I think he doesn't like 80's production values. The drum machines and gated snares and chorused guitars and massive digital reverb. This song has stood the test of time because it is a great song and even though it has that 80's sound it doesn't sound cheesy and dated like so many 80's songs do.
Everyday decade has a vibe all it's own. The 80s was no different. If you truly love music you catch the vibe and let it lead you to the rest of it. Unless we're talking 2020's hip hop In which case I'm not even sure we were talking about music.
Let us be honest here - there was a lot of absolute *trash* released in the '80s. There's a lot of trash now, but the base quality of your average chart topper today is so much lower that it's a bit less dismaying than just how bad a lot of '80s songs were. When '80s music was good, it was very good indeed. When it wasn't, it was...oh, I dunno, Tony Basil's "Mickey"...
The perfect road trip song, blasting in your car, windows rolled down... This wasn't Rolands favorite song, but the premise was that he set out to _write a #1 hit._ He literally sat down to write a #1 hit. And he did! Just like that.
"Welcome to your life - there's no turning back" is either the most depressing, or the most freeing thing you'll ever hear, depending on what you feel about your own life. Tears For Fears were fantastic and still are, just released a new album and it's really good, and they're still actually incredible live. What a fantastic band.
When it’s released, it’s a good song, catchy and fun. 40 years later it’s on the A-Side of the soundtrack of your life. Now it’s poignant, melancholy, and timeless. And yes, briefly, we ruled the world.
@@RichHeimlich aww, but I understand. I still enjoy this song but excessive radio play did ruin other songs for me. Like a half dozen lynyrd skynyrd tracks among them.
I remember the summer this came out being a kid at the beach with a speaker playing a top 40 station and this song and "shout" were alternated about every 15 minutes or so, lol!
@@work1343 Hearing something isn't the same as KNOWING it. I hate that this has to be explained a million times per video. I'm sure they have heard the song, but that doesn't mean they actually know/remember/are aware of it. That really should be common sense.
Been listening to this song on the regular for 37 years and I'm still yet to tire of it. Tears for Fears is "S" level talent. They sound almost as good today as they did then. Listen for yourself.
Roland Orzabal never gets enough credit for his guitar playing. The solo portions of this song really illustrate how well he constructs his solos perfectly for the song.
@@SteveWeintraub346 Oh wow, I didn't know that. I think I assumed it was Roland based on what I saw in the video (or other videos). I will have to check out Neil Taylor's stuff. Roland plays the middle more jangly solo though, correct?
“Sowing the Seeds of Love” is definitely the next one you need to hit from them, it is their nod to the Beatles, and it is absolute musical ear candy. Roland Orzabal’s voice is absolutely brilliant on this track, as well, along with the songwriting itself.
I was lucky to be stationed in England '77 to '86 .... Lived in Oxford, made many friends there and London. Spent most of my free time in London. The Clubs were crazy in those years! Saw all the Big Groups as they broke for next to nothing ... U2, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, The Police,Tears for Fears, Thompson Twins, Level 42, ABC, could go on for days! .... Saw Generation X in our Oxford Punk Pub "The Oranges and Lemons" for 50p .... The Lead Singer was Billy Idol!
Me too. I would have,to go back to the 70's & then hit the 80's. Once I heard Tears for Fears I was hooked. But "Shout" is my favorite. I could listen to it over & over. ✌🌻🌻
I agree - I think when people say '80's they forget about all the genres other than pop or new wave or art rock- of which I'm a huge devotee. But I think prog metal will get the "S". I'm starting my campaign of constant requests now - Operation Mindcrime. Whole album. 🔥🤘😠🤘🔥
This is my youngest brothers( hes 50)favorite song and album of all time,he loves 80's music, he can name every band of any top 40 '80's song,oh and he's special needs.This song reminds me of him ❤
A&A, you’ll love their “Shout”, “Head Over “Heels”, “Sowing The Seeds Of Love” and more!! The duo is Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith(on the right in that album cover). I played their “Change”, “Pale Shelter” and “Mad World” on the radio station from their first album.
@@robland6804 If you prefer Gary Jules's version of Mad World, you should watch the video of Curt Smith and his daughter doing that version a couple of years ago.
I was in a hard rock band when this came out and we all dissed this album, until my guitar player’s 12 year sister had this playing while we were kicking back in the back yard. I really listened to the whole CD, and the next day I went out and bought it. No regrets here. Great album, every song is killer. Great job you two!
I know right? Me and my buddies (not in a band, but hard core rock fans) used to call bands like this F*GS. But even back then, every time I was alone and this song came on the radio, I blasted it, sang along, and yes, maybe even cried a little bit...because my life actually wasn't all I talked it up to be.
The name Tears for Fears actually has a deep meaning. It's about letting go of your fear (in anything) and finding the cathartic release of crying (tears). For those 2 guys on the album cover, it's about their music as therapy! Which leads to their #1 hit 'SHOUT!". They've made lots of amazing music!! This has been an impeccable week of music with you guys! Cheers!!
Tears for Fears -- which for all intents and purposes basically was and is two guys, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith -- was heavily influenced in its early stages by the work of psychologist Arthur Janov, whose primal scream therapy was the driving force behind John Lennon's 1970 *John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band* album.
