Seeds of Love," please. Both of them truly sing solo in this masterpiece, as well as other interesting backing voices and a creative Beatles-influenced composition.
Back when this song was on the radio, it was being played TO DEATH. For about the next 25 years, I could not listen to this song. In the lasy 2 to 3 years or so I gave this song a fresh listen, now I love this song. There is no denying why this song was so huge, But this song was criminally overplayed.
My drawing two teacher in college was a huge fan of them. She played there best of album constantly over 9 weeks while drawing. I can tell you I know there voices intimately apart from one another. Even almost 30 years later. Great band.
Stoked for this one! If you're interested in more, the Curt-led "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is their next biggest hit, though I personally prefer "Head Over Heels". Roland's vocals are great in it, and I'd love for you to check out its zany music video!
Tears For Fears' live studio performance of The Tipping Point on Sirius XM is a must watch. It's a relatively recent performance so Curt and Roland are much older but their voices still sound incredible and they're joined by the amazing Carina Round on backing vocals. It's also just an amazing song.
I love that these 2 singers had a disagreement and went their separate ways over 20 years ago but reconciled recently to produce a new album with some great songs. Both of them went through struggles in their lives that many of us can relate to and manage to express this in song. Checkout Tipping Point or Break the Man.. A smooth, mellow sound.
I immediately thought of Mad World when Elizabeth spoke of the slower than she'd anticipated delivery, particularly because Gary Jules took that slow, measured, deliberate pace of TFF and then slowed it far, far further while also making it more airy and ethereal, like a distillation of the spirit of the lyrics and emotion taken to the furthest extreme. Plus that was the song (the TFF version) that first hooked me to TFF and sent me rushing to buy the album.
@DMonath I saw Gary Jules mentioned several times along with Adam Lambert. So I went and rewatched those. Yes, I can see where people would prefer Gary's version better. Due to its tempo and delivery, it is almost two different songs. Now, that is a mark of a great remake. May I offer up another version for others to enjoy, Cody Glass from 2016 The Voice UK.
Such an iconic and inventive duo -- they were so musical and creative when many groups were opting for synth or pre-packaged sound. And the vocals are always incredible!
I'm absolutely THRILLED that you're doing Tears for Fears! One of my favourite bands ever. Such wholesome voices and lyrics. So many other tunes you can do of theirs, all of which have already been mentioned. Thank you SO very much for this. It was just what I needed on a very cold Autumn evening in the north of Scotland. Sending love and warm vibes to you. ❤🧡💛 Ps. Watch Curt singing Mad World with his young daughter, both on guitars when you've a minute... It warms the auld cockles! Pps. I adore you and your reactions, Elizabeth! Ppps. And yes we've all sang this out loud in the kitchen! Hah! :)
This is one of my top two favorite 80s pop songs. The other is the Thompson Twins "Hold me Now". Both were top tier 80s songs for me after listening to them for so many years. Never gets old.
Sowing The Seeds Of Love is the song I would recommend. Great vocals, amazing production and a really positive message. They really do have so many great songs.
There's a video of Kurt from Tears singing Everybody Wants to Rule in someone's backyard while they play it only to a box and a hammered dulcimer. It is AMAZING.
Love the analysis of consonants & placement you provide. Lots to think of and helps me in writing and performing. Keep up the great work Elizabeth - many thanks!
Interesting NIN reference - lots of industrial-ish timbres in there! Tears for Fears are one of those bands that I grew up hearing on the radio all the time and really took for granted as a lightweight (for the time) pop band. It's only very recently that I've come to appreciate the creativity and depth of their work. Now I'm obsessed!
This song was on the first album I bought with my babysitting money. I have always loved Tears For Fears. Thank you Elizabeth for being the kind person that you are and sharing your knowledge and analysis.
Young people NEEDED this song when it came out. We felt helpless and were angry about it. It WAS an anthem. We couldn't change the things that made us feel that way, but this song let us know that we didn't have to just sit quietly and take what was being dished out...it was okay to be p.o.'d. No less powerful today. Very motivational. Very empowering.
It's a song about shout therapy. Which is mainly seen by most therapists as bull shittery. You can't just scream your problems away. Something single college educated women who voted for Kamala Harris would do well to learn. And no, I'm not dunking on them at all... it's incredibly sad that thousands of women have been emotionally manipulated into posting themselves doing something so harmful to themselves on the internet forever. It makes me mad. These people have been brainwashed.
1980s, Cold War, Berlin Wall, East and West Germany instead of a unified nation, the constant threat of thermonuclear war with the Soviet Union, coming off of the power struggles of the 1960s and 1970s... Bah, what was necessary to change? You actually hit it right on the head. This song along with the Scorpions "Winds of Change" really tried to pull people back together in a time when it very really could have gone either way.
Agreed. However, it's worth pointing out that "Elemental" was essentially an Orzabal solo project, without Smith's involvement even though he still used the TFF name. It is still a fantastic album, one of the best TFF albums IMHO, in spite of Smith's absence.
