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Fun Music Information -> Tears For Fears

Album cover parody of Raoul and the Kings of Spain by Tears for Fears
Parody album cover
click to see the original

This is the most recent information about Tears For Fears that has been submitted to amIright. If we have more information about Tears For Fears, then we provide a link to the section where it appears (the actual page whenever possible).

Our newest site, amIwrong has an albums order quiz where you need to put this performer's albums in order of release.
 
 

Quotes:

Roland: I consider it an insult comparing our group to Wham! Wham! is just sex and suntans and that's it. It's too easy for Americans to accept Wham! Curt: Wham!'s musical content is a bit superficial. Ours has more depth. Also, we've had to work harder to get noticed because we don't have the natural videogenic good looks like the guys in Wham! do. And even if we did we wouldn't focus as much on that. Music is our first consideration.
Submitted by: Shout! Shout! Let It All Out.
"We wanted pick up where we left off because we wanted to remind everybody that hopefully by the end of the decade of the 80s we had transcended on what we had become so bloody famous for."
Submitted by: Celeste
There are additional music quotes available.

Jokes:

Q: What’s a dominatrix’s favorite Tears For Fears song?
A: Woman In Chains.
Submitted by: Garrison
 

Band Name Origins:

  • Curt and Roland chose this name after Arthur Janov's book Primal Scream. Submitted by: Celeste
  • Taken from Arthur Janov's primal scream therapy book. Submitted by: Bryan McNeely

Music Performer Nicknames:

Known informally as: T4F. Submitted by: Celeste

Known informally as: TeFoFe. Submitted by: Twister and Shouter

Better Off Solo?:

Name
New Career
Comments & Submitter Name
"Roland Orzabal""Well, I'm only saying this because he should have more solo projects under his name personally and not as TFF." - Estekay
"Roland Orzabal""He released Tomcats Screaming Outside in 2001; and its release couldn't have been timed more badly than it was." - Celeste
"Curt Smith""Curt's most recent solo album Halfway Pleased is good." - Celeste

Literally Impossible Song Titles:

Song/Performer
Comment
Submitter Name
"Mad World,"A world cannot feel anger.GlamRockNinjaLord
"Everybody Wants To Rule The World,"If that was true then I'd be ruler of the world.Celeste
"Head Over Heels,"Only if you were born with a really bad deformity.Celeste
"Everybody Wants To Rule The World,"Not true - because I don't, for a start!Garry Davenport

Use a Song Title to Answer a Different Song:

Song & Band Name
Song & Band Name
"The Sword Of Orion," Krisiun"New Star," Tears For Fears
"What A Wonderful World," Louis Armstrong"Everybody Wants To Rule The World," Tears For Fears
"In Love," Scouts Of Saint Sebastian"Head Over Heels," Tears For Fears
"Then She Kissed Me," Hello"Everybody Loves A Happy Ending," Tears For Fears
There are additional songs titles that answer other songs available.

Remove a Letter From a Song Title:

"Shot" originally "Shout"
Sorry, you can only remove ONE letter.
Celeste
"Mad Word" originally "Mad World"
No comment here.
Celeste
"Mad Word" originally "Mad World"
BB Krak
"The Closet Thing To Heaven" originally "The Closest Thing To Heaven"
Carrie
"The Closest Thing To Heave" originally "The Closest Thing To Heaven"
Joe

There are additional song titles with a letter removed available.

Add a Letter to a Song Title:

"Maid World" originally "Mad World"
Peter
"Changed" originally "Change"
Serafina
"Slowing The Seeds Of Love" originally "Sowing The Seeds Of Love"
Ed
"Made World" originally "Mad World"
It's the best I can do but it's a start.
Celeste
"Showing The Seeds Of Love" originally "Sowing The Seeds Of Love"
Serafina

There are additional song titles with a letter added available.

Change a Letter:

"Mower" originally "Power"
Will Cut Lawn For Money! "If you're seeking mower,
Christian Brown
"Roman In Chains" originally "Woman In Chains"
Skippy
"Med World" originally "Mad World"
Duncan Moore
"Map World" originally "Mad World"
Duncan Moore
"Mac World" originally "Mad World"
No PCs there?
Duncan Moore

There are additional song titles with a letter changed available.