Tears For Fears is, in fact, a reference to "Primal Scream therapy" -or, I think, "officially" known as: "primal therapy" (🤷🤷) (which, I believe, both Mr. Smith & Mr. Orzabal partook of, or were devotées of the theories behind, anyway), at some points in their lives.) I do not recall, exactly, WHAT the reference is, per se ...and I would say that over 95% of their audience had NO idea, whatsoever, at the time (I, myself, only, found out years-and-years later (I think there was some discussion about it, somewhere, when the band released their "comeback" album: The Seeds Of Love, in the 1990s (but that is, just, some vague memory, as well. I, personally, might not have known about it until the early aughts. 🤷🤷... )-)-) and many never had any inclination to figure-it-out, even (as there wasn't major discussion of it, on any regular basis.). As I recall, the choice of name may, ALSO, have been influenced by a love for John Lennon (assassinated in 1980. Years before Tears For Fears, ever, recorded an album.) -Roland Orzabal was, certainly, "a Beatles devotée" of some ilk (Clearly demonstrated by the, aforementioned: Seeds Of Love, & its deeply '60s-influenced, sound.) and, I am surmising, perhaps: a devotée of Mr. Lennon (musically and, perhaps, personally, as well.) and since John Lennon made his earliest breakthroughs using primal therapy and the work of (pardon me if I make a mistake w/the man's name. I BELIEVE it is:) ...Dr. Janov? and was a proponent (therefore) of the Dr.'s ideas, therapy and postulations. ...Whatever the case: the phrase "tears for fears," comes from/refers to THAT.
@@kathynicholson103 Really?? I was NOT aware of that! "Sybil" was a huge cultural 'event' back in the '70s (sadly: almost entirely invented/fiction. ...but: I would guess that the attention to mental disease which came from attn. to that story, may have been something of an improvement (🤷🤷) ...a beginning of looking at such areas differently, in the long run. 🤷🤷 -Perhaps not, though 🤷 I don't, actually, know/can't tell. 🤷...).
@@shanehenderson8756 Lol...you must be thinking of the Linn drum machine! Yeah. I know what you mean...I call it the Yamaha DX7/ Sequential Cicuit Prophet 5 era....but truth be told, as a keyboardist, there was a boatload of excellent music..Howard Jones, Thomas Dolby, etc.
@@richardlindell9976 Well, I grew up in the 60's and 70s And yes a lot of good music, particularly Motown, but the 80s had some amazing new sounds - Depeche Mode for one.
@@deennaemilio if you think the Motown sound was more important than the Beatles, Who, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and many more, we are definitely not on the same page. Two different sounds, same era.
Rick Beato does an amazing breakdown of this song. I thought I had heard every layer of this song, then he plays one I never heard and my mind was blown.
I think I know the part you mean! I had heard this song a thousand times but never noticed that extra high harmony riff (over "saayyy that you never never never never need it, one headline why believe it") before. I always knew something was special about that moment in the song but I never consciously "heard" it until Beato pointed it out.
@@lesliesterling826 I was always able to hear that part. Go back and watch his video on the first chorus at the 5 minute 20 second mark. That was what blew my mind.
Woman in chains is a masterpiece as is the entire Sowing the seeds of love album. So many great Tears for Fears songs. Mad World will always have a very special place in my heart.
As a person who is VERY similar to you in taste - love classic rock, love 90s rock, prefer organic and anaolog sounds, don't love the 80s vibes often - you should really try their track "Head Over Heels". The musicianship and layering in that song single handedly made me take a second look at this band and now love them. They absolutely rock the hard 80s pop rock vibes, but within the context of those times they were top tier at being real musicians and writers. Check out that song. The end has THREE lead polymelodies that don't conflict. It's eargasm city.
Agreed. This song and Shout- big hits, great songs, but sound almost dead compared to Head Over Heels. Also Change And Pale Shelter- from earlier (first?) album, in the early 80s, represent the shift in sound and are quintessential 80s light, layered, heady, sounds. The interesting thing about the 80s music I find, are the sounds. If you were there, you can easily tell which years certain songs came out just by the sounds.
So well put!! I don't really care for the 80's stuff, either, but "Head over Heels" hits! And he sang the hell out of it, too. The acoustics at my old job (in the back room) were pretty good, and I used to sing this when I was alone back there, HA! It felt so good to just let it rip.
Tears For Fears, criminally underrated. Amazing song writers. That rhythm you're feeling is kind of a poly-rhythm, a 3 feel over a 4 feel. So kind of a triplet placed over eighths. I've been fortunate to cover quite a few of their songs over the years and they're still so much fun to play.
There’s footage of a young Curt Smith in the crowd at the first concert of the ‘80s King Crimson - who used loads of gamelan-influenced polyrhythms (check out 1981’s “Discipline”). I’ve always wondered whether those sounds he heard that night from Fripp and Belew influenced them.
Mike Donoghue’s - Wow. Never knew that about Curt. Huge Crimson & Tears fan. Fortunate to have seen them both. Crimson 2 years ago and Tears last month ❤️
@@cirenosnor5768 The first King Crimson CD boxed set has a photo from their debut performance at Moles Club in Bath, England. They were called “Discipline” then before resurrecting the name KC. He’s stood at the front - and the caption to the photo cites this.
Dean! Me too, although I wasn't such a glam metal guy, I was a Maiden, Priest, Queensryche etc. slave. But this was the first CD I ever bought. Can you remember how blown away you were when you heard your first CD through great speakers?
I saw Tears For Fears about a month ago, and they still sound INCREDIBLE. This song has absolutely withstood the test of time. It will always encapsulate my teenage years.
@Richard Dickson Same here. I was a junior in high school in Spring of 1985 when this song came out and hearing this song now transports me back to 1985.
From this old rocker, this is a brilliant song.... perfect arrangement, brilliant musicianship. Alex, you are correct.... nothing 4/4 about it, but as a guitarist, I must draw your ears to that guitar break.......sheer genius. These guys really stuck it out there and hit a home run.
The perfect 80's song... the melody, the synth, Curt's voice, how amazing Curt & Roland harmonize together, and definitely the lyrics. It's an immaculate S Tier song! 🎵🔥
@@descendantoffools9767 Could not disagree more. This only makes sense if you're English. When Doves Cry by Prince, Dreams by Van Halen, Crazy for You by Madonna -- all more 80s than this mope rock.