This whole album is brilliant from beginning to end! I've been a metal-head for nearly 4 decades but Songs From the Big Chair has been one of my favorite albums since the year it was released! Everyone who hasn't heard this whole album, please do yourselves a favor and experience the whole thing, beginning to end. It probably won't be the last time you do!
It's an outlier because it was never released as a single, but "Badman's Song," really shows how they evolved into the 90's, and delivers the power with Oleta Adams extra vocals and some wild piano.
In the same 80's spirit, It would be really nice to listen to Talk Talk's Mark Hollis voice. One of the best bands and voices of the 80's. The album "The Colour of Spring" is in my category of perfect albuns, any song is a good choice. One of the most beautiful works of art ever!
E, you should just listen, on your own, to the album this song is on, "Songs from the Big Chair" , it's in my personal top 10 albums of all-time. I know you like sax in rock songs, just for yourself you should listen to "Working Hour", which is the song right after "Shout" on the album
Roland Orzabal is possibly my favorite singer of all time, his delivery is so passionate and so precise at the same time. The Hurting and Songs From The Big Chair are so full of exceptional and timeless pop music. For vocal analysis, I think The Working Hour would be the best showcasing Orzabal's power and range, and is just a beautiful piece of music, but Head Over Heels is probably the definitive best song from Big Chair. So happy to see you touching on these great and unique singers from the 80s!
I am SO, SO happy you are analyzing Tears for Fears! They have so many songs and a few new albums over recent years. One of my favs is "Woman in Chains". It's so moving!!
Mad World & Head Over Heels are my personal favorites in terms of their hits (after Shout), but it's possible that Elizabeth would find Sowing the Seeds of Love more interesting and/or relatable.
I'm so happy & excited that you analysed Tears for Fears, and my favourite song of theirs too! They're my mum's all-time favourite band, so I grew up listening to all their songs. We recently went to see the movie that they made - Tears for Fears Live (A Tipping Point Film) - from a tour they did in 2023. They still sound just as good as they did back in the day. Such amazing songs, there's too many to choose from - Head over Heels, Woman in Chains, Mad World... my hope is one day you manage to get to all of them! 😁
Shout and Everybody Wants To Rule The World made Tears for Fears my fav 80's songwriters. I lived during that time as a kid, and their words still ring through! Nostalgia is so strong!!
Been waiting for this omg! TFF is my favorites group, they’re amazing live and Roland and Curt’s voice only get better each song. Their older stuff is just as amazing as their newer stuff, they’re literally sound the same yet so experienced! Can’t wait for more TFF reactions from you ❤
Anything off of Seads of Love, but but but especially Woman in Chains, unforgettable! Also from Songs from the Big Chair - Working Hour, pure bliss musically and lyrically.
As a young boy growing up in Tennessee, my musical journey started with bluegrass and country like the Oak Ridge Boys and the Statler Brothers. I still have a place in my heart for that music. Then the 80s came around, and I fell in love with Tears for Fears, Thompson Twins, Duran Duran, and the whole British wave and stayed there for the longest. Afterwards, my cousin came over one day and had an album by a band called Metallica. Mind you, I had previously thought that rock was of the devil, but the sound that came from the Ride the Lightening changed me forever. From that day forward I was a metalhead. It wasn't until later that I broadened my listening pleasures to classical, world, and new age musics. Now, I listen to more music than I watch t.v.
Among things which you MUST know and understand, Elizabeth, would be that: the band's name ["Tears For Fears"] and THIS song in particular ["Shout"] were directly inspired by: Arthur Janov's psychological therapeutic approach ["Primal therapy" (often: misnamed: "primal scream therapy"...because aspects of Janov's techniques did involve: screaming at and screaming out one's nightmares and fears, etc.)]. Orzabal was very interested in (and "studied") Janov's theories and he incorporated ideas from janov's techniques with unresolved items/aspects of his own childhood in his song-writing. [just "f.y.i.": John Lennon was another person who partook of some of janov's therapy (or therapy methods based on: "primal therapy," for a while). Janov had quite a few interested parties in his approaches, in the 1970s (and into the early 1980s, even). --Just so that people can/will understand: the 1970s was, really, the first point at which: pshychological therapy and "mental health" begun to be investigated and explored, more thoroughly and more intently (and even taken SERIOUSLY!), SINCE the early 1900s eras of exploration by: Freud and Jung! In-between, there was so little actual interest or movement forwards that it can well-be considered to be: utterly static or "nonexistent."]
Insightful reaction as always Elizabeth. You're helping me understand a song I've heard and sung to many time over the decades. It's a great one for one's technique, I think. You really have to engage your lower support to be able to sound anything like that. Back in the day my band imitated the look of this a bit in our only video. We were on the beach with the lead singer standing on a high rock wearing a big long coat with the wind in his hair. "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" is another great Tears for Fears song to react to.
Beware: Video directors frequently had both "leads" lip sync even when only one of them was actually doing the singing in the audio back in the 80's for some reason. It happened a few times with Heart as well.