Song Parody Lyrics:

Original Song Name
Parody Song Name
Parody Author
"Everybody Wants To Rule The World""Everybody Wants A Monstergirl"Little Shadow Birdie
"Shout""Barf"EWOP
"Master Plan""Viewer Plan"Duc4AmIRight
"End of Night""End of Class"Duc4AmIRight
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World""Joe Biden is Going to Rule DC."Parody Beast
"Everybody Wants To Rule The World""Gadget Hackwrench Wants To Rule The World"PennyP1998
"Mad World""Backwards"the_conqueror_of_parodies
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World""Chikan in Japan is Really Rude"Robert D. Arndt Jr.
"Everybody Wants to Rule The World""Every White Whale Wants To End Your World"Herman Steinbeck
"Shout""Scouts!"Robert D. Arndt Jr.

There are additional song parodies available.

Songs for Commercials, That Haven't Been Done Yet:

Song Name
Product
Submittor
ShoutShout stain removerTarzan
ShoutSinging LessonsRad
Everybody Wants To Rule The WorldWills and Kate's wedding coveragepickle
ShoutShout (For Stains)CJB
Everybody Wants To Rule The WorldPowerpuff Girls CartoonUrvy J

Bad Choices for On Hold Music:

Song Name
Company/Organization
Submittor
Everybody Wants To Rule The WorldThe United Nations headquartersEdward
Everybody Wants To Rule The WorldThe United Nations headquartersEdward
Women In ChainsDomestic Violence HotlineLiz
ShoutPhyschologist's officeCeleste
Everybody Wants To Rule The WorldOsama Bin Laden's Answering MachineCeleste
There are additional on hold music ideas available.

Songs for Duets, That Haven't Been Done Yet:

First Band/Song Name
Second Band/Song Name
New Song Name
Submittor
The End Of The World
   Skeeter Davis
Mad World
   Tears For Fears
The End Of The Mad World
Paul
Don't Know Why
   Norah Jones
Everybody Wants To Rule The World
   Tears For Fears
Don't Know Why Everybody Wants To Rule The World
Serafina
Everybody Wants You
   Billy Squier
Everybody Wants To Rule The World
   Tears For Fears
Everybody Wants You To Rule The World
Serafina
I Can't Stop Farting
   The Queers
Quiet Ones
   Tears For Fears
I Can't Stop Farting Quiet Ones
Jonathan S.
There are additional duets that haven't been done yet available.

If Groups Combined, Their Names Might Be:

Blue Tears For Fears
Blue Tears combined with Tears For Fears
Submitted By: Joe
Tears For Spears
Britney Spears combined with Tears For Fears
Submitted By: Gus
Just In Tears
Justin Bieber combined with Tears For Fears
Maybe their music will wind up in an ASPCA commercial.
Submitted By: Garrison
The Racontears For Fears
The Raconteurs combined with Tears For Fears
Mothers talk! Steady as she goes.
Submitted By: one hit

There are additional Tears For Fears Combined Groups that haven't been done yet available.

Misheard Lyrics:

"Mothers Talk"
Misheard Lyrics:
Andersen Windows
Original Lyrics:
When the wind blows
"Mad World"
Misheard Lyrics:
Laura
Original Lyrics:
Mad world
"Sowing the Seeds of Love"
Misheard Lyrics:
Time to read all your books
Original Lyrics:
Time to read all your words
"Shout"
Misheard Lyrics:
At dinner time
Original Lyrics:
In violent times
There are additional misheard lyrics available.

Misheard Lyrics Stories:

"Head Over Heels"
Misheard Lyrics:
But the CHIPs and I go crazy 'gainst the charm in your face.
Original Lyrics:
But traditions I can trace against the child in your face

Story about this misheard lyric by: Liz

The TV show C.H.I.P.s was in first-run syndication at the time.

There are additional misheard stories available.