@@descendantoffools9767 I've heard that said many times & I totally agree. It's a timeless 80's anthem that instantly felt nostalgic. The lyrics, the synth, & Curt & Roland's harmonization are spot on.
Not only are these guys one of the premier New Wave bands ever, they are still touring and putting out new, relevant albums today. Just saw them recently in San Diego at a major amphitheater venue and the place was packed!
The past 20 months, I have fallen in love with Teaes for Fears all over again. I graduated high school when this song ruled the airways. Their Tipping Point record they came out with in February this year is also amazing. Woohoo!
When Roland and Curt were previewing songs for their producer, he heard this one and immediately said "That's a single." They'd never imagined it for radio airplay! I think this shows a lot about how these two young men were as much studio musicians as they were stage performers. They understood the business but were always far more focused on in-studio creation. It still holds up remarkably well in concert to this very day.
*TOP DRIVING IN THE CAR SONGS* 1. Pearl Jam - Even Flow (that guitar solo at the end is just made for driving in the car!!!) 2. Matthew Wilder - Nobody Gonna Break My Stride 3. Eddie Money - Two Tickets to Paradise 4. Steppenwolf - Born to Be Wild 5. The Doors - L.A. Woman (wheeww! this was real fast off the top of my head!!!)
“Head Over Heels” is a great song from Tears For Fears, for sure my fave from them. I’m with Alex, I’m not a super big fan of 80’s new wave but this band to me is very exceptional and have a lot of good music. Great reaction, thanks guys!
Chris Knight: "I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates when he said... 'I drank WHAT!?'" Chris Knight: "This?? This is ice. This is what happens when water gets too cold." Chris Knight: "Kent put his name on his license plate." Mitch: "My mother does that to my underwear." Chris Knight: "Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?"
This song is another song that just gets better and better with age. I absolutely love this song and I now find myself being a fan of "Tears for Fears" which I wasn't when this came out.
Okay, 80s gauntlet tossed! A summer songs list can't be complete without "She drives me crazy", Fine Young Cannibals, '88. That song poured out of every club and house party the entire summer.
these dudes are the real deal. Sowing the Seeds of love is one of my favorite albums of all time. Masterpiece. Their are lots of jazz elements. It's incredible.
The thing about this song is that it changes over time. The first listen you’re like I get it…it’s a good song. But then 10 years go by. It hits different. 20 years go by. It’s a warm hug. In some weird way this song becomes the sibling we never had.
Tears For Fears is absolutely a rabbit hole that’s worth the deep dive. If there’s a band that can break Alex of his 80s bias, I feel like it would be Tears!
This was one of those songs that got A LOT of radio air play. There was not yet i pods or playlists. You pretty much listened to what they played and your cassettes in the car. I was driving big rigs, cross country at the time. I remember hearing this song 8 or 10 times a day. There is a reason they call it "programming"!
Its got to be a road song. Over forty years ago and never get tired of the beat. Remember these guys survived the eighties and played through the nineties 2000 and 2010 Best group of the eighties overall. Amazing singers Amazing writers and Roland on guitar had some amazing rifts. "Good night song" has a great guitar riff.
This is a song you will now hear everwhere instead of it just being background noise at a store. Its appropriate with headphones, in a car, in a dentists office, anywhere. Thats the cool thing about this kind of style and its interesting enough as a song to not just survive with repeated listens but actually grow.
You guys need to respect the power of the 80s era, and listen to more of them. So many great songs in my memories in middle school and high school of 80s music, including rock, heavy metal, etc.
A & A: The next Tears for Fears song that you absolutely have to react to is the wonderfully Beatlesque song "Sowing the Seeds of Love." This song has incredible melodic and harmonic elements as well as a very unusual song structure to boot. It was head and shoulders above the vast majority of pop rock music released in the late 80s, a rather dismal time for pop music.
Tears For Fears are Curt Smith Bass and Vocals, and Roland Orzabal Guitar and Vocals. Curt sings lead on this one. Check out another anthem by TFF called Shout which has Roland on lead vocal.
Tears for Fears “S” - - Mothers Talk - Sowing the Seeds of Love - The Working Hour - Broken/Head over Heels/Listen - Pale Shelter - Change - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (The entire album)
Some off the best guitar work is in the background of this song and it has one of the most unique guitar solos of rock and roll fading out in the outro. This band is like no other from the '80s!
“Head Over Heels” is my #1 favorite song of all time. The fabled “only one song for the rest of your life” song. It’s incredible. Please listen to it. Great bass line too.
I didn't hear anyone mention it, but these guys were absolutely awesome in concert. Great musicians, they sang just as good live and always brought the energy the 4 times I saw them. In case you didn't know, they had an excellent Beatlesesque album called EVERYBODY LOVES A HAPPY ENDING (along with the aforementioned Sowing the Seeds of Love). Also, in Feb of 2022, they released their first album in 17 years, The Tipping Point, which is also a great listen.
This entire album is an absolute masterpiece! From start to finish it’s gorgeous. I was born a year afterwards yet it’s so nostalgic for me because I was surrounded by music from day one. It’s one of the most perfect and powerful albums ever made
Tears for Fears is an extremely under appreciated group, even though they had several top 10 hits. They have many great songs. Roland Orzabal is an amazing musician.
I'm not an 80s guy either, but I encourage you to give a listen to "True" by Spandau Ballet. I can genuinely rate this as one of the timeless songs which rate an S tier in my estimation.
I agree. Was not a fan of this kind of music as a teenager in the 80s but True has become one of my favorite songs and is one of those timeless 80s classics.