"I'd really love to break your heart" Experiencing the heartbreak of an individual, especially as the source of that heartbreak, can be a valuable lesson in humanity and empathy. I recommend it to everyone at be that source at least once. It teaches you to consider what you do, emotionally, to others and can make you a more empathetic and thoughtful person.
A U2 series would be great! - Bad (Rattle and Hum) - Where the Streets Have no Name (Live at Slane Castle) - One (Album Version) - With or Without You (Rattle and Hum)
I love this album. Between Songs from the Big Chair and Til Tuesday's Voices Carry, these were the soundtrack of my commutes between Downieville and Loyalton when I was taking community college classes back when.
Add me to the chorus saying the next Tears For Fears analysis should be Woman In Chains or Badman’s Song. Both are stellar and Oleta Adams is featured on both songs. Absolutely amazing!
22:01 what I find fascinating is your channel. I love the insight you offer... it's more than just what you think of the song, but it's the technicalities. It's what you like, and what you don't like. And your Wacka Wacka Wacka always makes me giggle
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This song is cool but it's kind of boring. "Head Over Heels" and "Sewing the Seeds of Love" are the best.
That wasn't Curt. On the 2nd verse it was still Roland.
Before any other comment, Bombas is a good company who does good things . . .except I have issues with their actual textiles. They are not elastic where they should be, and the designs fit on the UNDERSIDE instead of the OVERSIDE. Missed opportunities.
Cinderella "Long Cold Winter"! Beware of the cold feet.
Hey, you mentioned loving drum sounds on random objects, have you ever seen the performance troupe called "Stomp" ? They're a group kind of like Blue Man Group, just without the makeup and stuff. They do various percussion based performances with random objects, including plastic bags, sticks thumping on the stage, their feet (obviously). It's really cool.
Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears is the Flip Side of Shout, the singers flip roles and we get to see the other singer take the lead on vocals and he has a much deeper sound
It's also like the anthem of the 80's.
I always thought that Roland and Curt have surprisingly similar voices. When these songs were first released (and before seeing the music videos), I couldn't tell them apart sometimes. Eventually I developed an ear for it of course, but I still think it's rare for a band with two lead vocalists to have such similar voices.
I've always preferred Everybody Wants to Rule the World.
Other great New Wave/Post Punk vocalists:
SPANDAU BALLET (Tony Hadley): gold, true
ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN (Ian McCullough) - no dark things, porcupine, never stop... live from Royal Albert Hall 1984
GANG OF FOUR (Jon King) - live from BBC's Old Grey Whistle test - damaged goods, I love a man in a uniform
PETER MURPHY solo - i'll fall with your knife, cuts you up, marlene dietrich's favourite poem
BAUHAUS (Peter Murphy is lead vocals on most songs) -sanity assassin, double dare, adrenalin
And more from DEPECHE MODE (somebody with Martin Gore on vocals is quite different from Dave Gahan) and THE CURE please.
Woman in Chains nets you an extra singer. Oleta Adams is magic.
Head Over Heels is still one of my all time favorites!
My favorite!
Such suspension in the chords and melodies! Love that one.
Me too!!!!! ❤
I agree, my favorite as well👍
Anything from Songs From The Big Chair is fantastic. It's their masterpiece. I also kinda love The Hurting, their first album, Pale Shelter and Change are great singles.... As well as Mad World, obviously.
Mad World is a must. Iconic song and a good example of Curt singing solo lead.
I loved that episode of Psyche where Curt sang the Jules cover version of Mad World. An appreciated nod.
love that song and love the video he put out where he and his daughter were singing/playing it together during Covid lockdown.
I also appreciate that SOOOO many other (more recent) have covered it. I appreciate the love of the song, but the original is still the best.
Yes Mad World!
@@TNJenni42 yes!! That version is amazing
Sowing The Seeds of Love is an absolute must-listen. The video is so 70's-era British psychedelic animation, you'll love it.
I totally agree with this recommendation! It’s a fantastic song. Epic, really.
I was going to say this as well. Being that it's so different from the early stuff.
It’s a homage to the Beatles
@@chrislano8531 yes! I heard this in an interview at the time of release, very beatles-esque - the thing they seemed most excited about though were the special effects (aka the keyboard swinging down for the solo)
I could be wrong, but when he sings "I'd really like to break your heart" he means to wake them up from their rose colored view of reality - hence breaking their hearts with actual reality!
That's what I take from it.
Yeah, he really got way up his own arse with this one.
Roland Orzabal is a musical wizard. His duet with Oleta Adams on “Women In Chains” shows his vocal range and songwriting genius!
^This.^ That one is a must.
Woman In Chains is beautifully written song, and Oletta Adams is utterly phenomenal. They absolutely slay Badman"s Song as well. Tears For Fears has an amazing library of work.
For live performances I added Badman’s Song to the comments. Still featuring Oleta and the live performance is literally flawless
It's so brilliant and never talked about!
See also, "Me and My Big Ideas" from Raoul and the Kings of Spain.