Song Parody Fragments:

"Shout"
Better Lyrics:
Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the teeth that are in my mouth
Original Lyrics:
Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Submitted by: Martha Hankins
"Sowing The Seeds Of Love"
Better Lyrics:
we're ripping the beatles off the beatles off we're ripping the beatles off
Original Lyrics:
sowing the seeds of love the seeds of love sowing the seeds of love
Submitted by: dowellist@hotmail.com
"Sowing The Seeds Of Love"
Better Lyrics:
Squirting the Seeds of Love
Original Lyrics:
Sowing the Seeds of Love
Submitted by: Enima
There are additional parody fragments available.

Funniest Song Lyrics:

"The Quiet Ones"
The Funny Lyrics:
It's always the quiet ones
who are stranger than fiction.
Why They're Funny:
I'm a quiet person and I've lived quite a dull and unfulfilled life.
Submitted by: Celeste
"Wino"
The Funny Lyrics:
You're a wino
a cigarette smoker
you have a good time
they call you a joker don't they?
wino
a cigarette smoker
you have a good time
they call you a joker
don't they? don't they?
Why They're Funny:
This is a good song to turn on when you have your drinking buddies over. something about it says "look at me I'm the world's funniest drunk."
Submitted by: Celeste
There are additional Funny lyrics available.

Repetitive Song Lyrics:

"Sowing The Seeds Of Love"
The Repetitive Lyrics:
Time to eat all your words
Swallow your pride
Open your eyes
Time to eat all your words
Swallow your pride
Open your eyes.
Why They're Repetitive:
This is but another example of just being plain lazy. :P
Submitted by: Celeste
"Sowing The Seeds Of Love"
The Repetitive Lyrics:
Sowing the seeds of love
The seeds of love
Sowing the seeds of love
Sowing the seeds of love
The seeds of love
Sowing the seeds
The birds and the bees
My girlfriend and me
In love
Why They're Repetitive:
We know that they're sowing the seeds of love there's no need to be repetitive like this.
Submitted by: Celeste
There are additional repetitive lyrics available.

Nonsensical Song Lyrics:

"Break It Down Again"
The Nonsensical Lyrics:
They make no mention of the beauty of decay
blue yellow pink umbrella, save it for rainy day
Why They're Nonsensical:
What does a blue-yellow-pink umbrella have to do with the beauty of decay?
Submitted by: Celeste
"Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down)"
The Nonsensical Lyrics:
Into that void of silence
Where we cry without sound.
Why They're Nonsensical:
How does one cry without sound?
Submitted by: Celeste
There are additional nonsensical lyrics available.

Misrhymed Song Lyrics:

"Fish Out of Water"
The Misrhymed Lyrics:
With all your high class friends, you think you got it made
The only thing you made was that tanned look on your face....
But now it’s sink or swim since your memory fails
Now in Neptune’s kitchen, you will be food for killer whales.
Why They're Misrhymed:
Don't get me wrong, I like this song, but some of the lines, like these ones, stick out like sore thumbs. And they could have fit in some of the other song categories, such as insulting lyrics, but these four lines in particular sound so forced that they're some of the most awkward lines Roland Orzabal ever wrote. As for the first two lines, uh, geez, he tries to rhyme made with face. And even worse, the second line has more syllables than the first making it sound forced as if he didn't have time to think it out more. And now to the last two lines... while he does get two rhyming words (fails and whales) the last line sounds terribly forced. Even if these lines may have the same amount of syllables, it sounds even more poorly paired than the first two.
Submitted by: Mykal Roze
 

Insulting Song Lyrics:

"Fish Out Of Water"
The Insulting Lyrics:
We used to talk about Primal Scream
to exorcise our past was our adolescent
dream
Why They're Insulting:
The whole song is a slam towards Curt Smith. And the only Curt could have possibly react to a slam that was directed at him was to direct a slam towards Roland.
Submitted by: Celeste
"Sowing The Seeds Of Love"
The Insulting Lyrics:
Politician Granny with her high ideals
But you have no idea how the majority feels?
Why They're Insulting:
Well, the name "Politician Granny" refers to then-U.K. Prime Minster "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher. The whole song is about the corrupt governments of the world and how they want to hold on to power no matter what.
Submitted by: Celeste
There are additional Insulting lyrics available.