Tears for Fears are fantastic! As others have said there are loads of other classics, but 'Shout' is a brilliant track, layers upon layers, great vocals, guitar solo - the whole package!
I love how straight away you mentioned the timing. And then trying to follow the hi-hats. It's the odd 12/8 time signature it's made in that stands out. I listen to that every time trying to get my head round the signature but never quite figure it. Great
I was in the military stationed overseas when this song came out and it was everywhere, played in every club. It was huge. I am having flashbacks listening to this song, bringing back so many great memories
The most intelligent pop writers of the 80s and 90s and still producing great music now with their recent 2022 album ‘The tipping point’. You have to check out the album ‘The seeds of Love’ (1989) it might even cause Alex to reconsider his dismissal of the 80s.
My hackles always raise whenever this song comes up, as it is/was SUCH a popular (and overplayed) song...but then I listen to it (again), and it's SO goddamned good (and exceeds its popularity).
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It was heart warming to hear Alex apologise and pledge to be a better ally to the 80s community.
As an 80s lover (wasn’t alive during that decade but I love it, and my mom was a teen then) this was good to see
The 80's were one of the most innovative decades of music ever , dismiss them at your peril.
I think he doesn't like 80's production values. The drum machines and gated snares and chorused guitars and massive digital reverb. This song has stood the test of time because it is a great song and even though it has that 80's sound it doesn't sound cheesy and dated like so many 80's songs do.
Everyday decade has a vibe all it's own. The 80s was no different. If you truly love music you catch the vibe and let it lead you to the rest of it. Unless we're talking 2020's hip hop In which case I'm not even sure we were talking about music.
Let us be honest here - there was a lot of absolute *trash* released in the '80s. There's a lot of trash now, but the base quality of your average chart topper today is so much lower that it's a bit less dismaying than just how bad a lot of '80s songs were.
When '80s music was good, it was very good indeed. When it wasn't, it was...oh, I dunno, Tony Basil's "Mickey"...
"Mad World", "Shout", "Head Over Heels", "Pale Shelter", "Woman In Chains", I could go on and on. You really can't go wrong with Tears For Fears.
"Change" too!
"Sowing the Seeds of Love"
Definitely... *MAD WORLD* Best Song EVER! The Anthem of my Youth!
Sewing the seeds of Love is an artful masterpiece
Head over Heels best song on the 'Big Chair' album
The perfect road trip song, blasting in your car, windows rolled down... This wasn't Rolands favorite song, but the premise was that he set out to _write a #1 hit._ He literally sat down to write a #1 hit. And he did! Just like that.
"Welcome to your life - there's no turning back" is either the most depressing, or the most freeing thing you'll ever hear, depending on what you feel about your own life. Tears For Fears were fantastic and still are, just released a new album and it's really good, and they're still actually incredible live. What a fantastic band.
Oh wow! I didn't know that had released a new album! Will have to check that out!
@@karenduell1027 Great Album!
Hell yes, the new album is fantastic.
Have to piggyback off of this, yes they are still making music and their latest album is genuinely great!
Absolutely! I was just watching vids of their recent shows and they are still killin' it.
When it’s released, it’s a good song, catchy and fun. 40 years later it’s on the A-Side of the soundtrack of your life. Now it’s poignant, melancholy, and timeless. And yes, briefly, we ruled the world.
Totally A track for this member of the Class of '88
You can't imagine how huge this song was, the song was played everywhere all the time
To the point that I STILL can't stand hearing it today.
@@RichHeimlich aww, but I understand. I still enjoy this song but excessive radio play did ruin other songs for me. Like a half dozen lynyrd skynyrd tracks among them.
Never heard of it
I remember the summer this came out being a kid at the beach with a speaker playing a top 40 station and this song and "shout" were alternated about every 15 minutes or so, lol!
Globally too! I listen to the album though rather than single songs there are other bangers on this record!
I can't imagine how in the world you went this long not hearing this song. My small children know this song.
they obviously heard it before… It’s just clickbait
@@work1343 Hearing something isn't the same as KNOWING it. I hate that this has to be explained a million times per video. I'm sure they have heard the song, but that doesn't mean they actually know/remember/are aware of it. That really should be common sense.
Honestly never knew this song until I was into my early 20's. Fell in love with it right away.
Been listening to this song on the regular for 37 years and I'm still yet to tire of it. Tears for Fears is "S" level talent. They sound almost as good today as they did then. Listen for yourself.
They do we!!! Went this year and were blown away we go to concerts a lot and theirs stuck in my head for a long time. Try the Tipping Point out now!!
Roland Orzabal never gets enough credit for his guitar playing. The solo portions of this song really illustrate how well he constructs his solos perfectly for the song.
Agreed, but Neil Taylor played the solos on the track.
Agreed. What he does is not difficult to play. But it's so damn tasty.
Amazing player. He sounds like a studio musician on this song.
@@SteveWeintraub346 Oh wow, I didn't know that. I think I assumed it was Roland based on what I saw in the video (or other videos). I will have to check out Neil Taylor's stuff. Roland plays the middle more jangly solo though, correct?
@@terryp4164 Roland does play the jangly solo in the live reunion clip. Don't know about the record.
This one song epitomizes the 80's in a nutshell. Perfection. You must watch this video.
“Sowing the Seeds of Love” is definitely the next one you need to hit from them, it is their nod to the Beatles, and it is absolute musical ear candy. Roland Orzabal’s voice is absolutely brilliant on this track, as well, along with the songwriting itself.
100% Agree!
This is the exact reason I came down to the comments! "Sowing the Seeds of Love," in my opinion, shows the best that this duo has to offer.
Their nod to the mature, psychedelic Sergeant Pepper Beatles.
Definitely agree 100%.
Yes, this is a fantastic song!!