I would LOVE to see you pull apart "Sowing the Seeds of Love."
I wonder how many Beatles Easter eggs she'll spot 😏
Best TfF song in my opinion, easily.
One of my all times favourite.
I completely agree, it's my favourite. Such a cracking band. 😁
Shout is a great TFF hit/pop song, but yeah, pretty hard to beat a ton of tunes off the Sowing Seeds album (can't recall if that's the album name, but it's fire).
I know that SHOUT is iconic and even other songs like EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD or SOWING THE SEEDS OF LOVE are more popular, but the tracks that give me a vibe are PALE SHELTER and MAD WORLD.
My favorite is actually The Working Hour
I like Mad World mate but if she was to do that song the Nineties Cover by Gary Jules is the better version
I liked "Change"
@@dannydorito9134Agreed, the Gary Jules cover really hits deep, and was perfect on Donny Darko.
"Pale Shelter" is a banger.
Their entire first album, “The Hurting” was SO great! I still play it on repeat! When it came out, critics said it was “too dark”, but I think it’s just really well written and performed music! 👍🏻🎸🖤
That's because you have impeccable taste 👌
Same. 'Songs from the Big Chair' gets just as much play here as well. Beyond that, maybe "Sowing the Seeds of Love" (the song) when I'm in the mood. Anything after that, I don't care for it unfortunately.
Mad World, The Hurting, Pale Shelter, and Change are my recommendations for 80s-era Tears For Fears. Their willingness to confront childhood neglect and abuse and c-PTSD from childhood adverse experiences saved many a life in that era. *raises hand*
This song is indeed an anthem!! It was a broader statement about the power of our voices in protest, during the height of the Reagan-era Cold War and in the context of fears of nuclear war.
I love that Tears for Fears are still performing and writing songs together (after having been apart for a time) because it feels like we need them and their vulnerable strength more than ever.
Thank you so much for this astute and enjoyable critique and analysis!!
One of those rare bands that just have a sound of their own and so many incredible songs and you, lady, are on a roll with all the awesome music you are analyzing lately, there's just something special about seeing you react to the music we grew up with, you just get it ❤❤❤
Thank you Elizabeth, you have been on a roll lately exploring different types and styles of popular music from your core group of metal and I think it's great. Shout is a classic with a lot of interesting things going on vocally that I am eager to hear your take on. If you want to dive more into Tears for Fears I suggest "Sowing the Seeds of Love." It is less repetitive than the super catchy Shout and more varied vocally but still very polished as their sound always was. Every time I think your channel can't get any better it just does, thank you.
Thank you, Thomas. I'm having a lot of fun exploring new content AND diving deeper into some of the artists I've learned to love. I'll definitely see more Tears for Fears as well!
Sowing the Seeds of Love is just a fantastic song. Definitely put it on your list for a possible deep dive 😀
@@TheCharismaticVoiceWoman in chains would be my next choice. The album that included Shout was al about overcoming their horrible youths. Pale shelter is about one of their mothers being a terrible mum.
And btw, the main singer in this song is Roland, not Curt ;) Curt sings Everybody Wants to Rule the World if you want to hear the difference.
Tears for Fears released an album in 2022 called "The Tipping Point". A fantastic album that was deeply personal for them. It was Roland dealing with the loss of his wife. He realized he wanted to write music with Curt again. The tour that followed, you could tell they actually enjoyed playing with each other again which wasn't always the case. Also helped that they still sound amazing. Definitely one of the great underrated bands from the 80's. Still putting good music out there.
Head Over Heels must be the next Tears For Fears song love that one so much :)
Check out Rick Beato.
Just a hint as to the meaning of the lyrics, Roland was really into primal scream therapy trying to get over a terrible home life during his youth. (That is until he actually met the originator of the therapy which brought to him the lesson of, "Don't meet your heroes."}
Exactly! And the lyric “And when you’ve taken down your guard, if I could change your mind, I’d really love to break your heart, I’d really love to break your heart” resonates.
Trash Theory?????
I didn’t know that. Interesting.
I always took the "I'd really love to break your heart" line to be a continuation of the prior "If I could change your mind" and being directed at someone who is closed off, jaded, or blinded to some condition and if the singer could just open the individual's eyes, the realization of the situation would cause the individual's heart to break.
Exactly how I interpret it. Well said!
it does feel like the positive opposite of 3 Libras by A Perfect Circle, which says "I threw you the obvious to see what is left behind the eyes of a fallen angel, eyes of a tragedy... oh well, apparently nothing" (breaks me everytime). I love both songs.
Agreed. I've always seen it as anti-apathy. If something really hits you in the feels, really breaks your heart, it might encourage you to say something (shout).
No, it's about breaking the spirit of the criminal Oppressor.
@@RideAcrossTheRiver By saying no, you seem to be siting fact, not opinion. Can you provide a source for your assertation?
Woman in chains! Woman in chains! Woman in chains!
Such a masterpiece
2nd to that, woman in chains !!!