Inappropriate Song Lyrics:

"Head Over Heels"
The Inappropriate Lyrics:
I wanted to be with you alone
and talk about the weather
Why They're Inappropriate:
Did he just go up to a complete stranger and ask to be alone with her?
Submitted by: Celeste
 

Dated Song Lyrics:

"Shout"
The Dated Lyrics:
In violent times
you shouldn't have to sell your soul
In black and white
they really really ougth to know
Those one track minds
that took you for a working boy
Kiss them goodbye
you shouldn't have to jump for joy
you shouldn't have to jump for joy
Why They're Dated:
This song is about protesting against the things that from a political stand point that are disturbing to you like nuclear weapons ad Margaret Thatcher's U.K. which was aiming to place nuclear weapons in army bases. But I guess since then nuclear weapons have been banned by some countries which would make this song pretty dated.
Submitted by: Celeste
"Floating Down The River (Once Again)"
The Dated Lyrics:
Lost in a space between the lines
Seems like life begins at 40 anyways
Why They're Dated:
I guess Roland wrote this song when he was almost 40. That was 10 years ago and now he's almost 50. :) That's why the lyrics are dated.
Submitted by: Celeste
There are additional dated lyrics available.

Dirty Song Lyrics:

"Head Over Heels"
The Dirty Lyrics:
I wanted to be with you alone
and talk about the weather.
Why They're Dirty:
It sounds like he went up to a complete stranger and asked to be alone with her. :P
Submitted by: Celeste
"Call Me Mellow"
The Dirty Lyrics:
I wouldn't mind but
she just showed up
on my doorstep
Wistful, and ashen
slightly bedraggled

Last time I saw her
she was howling at the moon
Roaming the forest
lupine and rabid

Woah is she wild?
Does she see my
inner child
Why They're Dirty:
This whole song is about lust.
Submitted by: Celeste

Song Lyrics That Name Check Celebrities:

"Sowing The Seeds Of Love"
The Lyrics:
Politician Granny with your high ideals
but you have no idea how the majority feels
Who They Mention:
Margaret Thatcher
Submitted by: Celeste
"Mothers Talk (Beat of the Drum Mix)"
The Lyrics:
James Brown, James Brown, James Brown, James Brown
Who They Mention:
This is a remix of a single from "Songs From the Big Chair" and is found on the deluxe edition CD reissue. This song is mostly instrumental, but in parts of it Roland Orzabal is heard repeating "James Brown" in the background. This shout-out to the Hardest Working Man in Show Business isn't heard in the original version of the song.
Submitted by: Martha Hankins
There are additional celebrity lyrics available.

Song Lyrics That Mention Other Songs:

"Sowing the Seeds of Love"
The Song Lyrics:
Sowing the seeds, the birds and the bees...
Song They Mention:
"The Birds And The Bees" by Jewel Akens.
Submitted by: Bob Oldhart
"Sowing The Seeds Of Love"
The Song Lyrics:
If you're a worried man, then shout about it
Song They Mention:
"Shout", a big hit these guys had four years before this one
Submitted by: Joe
There are additional Song Lyrics That Mention Other Songs lyrics available.

Songs That Open With Their Titles:

"The Prisoner"
Opening Lines:
The Prisoner
Comments:
No comment is required. (Editor:Then don't put one.)
Submitted by: Celeste
"Raoul and the Kings of Spain"
Opening Lines:
When the seventh son of the seventh son comes along and breaks the chains Raoul, Raou, Raoul and the Kings of Spain.
Comments:
Well, at least Roland tried back then.
Submitted by: Celeste
There are additional spelling lyrics available.