I’m so grateful I got to be a teenager in the 80”s and experience all these great songs when they came out 👌 Wish I had a time machine 😩
I was lucky to be stationed in England '77 to '86 .... Lived in Oxford, made many friends there and London. Spent most of my free time in London. The Clubs were crazy in those years! Saw all the Big Groups as they broke for next to nothing ... U2, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, The Police,Tears for Fears, Thompson Twins, Level 42, ABC, could go on for days! .... Saw Generation X in our Oxford Punk Pub "The Oranges and Lemons" for 50p .... The Lead Singer was Billy Idol!
Meeeee Tooooo
Take me with you. The 2020s suck...
Right?!
Me too. I would have,to go back to the 70's & then hit the 80's. Once I heard Tears for Fears I was hooked. But "Shout" is my favorite. I could listen to it over & over. ✌🌻🌻
I totally disagree that an 80's song can't be rated an S . Its a 80's iconic song that will surpass anything today.
There were a number of 80s tunes that were S.
Odd how popular the 80s are in general among younger generations, but not here on the channel. Plenty of S tier 80s songs.
I agree - I think when people say '80's they forget about all the genres other than pop or new wave or art rock- of which I'm a huge devotee. But I think prog metal will get the "S". I'm starting my campaign of constant requests now - Operation Mindcrime. Whole album.
🔥🤘😠🤘🔥
Police and Sting songs from the 80s include S-level recordings.
*Take On Me* is totally S tier.
This is my youngest brothers( hes 50)favorite song and album of all time,he loves 80's music, he can name every band of any top 40 '80's song,oh and he's special needs.This song reminds me of him ❤
A&A, you’ll love their “Shout”, “Head Over “Heels”, “Sowing The Seeds Of Love” and more!!
The duo is Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith(on the right in that album cover).
I played their “Change”, “Pale Shelter” and “Mad World” on the radio station from their first album.
Always loved mad world change and pale shelter.
I love sewing the seeds of love!
Yes to all of these suggestions.
@@Joshuadgog Mad World is better in the Gary Jules cover from the movie Donnie Darko
@@robland6804 If you prefer Gary Jules's version of Mad World, you should watch the video of Curt Smith and his daughter doing that version a couple of years ago.
I was in a hard rock band when this came out and we all dissed this album, until my guitar player’s 12 year sister had this playing while we were kicking back in the back yard. I really listened to the whole CD, and the next day I went out and bought it. No regrets here. Great album, every song is killer. Great job you two!
I know right? Me and my buddies (not in a band, but hard core rock fans) used to call bands like this F*GS. But even back then, every time I was alone and this song came on the radio, I blasted it, sang along, and yes, maybe even cried a little bit...because my life actually wasn't all I talked it up to be.
The guitar is excellent.
The name Tears for Fears actually has a deep meaning. It's about letting go of your fear (in anything) and finding the cathartic release of crying (tears). For those 2 guys on the album cover, it's about their music as therapy! Which leads to their #1 hit 'SHOUT!". They've made lots of amazing music!!
This has been an impeccable week of music with you guys! Cheers!!
Tears for Fears -- which for all intents and purposes basically was and is two guys, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith -- was heavily influenced in its early stages by the work of psychologist Arthur Janov, whose primal scream therapy was the driving force behind John Lennon's 1970 *John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band* album.
Greg just took the words right outta my mouth haha
Tears For Fears is, in fact, a reference to "Primal Scream therapy" -or, I think, "officially" known as: "primal therapy" (🤷🤷) (which, I believe, both Mr. Smith & Mr. Orzabal partook of, or were devotées of the theories behind, anyway), at some points in their lives.)
I do not recall, exactly, WHAT the reference is, per se
...and I would say that over 95% of their audience had NO idea, whatsoever, at the time (I, myself, only, found out years-and-years later (I think there was some discussion about it, somewhere, when the band released their "comeback" album: The Seeds Of Love, in the 1990s (but that is, just, some vague memory, as well.
I, personally, might not have known about it until the early aughts. 🤷🤷... )-)-) and many never had any inclination to figure-it-out, even (as there wasn't major discussion of it, on any regular basis.).
As I recall, the choice of name may, ALSO, have been influenced by a love for John Lennon (assassinated in 1980. Years before Tears For Fears, ever, recorded an album.) -Roland Orzabal was, certainly, "a Beatles devotée" of some ilk (Clearly demonstrated by the, aforementioned: Seeds Of Love, & its deeply '60s-influenced, sound.) and, I am surmising, perhaps: a devotée of Mr. Lennon (musically and, perhaps, personally, as well.)
and since John Lennon made his earliest breakthroughs using primal therapy and the work of (pardon me if I make a mistake w/the man's name. I BELIEVE it is:) ...Dr. Janov? and was a proponent (therefore) of the Dr.'s ideas, therapy and postulations.
...Whatever the case: the phrase "tears for fears," comes from/refers to THAT.
Also, the album name, " Songs from the Big Chair" is a reference to the book " Sybil"
@@kathynicholson103 Really??
I was NOT aware of that!
"Sybil" was a huge cultural 'event' back in the '70s (sadly: almost entirely invented/fiction.
...but: I would guess that the attention to mental disease which came from attn. to that story, may have been something of an improvement (🤷🤷) ...a beginning of looking at such areas differently, in the long run. 🤷🤷
-Perhaps not, though 🤷 I don't, actually, know/can't tell. 🤷...).
Another 80's crowd favorite - "Our House" by Madness is worthy of a listen.
That's a nice song, but the previous are better
@@stirbjoernwesterhever6223 Different vibe...but just as cool and reflective of 80's rock pop
Or It Must Be Love
Tears for Fears is an A plus group and Alex don't be dismissive of the 80s - some of the best music ever.
