“Mad World” was originally written on acoustic guitar when Orzabal was 19 after being inspired to write a new wave song in the vein of Duran Duran’s “Girls on Film”. After a few false starts with Orzabal on vocals, he suggested Smith sing it and “suddenly it sounded fabulous”.[7]
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The song was influenced by the theories of Arthur Janov, author of The Primal Scream.[11] The lyric “the dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had” suggests that dreams of intense experiences such as death will be the best at releasing tension.[12]
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The promotional video for “Mad World” was filmed in late summer 1982, in the grounds of Knebworth House.[14] It was Tears for Fears’ first music video, and features Curt Smith staring out of a window while Roland Orzabal dances outside on a lakeside jetty. A brief party scene in the video features friends and family of the band, including Smith’s mother as well as his then-wife Lynne.
According to Curt Smith, “When we made the video in a country estate on the cheap, we bussed all our friends and family up from Bath and had a fun day. The woman who’s having the birthday party in the video is my mum.”[15]
What a cover! I actually like this much better than the original by Gary Jules
Edit: I guess I should have put in a /s
You haven’t truly lived until you’ve sung a karaoke of the Gary Jules version.
I think I like the Tears for Fears version (the original) a bit better because the tune is bouncier which contrasts with the lyrics.
Tears for Fears is the original. It was originally recorded in 82 (rtfa), Gary Jules did his version in 2001 for the film Donnie Darko according to the interwebs.
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You’re both wrong; it sounds best in the original Klingon!