Made Up Words in Songs:

"Mad World"
The Made Up Words:
Halargian
Comments:
The final line "Halargian world, mad world" references a studio in-joke: "Halarge" was a fictional planet invented by a couple of guest musicians on Tears for Fears' first album. In Gary Jules' well-known cover, this line is changed to "enlarging your world, mad world."
Submitted by: Sejica
"Lord of Karma"
The Made Up Words:
pain-o-rama
Comments:
Lyrics: "Lord of Karma, your mystic pain-o-rama, one good reason keep my feet on the ground."
Submitted by: Martha Hankins

Scary Song Lyrics:

"Call Me Mellow"
The Lyrics:
I wouldn't mind but
she just showed up
on my doorstep
Wistful and ashen
slighly bedraggled

Last time I saw her
she was howling at
the moon
Roaming the forest
lupine and rabid.
Why:
It must be scary to have a female fan lust for you when you're twice her age.
Submitted by: Celeste
 

Song Title Space Change:

"So Wing These Eds Of Love" originally "Sowing The Seeds Of Love"
Submitted by: Regina Olsen
"Sowing These Eds Of Love" originally "Sowing The Seeds Of Love"
Submitted by: Regina Olsen
"So Wing The Seeds Of Love" originally "Sowing The Seeds Of Love"
Submitted by: Regina Olsen
"Ad Vice For The Young At Heart" originally "Advice For The Young At Heart"
Submitted by: Yvette Bristle
"Mother Stalk" originally "Mothers Talk"
Some people feel this way about their mothers.
Submitted by: George Straitjacket

Bad Grammar in Song Lyrics:

"Lord of Karma"
The Lyrics:
My superego, where I go, he go
He come a-reapin', come a-keepin' the score
Why:
Subject-verb agreement was sacrificed for rhyme and rhythm.
Submitted by: Martha Hankins
 

Band Name Anagrams:

Arts Are Offers Submitted by: Joe
A Fear Fortress Submitted by: Robert D. Arndt Jr.
Seafarers Fort Submitted by: Robert D. Arndt Jr.
Feast For Rears Submitted by: Consta Pate
Far Sorer Feast Submitted by: Consta Pate

There are additional Band Name Anagrams available.

Song Title Anagrams:

"Fork Moa Lard" originally "Lord Of Karma"
Moa = a giant extinct bird
Submitted by: Paula Bland
"Everybody Wants To Lure The World" originally "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"
Submitted by: Isac
"Oh, He's Revealed" originally "Head Over Heels"
Submitted by: Anna Graham
"Heels Overhead" originally "Head Over Heels"
Submitted by: Pete & Repete
"Know A Bargain Diet" originally "Break It Down Again"
Submitted by: Joe

There are additional Song Title Anagrams available.

Real Places Mentioned in Songs:

"Call Me Mellow"
The Lyrics:
If only I was half her age
and she was older.
We'd live on ice cream
on Coney Island.
Why:
This line mentions Coney Island, New York.
Submitted by: Celeste
 

Songs That Are Banned:

"Everybody Wants To Rule the World"
Banned by the BBC during the Gulf War
Submitted by: Evan

Super Long Pop Songs:

"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" Length: 6:06
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is track #3 on the album, "Songs from the Big Chair" (1985). It reaching #1 on Billboard's Pop Chart, making them one of their biggest hit singles. A version that lasting at 6 minutes and 6 seconds is also available.
Submitted by: Wisnu Aji
"Shout (US Remix)" Length: 8:02
Wow that's long.
Submitted by: Celeste
"Badman's Song" Length: 8:32
Off their 1989 album "The Seeds of Love".
Submitted by: justg
"Broken Revisited" Length: 5:16
This is the second longest running song, 5:16, on Songs From The Big Chair next to Shout Bonus Mix.
Submitted by: Celeste
"Shout Bonus Beats" Length: 08:02
This song has the longest running time, 08:02, on the Songs From The Big Chair album with the U.K. Bonus tracks.
Submitted by: Celeste

There are additional Super Long Pop Songs available.