The best mixed Studio Song beside of Torn von Imbruglia. Such Masterpieces in Audio Engeniering
Lol if someone didn't know this was a TFF song, this comment would sound very different
Yesssss ❤
Shout is a masterpiece of layering - going from simple and sparse at the start, then introducing layers of sound with every repetition, until the massively dense finale...
A Gen X anthem if ever there was one. The "Songs from the big chair" album is a masterpiece.
Umm, no. Lol
"Youth Gone Wild" by Skid Row is THE gen-x anthem 🤷🏻♀️
@@foreveralone11w I do like that song…but I have to disagree. Granted, I don’t think Shout was, either. As an older Xer, Skid Row wasn’t there until I’d already graduated, moved out, had a kid…
The truth is that we had a ton of anthem-like songs to choose from! We had some of the best music.
@@kirstenlandon3043 exactly. Everyone has their own memories. That's why I disagreed. Lol
@kirstenlandon3043 we had the absolute best music ever.
Disturbed is performing the entire Sickness album on their next tour, so I'll get to hear this cover live. Can't wait!
I listened to the cover not too long ago. Loved it!
I already have my ticket, can't WAIT. ❤🤘
They aren't coming to Nova Scotia, and it makes me a sad panda 😢 been 13 years since they were here last.
+1 for head over heels. Criminally underplayed.
And the Literal video version.
@@LibrarianMichael - Thank you for making me aware of its existence! 😁 I'll watch it shortly! 😊👍
'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' is pretty good, too!
😁
@@LibrarianMichaelThanks for reminding me of the literal version, it’s absolutely hilarious!
Please analyze "Everybody Wants To Rule The World", it is especially poignant for the current times we live in.
My choice too. It's perfect.
Minor correction...
It's everybody, not everyone.
@@ChuckFickens1972 Got it, I was typing it on my phone and Auto-Correct decided to change it on me. Didn't realize it.
I can’t ever hear that song and not think about the old Dennis Miller Show.
I love how she unreservedly expresses he emotions. Her enthusiasm is contagious.
"Astronaut" was JUST RELEASED this year! And its a great song. They are STILL killing it 40 years later.
Please analyze Tears For Fears "Head over Heels" and " Break It Down Again"
One of the best Tears for Fears songs is "Woman in Chains". And unfortunately, I think it gets overshadowed by the bigger hits. The vocals are impressive and it is another song of positivity that ought to be heard by more people. That being said "Pale Shelter" always gets me. I highly recommend it.
"Sowing the Seeds of Love" is their nod to the Beatles, you'll ADORE the musical changes in it, and I also think it's one of Roland's best vocal tracks. Highly recommend!
Thank you! This is the one iconic guitar solo somehow no one ever talks about.
"Sowing the Seeds of Love," please. Both of them truly sing solo in this masterpiece, as well as other interesting backing voices and a creative Beatles-influenced composition.
I'll happily second that one.
Omg "Woman in Chains" or "Badman's Song" - his collaboration with Oleta Adams is STELLAR!! I almost forgot "Working Hour" - transcendent!!
'Badman's song' for the win! But the live version from 'Going To California' is the definitive experience, imo.
They've been back together for a while now, and have just released a brand new album.
Oh yeah, Woman in Chains next please ! It's absolutely gorgeous.
i love Tears for Fears but i refuse to listen to their new album or any album that uses Generative AI for the album cover
@Nihilore your loss.
This song is not one of the things I can live without.
I can totally see why!
Come On
Good analysis as always but this song is a thing I can do without.
Back when this song was on the radio, it was being played TO DEATH. For about the next 25 years, I could not listen to this song. In the lasy 2 to 3 years or so I gave this song a fresh listen, now I love this song. There is no denying why this song was so huge, But this song was criminally overplayed.
I love the little alliterations in a lot of the key phrases
Sell your soul
Jump for joy
Tell the tale
My drawing two teacher in college was a huge fan of them. She played there best of album constantly over 9 weeks while drawing. I can tell you I know there voices intimately apart from one another. Even almost 30 years later. Great band.
‘Took you for a Wack-a-Mole’. Perfectly fits in the song and is now the lyrics in my head.
Stoked for this one! If you're interested in more, the Curt-led "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is their next biggest hit, though I personally prefer "Head Over Heels". Roland's vocals are great in it, and I'd love for you to check out its zany music video!
Tears For Fears' live studio performance of The Tipping Point on Sirius XM is a must watch. It's a relatively recent performance so Curt and Roland are much older but their voices still sound incredible and they're joined by the amazing Carina Round on backing vocals. It's also just an amazing song.
Sowing The Seeds of Love is amazing. Please make an episode for this.
I love that these 2 singers had a disagreement and went their separate ways over 20 years ago but reconciled recently to produce a new album with some great songs. Both of them went through struggles in their lives that many of us can relate to and manage to express this in song. Checkout Tipping Point or Break the Man.. A smooth, mellow sound.
One of the greatest hymns of the 80s, never gets old! Brilliant band!
Mad World would be my suggestion.
