- Head over Heels (Tears for Fears song)
Single infobox
Name = Head over Heels
Artist =Tears for Fears
from Album =Songs from the Big Chair
B-side = "When in Love with a Blind Man"
Released =June 10 1985
Format = 7", 10", 12"
Recorded = 1984
Genre = New Wave
Length = 4:14
Label =Mercury Records
Writer =Roland Orzabal Curt Smith
Producer = Chris Hughes
Chart position =
*# 12 (UK)
*# 3 (USA Billboard Hot 100)
**# 5 (Adult Contemporary)
**# 7 (Mainstream Rock Tracks )
**# 49 (Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales)
*# 21 (Australia )
*# 55 (Germany)
Last single = "Everybody Wants to Rule the World " (1985)
This single = "Head over Heels" (1985)
Next single = "I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording) " (1985)"Head over Heels" is a song by the British pop/rock band
Tears for Fears . It was the band's tenth single release in theUnited Kingdom (the fourth taken from their second LP "Songs from the Big Chair ") and eighth UK Top 40 hit, peaking at #12 in July 1985. In the USA, it was the third single from the album and continued the band's run of hits there, peaking at #3 on theBillboard Hot 100 . A limited edition four-leaf clover shapedpicture disc was issued for the single's release in the UK.Background
"Head over Heels" had been developed nearly two years prior as part of a
segue with the song "Broken", which was previously a stand alone B-side to the 1983 "Pale Shelter " single. As the two songs share the same piano/synth motif, "Head over Heels" eventually came to be sandwiched in between two bookend parts of "Broken" in live performances. This placement carried over to the final track listing of the "Big Chair" LP, with a studio recording of "Broken" preceding "Head Over Heels" and a livereprise of "Broken" following it.The song features guitarist
Roland Orzabal on lead vocals.Meanings
ong versions
"Head over Heels" has seen only two official remixes since its release.
The 12" version was titled the "Preacher Mix" and is an extended remix of the entire "Broken/Head Over Heels/Broken" medley. The mix was done by producer Chris Hughes and features an unusual spoken word intro in which
Roland Orzabal recites lyrics from the song "I Believe" in the style of a preacher. This mix is notable as it contains the only released studio recording of the "Broken" reprise (the version on the "Songs from the Big Chair" album is a live recording).The 7" remix was done by
David Bascombe and notably ends in a "cold stop" after the "time flies" lyric, instead of the segue into the reprise of "Broken" found on the album.B-side
"When in Love with a Blind Man" is a short song that served as the b-side to the "Head over Heels" single. It features bassist
Curt Smith on vocals.Music video
The promotional clip for "Head over Heels", filmed in June 1985, was the fourth Tears for Fears clip directed by famed music video producer
Nigel Dick . It is centered aroundRoland Orzabal 's attempts to get the attention of a librarian (played by Canadian model Joan Densmore), while a variety of characters (many played by the rest of the band) take part in shenanigans in the library. The video was filmed at the Emmanuel College Library inToronto, Canada .Track listings
7": Mercury / IDEA10 (UK)
# "Head over Heels (Remix)" - 4:14
# "When in Love with a Blind Man" - 2:22
* Also released as 10" four-leaf clover shaped picture disc (Mercury / IDPIC10)12": Mercury / IDEA1012 (UK)
# "Broken/Head over Heels/Broken (Preacher Mix)" - 7:53
# "Head over Heels (Remix)" - 4:14
# "When in Love with a Blind Man" - 2:22CDV: Mercury / 080 062-2 (UK)
# "Head over Heels (Remix)" - 4:14
# "Sea Song" - 3:52
# "The Working Hour" - 6:27
# "Mothers Talk (U.S. Remix)" - 4:14
# "Head over Heels" [video]Popular culture
"Head over Heels" was featured prominently in the 2001 film "
Donnie Darko ". According to director Richard Kelly on the DVD commentary, the scene in which the song was used was written and choreographed specifically with the song in mind.Cover versions
"Head over Heels" has been covered by the following artists:
*American
Christian rock bandKids in the Way , on their 2005 album "Apparitions of Melody ".
*American experimental folk singerSamamidon , on his 2007 album "But This Chicken Proved False".
*Most recently, southern California's freeform Bargain Music has covered the song. This version finds vocalist Josh alone with an acoustic guitar playing the entire song solo. It is also track #7 on their new album American Born.
*Australianelectro pop bandRogue Traders sampled pieces of the song on their 2007 singleIn Love Again . Some of these pieces were also used in an Australian television advertisement on Channel 10 for the Australian dramaNeighbours in mid 2007, helping to revamp the show.
*AmericanPop punk bandNew Found Glory on their second "Movie Song" cover albumFrom the Screen to Your Stereo Part II .
*Relient K Also Covered This Song On Their 2007 Summer Tour
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