Yes there was a lot of garbage in the eighties with to much tech. But not with tears for fears.
@@shanehenderson8756 Lol...you must be thinking of the Linn drum machine! Yeah. I know what you mean...I call it the Yamaha DX7/ Sequential Cicuit Prophet 5 era....but truth be told, as a keyboardist, there was a boatload of excellent music..Howard Jones, Thomas Dolby, etc.
Unless you grew up in the 60's and 70's ! Do love Tears for Fears though.
@@richardlindell9976 Well, I grew up in the 60's and 70s And yes a lot of good music, particularly Motown, but the 80s had some amazing new sounds - Depeche Mode for one.
@@deennaemilio if you think the Motown sound was more important than the Beatles, Who, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and many more, we are definitely not on the same page. Two different sounds, same era.
Rick Beato does an amazing breakdown of this song. I thought I had heard every layer of this song, then he plays one I never heard and my mind was blown.
Agreed. Rick's breakdown is excellent. And the lads gave him a shoutout on their FB page thanking him for the breakdown.
I think I know the part you mean! I had heard this song a thousand times but never noticed that extra high harmony riff (over "saayyy that you never never never never need it, one headline why believe it") before. I always knew something was special about that moment in the song but I never consciously "heard" it until Beato pointed it out.
@@lesliesterling826 I was always able to hear that part. Go back and watch his video on the first chorus at the 5 minute 20 second mark. That was what blew my mind.
"Head Over Heels" is way more complex.
S Tier for me. Tears for Fears has some amazing songs. Head Over Heels and Shout are worth checking out too for sure.
This is an S song!! Ive been listening to this song for 38 yrs, and can still listen to it over and over!!! Come on guys!!
You guys should hit the whole album Songs from the Big Chair ! It’s fantastic. A masterpiece !
Yes. Considered one of the best albums from the decade!
Absolutely. It's a rare album from the era that actually works as more than just a collection of good songs. It's a surprisingly cohesive work!
@Eric B Most definitely!!😀🤘
Completely agree! For me it's the greatest album of the 80s
Yep, it's a HUGE Chair!
Woman in chains is a masterpiece as is the entire Sowing the seeds of love album. So many great Tears for Fears songs. Mad World will always have a very special place in my heart.
As a person who is VERY similar to you in taste - love classic rock, love 90s rock, prefer organic and anaolog sounds, don't love the 80s vibes often - you should really try their track "Head Over Heels".
The musicianship and layering in that song single handedly made me take a second look at this band and now love them.
They absolutely rock the hard 80s pop rock vibes, but within the context of those times they were top tier at being real musicians and writers. Check out that song. The end has THREE lead polymelodies that don't conflict. It's eargasm city.
I definitely prefer Head Over Heels for those exact resasons
Agreed. This song and Shout- big hits, great songs, but sound almost dead compared to Head Over Heels. Also Change And Pale Shelter- from earlier (first?) album, in the early 80s, represent the shift in sound and are quintessential 80s light, layered, heady, sounds. The interesting thing about the 80s music I find, are the sounds. If you were there, you can easily tell which years certain songs came out just by the sounds.
So well put!! I don't really care for the 80's stuff, either, but "Head over Heels" hits! And he sang the hell out of it, too. The acoustics at my old job (in the back room) were pretty good, and I used to sing this when I was alone back there, HA! It felt so good to just let it rip.
That octave piano line at the beginning gets me every time. Fantastic.
S tier. Just saw them in concert, and good lord they still have it. Soundtrack of my teen years.
Tears For Fears, criminally underrated. Amazing song writers. That rhythm you're feeling is kind of a poly-rhythm, a 3 feel over a 4 feel. So kind of a triplet placed over eighths. I've been fortunate to cover quite a few of their songs over the years and they're still so much fun to play.
There’s footage of a young Curt Smith in the crowd at the first concert of the ‘80s King Crimson - who used loads of gamelan-influenced polyrhythms (check out 1981’s “Discipline”). I’ve always wondered whether those sounds he heard that night from Fripp and Belew influenced them.
Mike Donoghue’s - Wow. Never knew that about Curt. Huge Crimson & Tears fan. Fortunate to have seen them both. Crimson 2 years ago and Tears last month ❤️
@@cirenosnor5768 The first King Crimson CD boxed set has a photo from their debut performance at Moles Club in Bath, England. They were called “Discipline” then before resurrecting the name KC. He’s stood at the front - and the caption to the photo cites this.
I have this on my own Road Trip playlist. Every time I hear it, I go back to the movie “Real Genius”.
this album was so big, even I, a card carrying 80s metal fanatic, bought it on CD. It was the song "Shout" that i had to have.
Dean! Me too, although I wasn't such a glam metal guy, I was a Maiden, Priest, Queensryche etc. slave. But this was the first CD I ever bought. Can you remember how blown away you were when you heard your first CD through great speakers?
I saw Tears For Fears about a month ago, and they still sound INCREDIBLE. This song has absolutely withstood the test of time. It will always encapsulate my teenage years.
We saw in Charlotte it was so freaking good❤️
@@michellecampbell5055 - that’s where we saw them!!
They are a superb band live, you're right.
As soon as that opening riff hits I'm back in junior year in 1985. Every time.
Same! But sophomore year for me.
Yep, and every time I hear this song I'm instantly reminded of "Real Genius."
@Richard Dickson Same here. I was a junior in high school in Spring of 1985 when this song came out and hearing this song now transports me back to 1985.
From this old rocker, this is a brilliant song.... perfect arrangement, brilliant musicianship. Alex, you are correct.... nothing 4/4 about it, but as a guitarist, I must draw your ears to that guitar break.......sheer genius. These guys really stuck it out there and hit a home run.