Mad World is phenomenal but Gary Jules did it better.
@@DMonathDisagree. Although if that was the first version you heard, it makes sense. It loses all of the New Wave elements.
I love a good/great remake. But I am still partial to the original.
I immediately thought of Mad World when Elizabeth spoke of the slower than she'd anticipated delivery, particularly because Gary Jules took that slow, measured, deliberate pace of TFF and then slowed it far, far further while also making it more airy and ethereal, like a distillation of the spirit of the lyrics and emotion taken to the furthest extreme. Plus that was the song (the TFF version) that first hooked me to TFF and sent me rushing to buy the album.
@DMonath I saw Gary Jules mentioned several times along with Adam Lambert. So I went and rewatched those. Yes, I can see where people would prefer Gary's version better. Due to its tempo and delivery, it is almost two different songs. Now, that is a mark of a great remake. May I offer up another version for others to enjoy, Cody Glass from 2016 The Voice UK.
Such an iconic and inventive duo -- they were so musical and creative when many groups were opting for synth or pre-packaged sound. And the vocals are always incredible!
I'm absolutely THRILLED that you're doing Tears for Fears! One of my favourite bands ever. Such wholesome voices and lyrics. So many other tunes you can do of theirs, all of which have already been mentioned.
Thank you SO very much for this. It was just what I needed on a very cold Autumn evening in the north of Scotland.
Sending love and warm vibes to you.
❤🧡💛
Ps. Watch Curt singing Mad World with his young daughter, both on guitars when you've a minute... It warms the auld cockles!
Pps. I adore you and your reactions, Elizabeth!
Ppps. And yes we've all sang this out loud in the kitchen! Hah! :)
This is one of my top two favorite 80s pop songs. The other is the Thompson Twins "Hold me Now". Both were top tier 80s songs for me after listening to them for so many years. Never gets old.
Sowing The Seeds Of Love is the song I would recommend. Great vocals, amazing production and a really positive message. They really do have so many great songs.
There's a video of Kurt from Tears singing Everybody Wants to Rule in someone's backyard while they play it only to a box and a hammered dulcimer. It is AMAZING.
Plz link? :)
ua-cam.com/video/iAFT4eVX5Ak/v-deo.html
The song starts around the 2 minute mark.
It's a video from years ago... Search Ted Yoder. It's really good.
Ted did this instrumentally - and it went viral - so during a tour, Kurt came by and they did this. THIS is what we live for.
This one puts me in mind of Duran Duran's Ordinary World for some reason. That would be another good one to analyze.
Classic song.
Sure I feel that but Shout is an Anthem. ❤
yes please!!!!
Love the analysis of consonants & placement you provide. Lots to think of and helps me in writing and performing. Keep up the great work Elizabeth - many thanks!
OMGosh! I love that you did an analysis of this song! So excited for more to come from the list you posted! I’m all in my feelings now! ❤❤❤
Interesting NIN reference - lots of industrial-ish timbres in there!
Tears for Fears are one of those bands that I grew up hearing on the radio all the time and really took for granted as a lightweight (for the time) pop band. It's only very recently that I've come to appreciate the creativity and depth of their work. Now I'm obsessed!
I always thought the bridge instrument part to this song reminded me of a NIN song.
This song was on the first album I bought with my babysitting money. I have always loved Tears For Fears. Thank you Elizabeth for being the kind person that you are and sharing your knowledge and analysis.
Sowing The Seeds of Love has some brilliant vocals.
Yes, there is a wonderful live "Live at Night of the Proms 2007"
Really you can say that about pretty much all of their songs. They are a very vocal oriented band
@ totally - it’s just that particular song has so many different sections and a variety of styles within it.
This is one of the top musical and vocal analysis you have done, that I love. The breakdown, the personal experience is touching. Love your work.
I love you all. Stay safe my fellow humans. Thanks Elizabeth for your sensitive approach and thanks for all the great videos.
Young people NEEDED this song when it came out. We felt helpless and were angry about it. It WAS an anthem. We couldn't change the things that made us feel that way, but this song let us know that we didn't have to just sit quietly and take what was being dished out...it was okay to be p.o.'d.
No less powerful today. Very motivational. Very empowering.
It's a song about shout therapy. Which is mainly seen by most therapists as bull shittery. You can't just scream your problems away.
Something single college educated women who voted for Kamala Harris would do well to learn. And no, I'm not dunking on them at all... it's incredibly sad that thousands of women have been emotionally manipulated into posting themselves doing something so harmful to themselves on the internet forever.
It makes me mad. These people have been brainwashed.
guess you nailed it. was still true in 1996 when I discovered this song Tears for Fears ..
1980s, Cold War, Berlin Wall, East and West Germany instead of a unified nation, the constant threat of thermonuclear war with the Soviet Union, coming off of the power struggles of the 1960s and 1970s... Bah, what was necessary to change?
You actually hit it right on the head. This song along with the Scorpions "Winds of Change" really tried to pull people back together in a time when it very really could have gone either way.
