Today’s classic song of the day is my 8 year-old grandson Jackson’s current favorite song in the world. I’m talking about that New Wave classic, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears. This single was released in March of 1985 during the height of the MTV era, and hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Dance Club Play charts, as well as topping the Cash Box Top 100 and hitting the top ten in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, and the UK. It truly was a worldwide sensation.
My grandson Jackson knows all the words to the song. That’s probably because he listens to it on repeat every night when he goes to bed. When I cuddle with him I get to listen to it about a dozen times in a row before he falls asleep, and I’ve earned a newfound appreciation of the tune. I’m particularly impressed with all the guitar work, which wasn’t expected in the era of synth rock in which it was released. There’s a lot of electric guitar on this one—I mean, a lot. It’s really a guitar rock song, although it doesn’t have that feel.
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” was written by bandmates Roland Orzabal and Ian Stanley, along with producer Chris Hughes. It apparently was a last-minute addition to the band’s second album, Songs from the Big Chair, which also featured their signature song, “Shout.”
The song is all about humankind’s desire for power and control. One critic called it a “meditative commentary on an era that was so corrupt economically and spiritually.” The last line of the song was originally written as “Everybody wants to go to war,” which makes sense in that context, but the band wisely changed it to a repeat of the song’s title.
Tears for Fears was formed in 1981 by Roland Orzabal (guitars, keyboards, and vocals) and Curt Smith (bass, keyboards, and vocals), joined by Ian Stanley (keyboards) and Manny Elias (drums). They stayed together through 1991, when Orzabal and Smith had a falling out. Orzabal continued performing with other musicians as Tears for Fears, and he and Smith got back together in 2004. They’re still performing together today on the New Wave oldies circuit. (Yes, there’s a New Wave oldies circuit—but shouldn’t they call it Old Wave now?)
By the way, my grandson Jackson’s previous favorite songs in the world were “Drunk on a Plane” by Dierks Bentley and “Love Ain’t” by the Eli Young Band. No offense to those two songs or those two artists, but “Everybody Rules the World” is a much superior track. I like listening to it every night with my pal Jackson; it’s something nice we have in common.