Stuart, this song is literally written in 4/4. 😉
@@221b-Maker-Street It's 12/8.
The perfect 80's song...
the melody, the synth, Curt's voice, how amazing Curt & Roland harmonize together, and definitely the lyrics. It's an immaculate S Tier song! 🎵🔥
I agree. If I could pick one 80's song to play for someone not familiar with 80's music, this would be the one.
@@descendantoffools9767 Could not disagree more. This only makes sense if you're English. When Doves Cry by Prince, Dreams by Van Halen, Crazy for You by Madonna -- all more 80s than this mope rock.
@@descendantoffools9767 I've heard that said many times & I totally agree. It's a timeless 80's anthem that instantly felt nostalgic. The lyrics, the synth, & Curt & Roland's harmonization are spot on.
Not only are these guys one of the premier New Wave bands ever, they are still touring and putting out new, relevant albums today. Just saw them recently in San Diego at a major amphitheater venue and the place was packed!
I saw em at Pine Knob outside Detroit this summer and they still got it! Played a bunch of tracks off their new album, too
Sowing the Seeds of Love is their true audial and visual masterpiece!
The past 20 months, I have fallen in love with Teaes for Fears all over again. I graduated high school when this song ruled the airways. Their Tipping Point record they came out with in February this year is also amazing. Woohoo!
One of the 80’s band who didn’t sound fake .
Who sounded fake in the 80s? Just curious.
How about Flock of Seagulls, or Boy George?
They're not a band
When Roland and Curt were previewing songs for their producer, he heard this one and immediately said "That's a single." They'd never imagined it for radio airplay! I think this shows a lot about how these two young men were as much studio musicians as they were stage performers. They understood the business but were always far more focused on in-studio creation. It still holds up remarkably well in concert to this very day.
This is one of my all-time favorite 80s songs. Very nostalgic. Totally an S tier song.
*TOP DRIVING IN THE CAR SONGS*
1. Pearl Jam - Even Flow (that guitar solo at the end is just made for driving in the car!!!)
2. Matthew Wilder - Nobody Gonna Break My Stride
3. Eddie Money - Two Tickets to Paradise
4. Steppenwolf - Born to Be Wild
5. The Doors - L.A. Woman (wheeww! this was real fast off the top of my head!!!)
This song is such a mood. As a teen in the 80s, this song always just brings me back. Love it!
“Head Over Heels” is a great song from Tears For Fears, for sure my fave from them. I’m with Alex, I’m not a super big fan of 80’s new wave but this band to me is very exceptional and have a lot of good music. Great reaction, thanks guys!
Such a feel-good song!
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" was appropriately featured in 80's classic movie "Real Genius"
You'll rue the day!
@@scottyyz who talks like that?
@@jasonremy1627 It's a moral imperative.
I love that film to death. Especially William Atherton who played Professor Jerry Hathaway. (BTW, he turns 75 tomorrow!)
Chris Knight: "I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates when he said... 'I drank WHAT!?'"
Chris Knight: "This?? This is ice. This is what happens when water gets too cold."
Chris Knight: "Kent put his name on his license plate."
Mitch: "My mother does that to my underwear."
Chris Knight: "Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?"
This song is another song that just gets better and better with age. I absolutely love this song and I now find myself being a fan of "Tears for Fears" which I wasn't when this came out.
Rick Beato did a whole episode on this song and one on Head Over Heels. ❤️
And it’s amazing!
I always blast this song when I drive along in the car by myself. Such an iconic song and even better when you were a teen when it came out. 😊
OMG TEARS FOR FEARS FINALLY, I have my notification on
"Shout" should be the next one. I love,them all but Shout is my favorite.✌🌻🌻
Okay, 80s gauntlet tossed! A summer songs list can't be complete without "She drives me crazy", Fine Young Cannibals, '88. That song poured out of every club and house party the entire summer.
being older i have listened to it over 1000Xs & its still A+ / S song
Pale Shelter is an amazing and underrated Tears For Fears song.
Rick Beato did a "what makes this song great" on this tune btw....
these dudes are the real deal. Sowing the Seeds of love is one of my favorite albums of all time. Masterpiece. Their are lots of jazz elements. It's incredible.
💯 They are the real deal.
One of the best songs of the entire 80s and one of the best bands ever. This album was phenomenal
That whole album is a 10/10 banger can’t wait to see more from them
The thing about this song is that it changes over time. The first listen you’re like I get it…it’s a good song. But then 10 years go by. It hits different. 20 years go by. It’s a warm hug. In some weird way this song becomes the sibling we never had.
Tears For Fears is absolutely a rabbit hole that’s worth the deep dive. If there’s a band that can break Alex of his 80s bias, I feel like it would be Tears!
This was one of those songs that got A LOT of radio air play. There was not yet i pods or playlists. You pretty much listened to what they played and your cassettes in the car. I was driving big rigs, cross country at the time. I remember hearing this song 8 or 10 times a day. There is a reason they call it "programming"!
Every time I start a long Vacation Drive i always pop this on!
An 80's classic that was a big hit for the group. Tears for Fears just released an album this year called "The Tipping Point" And the beat goes on.
Its got to be a road song. Over forty years ago and never get tired of the beat. Remember these guys survived the eighties and played through the nineties 2000 and 2010
Best group of the eighties overall. Amazing singers Amazing writers and Roland on guitar had some amazing rifts. "Good night song" has a great guitar riff.
This is a song you will now hear everwhere instead of it just being background noise at a store. Its appropriate with headphones, in a car, in a dentists office, anywhere. Thats the cool thing about this kind of style and its interesting enough as a song to not just survive with repeated listens but actually grow.
Hall & Oats - Sara Smile is the one I hear everytime I'm at the Grocery Store, Dentist Office or elevator..😉👍
Impossible to have never heard that before!!!!!!!!