Helpless, angry? This was the best time of my life and the future was wide open.
The 70s and 80s were the best times of my life, I loved this song, but I never felt it was overtly political.
“Elemental” and “The Working Hour” both LIVE versions for sure. You will not be disappointed. “The Hurting” album was and is amazing.
The Working Hour!!! Definitely!!!
Elemental yessssssss please
Agreed. However, it's worth pointing out that "Elemental" was essentially an Orzabal solo project, without Smith's involvement even though he still used the TFF name.
It is still a fantastic album, one of the best TFF albums IMHO, in spite of Smith's absence.
Sowing the Seeds of love. The best TFF song. Chock full of musical goodness.
Surely not BETTER than "Shout", but I totally get your point. If she does another Tears reaction, Sowing I agree is the one to do.
For me better than shout. Oh! And I forgot Mothers Talk. A close number 2.
This whole album is brilliant from beginning to end! I've been a metal-head for nearly 4 decades but Songs From the Big Chair has been one of my favorite albums since the year it was released! Everyone who hasn't heard this whole album, please do yourselves a favor and experience the whole thing, beginning to end. It probably won't be the last time you do!
It's an outlier because it was never released as a single, but "Badman's Song," really shows how they evolved into the 90's, and delivers the power with Oleta Adams extra vocals and some wild piano.
100% came here to say this. Would proffer the live version from Knebworth would be right up this channel's alley
Like a lot of the best bands, it does not really matter which you pick next to look at. Almost everything they do is gold.
In the same 80's spirit, It would be really nice to listen to Talk Talk's Mark Hollis voice. One of the best bands and voices of the 80's. The album "The Colour of Spring" is in my category of perfect albuns, any song is a good choice. One of the most beautiful works of art ever!
God yeah, Mark Hollis had such a beautiful, unique voice. I was just listening to "New Grass" and just, absolutely nothing else like it.
Such a unique voice. Both It's My Life & Life's What You Make It hightlight Hollis' pure vocal powers.
Yes I vote for Hollis too.
I loved them so much. RIP, Mark.
E, you should just listen, on your own, to the album this song is on, "Songs from the Big Chair" , it's in my personal top 10 albums of all-time. I know you like sax in rock songs, just for yourself you should listen to "Working Hour", which is the song right after "Shout" on the album
Working Hour is my fave song from them.
Working Hour is THE best showcase of Roland's vocal ability. And it's absolutely, stunningly beautiful.
Roland Orzabal is possibly my favorite singer of all time, his delivery is so passionate and so precise at the same time. The Hurting and Songs From The Big Chair are so full of exceptional and timeless pop music. For vocal analysis, I think The Working Hour would be the best showcasing Orzabal's power and range, and is just a beautiful piece of music, but Head Over Heels is probably the definitive best song from Big Chair. So happy to see you touching on these great and unique singers from the 80s!
I am SO, SO happy you are analyzing Tears for Fears! They have so many songs and a few new albums over recent years.
One of my favs is "Woman in Chains". It's so moving!!
Yessssssss you're finally getting to Tears for Fears! I remember suggesting them some months ago. I know you'll love them
Mad World & Head Over Heels are my personal favorites in terms of their hits (after Shout), but it's possible that Elizabeth would find Sowing the Seeds of Love more interesting and/or relatable.
This whole album is sublime. It's been a favorite of mine since I was in the 4th grade.
I'm so happy & excited that you analysed Tears for Fears, and my favourite song of theirs too! They're my mum's all-time favourite band, so I grew up listening to all their songs. We recently went to see the movie that they made - Tears for Fears Live (A Tipping Point Film) - from a tour they did in 2023. They still sound just as good as they did back in the day. Such amazing songs, there's too many to choose from - Head over Heels, Woman in Chains, Mad World... my hope is one day you manage to get to all of them! 😁
Shout and Everybody Wants To Rule The World made Tears for Fears my fav 80's songwriters. I lived during that time as a kid, and their words still ring through! Nostalgia is so strong!!
This album made them so popular. Id like suggest a later track called Sowing The Seeds Of Love along with the music video, was a big hit for them too
Next dive has to be Woman in Chains... backing vocals from the amazing oleta Adams x
Badman Song by Tears for Fears. A musical and vocal tour-de-force.
Yes! With Oleta. 😊
Absolutely. That whole album is legendary.
This is my official bot for next song! BADMANS SONG!!!!
deep cut and a long track, but definitely a staple in my TFF playlist.
Been waiting for this omg! TFF is my favorites group, they’re amazing live and Roland and Curt’s voice only get better each song. Their older stuff is just as amazing as their newer stuff, they’re literally sound the same yet so experienced! Can’t wait for more TFF reactions from you ❤
No matter what song I listen to with you, you make me smile. Thank you for your song reviews.
Anything off of Seads of Love, but but but especially Woman in Chains, unforgettable! Also from Songs from the Big Chair - Working Hour, pure bliss musically and lyrically.
Sowing the Seeds of Love is a fantastic romp by TFF, so happy you enjoyed Shout today!
