Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Tears For Fears Thought This No. 1 Single Was Too Bland To Be a Hit
Producer Chris Hughes has revealed that Tears For Fears' 1985 chart-topper "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" came together so easily during recording that he initially doubted it had the makings of a hit. The song, taken from the band's second album, Songs From The Big Chair, went on to spend two weeks at number one, despite the group having no expectation it would eclipse earlier successes such as "Mad World", "Change" and "Shout".
Hughes, who produced the track alongside co-writers Roland Orzabal and Ian Stanley, said the single was mixed only once and recorded far more straightforwardly than other songs on the album, which involved extensive tape edits and technical setbacks. He described it as "bland as hell" in purely technical recording terms, but said its simplicity proved to be its strength, coming together in what he called "a very innocent moment". The song has since been covered by artists including Gloria Gaynor and Lorde, whose version featured in the 2013 film The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
In short
- Producer says "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" was recorded with unusual ease
- Team didn't expect the 1985 track to become a number one hit
- Song later covered by Gloria Gaynor and Lorde, among others
Explained simply
Tears For Fears are an English pop band formed by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. Their second album, Songs From The Big Chair, was released in 1985, when the band had already found success with songs including “Mad World”, “Change” and “Shout”.
Producer Chris Hughes worked with Orzabal and musician Ian Stanley on “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”. It became one of the band’s best-known songs, and later artists recorded their own versions, including Gloria Gaynor and Lorde.
The song’s success shows how a recording that seems simple to its makers can connect with a wide audience. Its continued use in films and later covers has introduced it to listeners beyond the period when it first topped the charts.