Tears For Fears, one of the best 80's bands
That's an "S" tier song, guys!!
You guys need to respect the power of the 80s era, and listen to more of them. So many great songs in my memories in middle school and high school of 80s music, including rock, heavy metal, etc.
one of my all time favorite songs
A & A: The next Tears for Fears song that you absolutely have to react to is the wonderfully Beatlesque song "Sowing the Seeds of Love." This song has incredible melodic and harmonic elements as well as a very unusual song structure to boot. It was head and shoulders above the vast majority of pop rock music released in the late 80s, a rather dismal time for pop music.
@John Hughes I’m am in total agreement, as usual!!!
I agree but I feel like they should do pale shelter or mad world first. Sowing the seeds would be a great finisher for them. Great song.
👍 definitely
My favorite Tears for Fears song.
Also don't forget the wonderful Woman in chains. so beautiful.
Tears For Fears are Curt Smith Bass and Vocals, and Roland Orzabal Guitar and Vocals. Curt sings lead on this one. Check out another anthem by TFF called Shout which has Roland on lead vocal.
I work in a store that played 80s music for awhile and everyone would be singing when this came on. Just such an all over feel good song
Sowing the seeds of love and woman in chains are great tracks too.
Tears for Fears “S” -
- Mothers Talk
- Sowing the Seeds of Love
- The Working Hour
- Broken/Head over Heels/Listen
- Pale Shelter
- Change
- Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (The entire album)
Some off the best guitar work is in the background of this song and it has one of the most unique guitar solos of rock and roll fading out in the outro. This band is like no other from the '80s!
I know metal guys who said "whaaat" at that melodic solo. Not ab there ... all style.
"Sowing the seeds of love" is dynamic. You have to hear it. Might even get an "S".
Shout should be hit soon. It is probably the most iconic anthem of the 80's.
👍
First like and first comment. I love this band and song. ❤️
Same! I think they are underrated.
I can still listen to their music all day! I saw them live back in 1987 in San Diego. Great show!!
Sowing the seeds of love is a production tour de force.
I spent the last months listening to Tears for Fears, their first album "the hurting" is a masterpiece.
Thanks, Andy! Thanks, Alex! 💎 #AndyAndAlex #TearsForFears #EverybodyWantsToRuleTheWorld
“Head Over Heels” is my #1 favorite song of all time. The fabled “only one song for the rest of your life” song. It’s incredible. Please listen to it. Great bass line too.
Absolutely, it is either #1 or #2 on my all time list, a masterpiece indeed!
I love the whole album, but The Working Hour may be my favorite track
I didn't hear anyone mention it, but these guys were absolutely awesome in concert. Great musicians, they sang just as good live and always brought the energy the 4 times I saw them.
In case you didn't know, they had an excellent Beatlesesque album called EVERYBODY LOVES A HAPPY ENDING (along with the aforementioned Sowing the Seeds of Love). Also, in Feb of 2022, they released their first album in 17 years, The Tipping Point, which is also a great listen.
This duo is an “S” and I am a huge 70’s fan.
This entire album is an absolute masterpiece! From start to finish it’s gorgeous. I was born a year afterwards yet it’s so nostalgic for me because I was surrounded by music from day one. It’s one of the most perfect and powerful albums ever made
It is absolutely a quintessential 80s song. Brings to mind polo shirts with turned up collars & khakis. 😆 fun times!
Tears for Fears is an extremely under appreciated group, even though they had several top 10 hits. They have many great songs. Roland Orzabal is an amazing musician.
I'm not an 80s guy either, but I encourage you to give a listen to "True" by Spandau Ballet. I can genuinely rate this as one of the timeless songs which rate an S tier in my estimation.
You're right!
Also "Gold" by Spandau Ballet
And another 1985 classic; Dream Academy's "Life In A Northern Town"
I agree. Was not a fan of this kind of music as a teenager in the 80s but True has become one of my favorite songs and is one of those timeless 80s classics.
S tier!!
Tears for Fears excellent group song Amazing NOSTALGY disco 80.....
My 13 year old granddaughter loves this song and has it on her play list. They are reaching a whole new generation with their music.
Shout was the first I heard of them and I was blown away, Head over Heels is another great number, Woman in Chains also.
Tears for Fears are fantastic! As others have said there are loads of other classics, but 'Shout' is a brilliant track, layers upon layers, great vocals, guitar solo - the whole package!
I love how straight away you mentioned the timing. And then trying to follow the hi-hats. It's the odd 12/8 time signature it's made in that stands out. I listen to that every time trying to get my head round the signature but never quite figure it. Great
The awesome Simon Phillips on drums. Also recorded "Shout" with them.
Wow! Simon Phillips is so great!! Never knew he was on this!
I was in the military stationed overseas when this song came out and it was everywhere, played in every club. It was huge. I am having flashbacks listening to this song, bringing back so many great memories
Latest album, The Tipping Point that just came out, is still fire after all these years. This duo is just magic together…
Yeah they are still rockin' and still sound incredible; really one of the all-time great bands.
The most intelligent pop writers of the 80s and 90s and still producing great music now with their recent 2022 album ‘The tipping point’. You have to check out the album ‘The seeds of Love’ (1989) it might even cause Alex to reconsider his dismissal of the 80s.
This song is a genre defining absolute pop masterpiece.
My hackles always raise whenever this song comes up, as it is/was SUCH a popular (and overplayed) song...but then I listen to it (again), and it's SO goddamned good (and exceeds its popularity).
This song never gets old and really transports you back to the 1980's if you grew up then.
This is one of my favorite '80s songs.
This and Don’t Dream it’s Over are two of the most perfect pop songs ever!
Definitely agree this is a great song