The Story Behind Tears for Fears' Unexpected Hit "Mad World"

Tears for Fears ruled the pop charts for much of the 1980s with their unique mix of instantly catchy synth sounds, irresistible hooks, and confessional lyrics. Like everybody in music, the duo of singer/songwriter/guitarist Roland Orzabal and singer/bassist Curt Smith wanted to rule the world, and they certainly achieved that with a string of hits spanning several albums.

It all began with their 1983 debut album, The Hurting. The LP's haunting breakthrough hit, "Mad World," was originally intended to just be a B-Side to lead single "Pale Shelter." It was the band's A&R exec David Bates who pushed for its release as a single, and the rest is history. The song took on a life of its own and still widely influences artists and delights new generations -- especially after it was completely reimagined by Gary Jules for the cult classic movie Donnie Darko.

Tears for Fears' Roland Orzabal joins host Peter Csathy on The Story Behind the Song to discuss "Mad World," as well as Tears for Fears' new single "The Tipping Point," the title track on their newly announced album, which will be their first in 17 years. 

Don't forget to like and subscribe to The Story Behind the Song wherever you get your podcasts, and follow the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our series. For more from our host, follow Peter on Twitter @pcsathy and check out his company CREATV Media.

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