Song Title Acrostics:

HOH: "Head Over Heels"
Submitted by: Celeste

Song Title Spoonerisms:

"Raid So Low (Deers Roll Town)" originally "Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down)"
Submitted by: Tiffany Llewellyn-Affit
"Shale Pelter" originally "Pale Shelter"
Pelts that fine-grained sedimentary rock
Submitted by: Emily Lime

Foreign Language in English Songs:

"Floating Down The River (Once Again)"
The Lyrics:
Ave Neru Salam
Why:
Means A Few Days in Malay.
Submitted by: Celeste
 

Upbeat Songs With Depressing Lyrics:

"Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down)"
The Lyrics:
Into that void of silence
Where we cry without sound
Where tears roll down
Where tears roll down
and when your mother's violence
sends your soul underground
Where tears roll down
Where tears roll down
Why:
What makes this song particularly upbeat but depressing is that he sings about laying so low that tears roll down with peppy music.
Submitted by: Celeste
"The Prisoner"
The Lyrics:
We are the wall
I feel so small
breathing but not receiving
Anger is me
Love sets me free
Feeling but not believing.
Why:
The upbeat tempo doesn't exactly match the angry and dark lyrics of this song. :(
Submitted by: Celeste
There are additional Upbeat Songs With Depressing Lyrics available.

Lyrics Alliteration:

"The Way You Are"
The Lyrics:
Going far
Getting nowhere
Going far
The way you are.
Why:
They tripled up on the letter "G."
Submitted by: Celeste
There are additional Lyrics Alliteration available.

Band Name Spoonerisms:

Fears Tore Fears originally "Tears For Fears"
Submitted by: Reese Witherspoonerism
Fears For Tears originally "Tears For Fears"
Submitted by: Peter

Lighter Side of Serious Bands:

"Songs From the Big Chair (album)"
On the cover is Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal. They are both Brits and in the UK straight men wear earrings on the right ear and gay men on the left. Because in America the earring wearing scenario is vice versa the cover picture was flipped so that Roland has his LEFT ear pierced (for the American audience). Roland and Curt are both heterosexual, and they are both married and are fathers. The album made multi-platinum in the U.S.A.
Submitted by: Observant Orlando
"Quiet Ones"
I have to laugh at the title of this song because Roland seems to think that the "quiet ones" are always stranger than fiction.

Why are the quiet ones
always stranger than fiction

News flash guys! I'm a quiet person and I've lead a pretty dull and pointless life.
Submitted by: Celeste
"Shout"
This song basically says: shout out about whatever is bothering you? You shouldn't give a shit about what anyone else thinks.

Shout, Shout,
let it all out
these are the things
I can do without
come on
I'm talking to you
come on
Submitted by: Celeste

What A Band is Best Known For (aside from their music):

"Being In the Entertainment Biz For 30 Years"
March 7, 1983. Tears for Fears released The Hurting on Polygram records making the album 30 years old. :)
Submitted by: Celeste
"Alledgedly Having Rebecca Demornay In Their Video"
Tears For Fears have always maintained that the girl who played the librarian and the object of Roland Orzabal's flirtatious nature was just a canadian model but rumours are now running wild that the actress is actually Rebecca Demornay.
Submitted by: Celeste
"Using politics in their music"
Roland Orzabal wrote the songs Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Mothers Talk out of wanting to take a stand against everything that was wrong in England circa 1985.
In an interview from Scenes From The Big Chair Roland mentions that Shout is about protest and taking a stand against the things that disturbing to you both politically and socially. In short it was a really big "f--k you" to then British Prime Minister "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher.
Submitted by: Celeste
"Their Teeth."
In the video for Shout there are many views of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith's mouths which showed their pearly whites. (Their teeth.)
Submitted by: Celeste

Products Bands Should Endorse Based on Their Name:

Psychologist
Their name is a technique used by psychologist.
Submitted by: Peter

TV and Movies Mentioned in Lyrics:

"Lord of Karma"
The Lyrics:
Take fear and loathing and put new clothing on it
Why:
Possible mention of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by Hunter S. Thompson, which was made into a movie starring Johnny Depp.
Submitted by: Martha Hankins
 

Bad Ringtone Choices:

"Shout"
The Lyrics:
Shout, shout
Let it all out
These are the things
I can do without
Come on!
I'm talking to you
Come on!
Why:
Not a very good ringtone choice when you're trying to attract a mate.
Submitted by: Celeste

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