Always informative and funny. You have helped me gain a new appreciation for songs I had long forgotten, Elizabeth.
As a young boy growing up in Tennessee, my musical journey started with bluegrass and country like the Oak Ridge Boys and the Statler Brothers. I still have a place in my heart for that music. Then the 80s came around, and I fell in love with Tears for Fears, Thompson Twins, Duran Duran, and the whole British wave and stayed there for the longest. Afterwards, my cousin came over one day and had an album by a band called Metallica. Mind you, I had previously thought that rock was of the devil, but the sound that came from the Ride the Lightening changed me forever. From that day forward I was a metalhead. It wasn't until later that I broadened my listening pleasures to classical, world, and new age musics. Now, I listen to more music than I watch t.v.
Among things which you MUST know and understand, Elizabeth, would be that:
the band's name ["Tears For Fears"] and THIS song in particular ["Shout"] were directly inspired by: Arthur Janov's psychological therapeutic approach ["Primal therapy" (often: misnamed: "primal scream therapy"...because aspects of Janov's techniques did involve: screaming at and screaming out one's nightmares and fears, etc.)].
Orzabal was very interested in (and "studied") Janov's theories and he incorporated ideas from janov's techniques with unresolved items/aspects of his own childhood in his song-writing.
[just "f.y.i.": John Lennon was another person who partook of some of janov's therapy (or therapy methods based on: "primal therapy," for a while).
Janov had quite a few interested parties in his approaches, in the 1970s (and into the early 1980s, even).
--Just so that people can/will understand: the 1970s was, really, the first point at which: pshychological therapy and "mental health" begun to be investigated and explored, more thoroughly and more intently (and even taken SERIOUSLY!), SINCE the early 1900s eras of exploration by: Freud and Jung!
In-between, there was so little actual interest or movement forwards that it can well-be considered to be: utterly static or "nonexistent."]
Insightful reaction as always Elizabeth. You're helping me understand a song I've heard and sung to many time over the decades. It's a great one for one's technique, I think. You really have to engage your lower support to be able to sound anything like that. Back in the day my band imitated the look of this a bit in our only video. We were on the beach with the lead singer standing on a high rock wearing a big long coat with the wind in his hair. "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" is another great Tears for Fears song to react to.
Badman's Song is brilliant, featuring Oleta Adams.
Love this. Excellent timing on this choice. I would love to hear The The, great vocals and extraordinarily prophetic.
Absolutely! Anything from Dusk! That's one of my desert island albums.
Tears for Fears was an incredibly underrated band in the 80s. Songs From the Big Chair was an excellent album, full to the brim with awesome talent!
The Tipping point is a fantastic album and I’m so glad they decided to get back together.
Wait until you hear "Sowing The Seeds Of Love", it will blow you away!
Mad World has to be next
Beware: Video directors frequently had both "leads" lip sync even when only one of them was actually doing the singing in the audio back in the 80's for some reason. It happened a few times with Heart as well.
and Depeche Mode
"I'd really love to break your heart"
Experiencing the heartbreak of an individual, especially as the source of that heartbreak, can be a valuable lesson in humanity and empathy. I recommend it to everyone at be that source at least once. It teaches you to consider what you do, emotionally, to others and can make you a more empathetic and thoughtful person.
A U2 series would be great!
- Bad (Rattle and Hum)
- Where the Streets Have no Name (Live at Slane Castle)
- One (Album Version)
- With or Without You (Rattle and Hum)
Everybody wants to rule the world by them is arguably one of the greatest songs ever written. But mad world is my favorite by tears for fears.
"Elemental" for sure should be on your list soon. It's great.
Amazing song and performance from Roland
Yes!
One of the greatest, most sublime guitar solos ever in pop music. Almost an outro, and wonderfully soaring, as you put it.
I have a dark Strat like Roland's ... because of this video. It is a beast.
@@RideAcrossTheRiver Hell yeah
@@Axechucker Wish I could find out what chorus he uses on that solo!
@@Axechucker My Strat is a dark sunburst that's well over eight pounds!
I love this album. Between Songs from the Big Chair and Til Tuesday's Voices Carry, these were the soundtrack of my commutes between Downieville and Loyalton when I was taking community college classes back when.
Add me to the chorus saying the next Tears For Fears analysis should be Woman In Chains or Badman’s Song. Both are stellar and Oleta Adams is featured on both songs. Absolutely amazing!
So happy you are doing tears for fears. A ton of great songs but Woman in Chains is perhaps the greatest song ever recorded.
I love this band. “Woman In Chains” is really powerful. And of course “Everybody Wants To Rule The World.”
Filmed near Durdle door on the south coast of England.
Iconic music video!
Surprised she didn’t comment on the bagpipe sounds. They had an impact in Irish culture as well.
22:01 what I find fascinating is your channel. I love the insight you offer... it's more than just what you think of the song, but it's the technicalities. It's what you like, and what you don't like.
And your Wacka Wacka Wacka always makes me giggle