Head Over Heels (Tears for Fears song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Head Over Heels"
"Head Over Heels" cover
Single by Tears for Fears
from the album Songs from the Big Chair
B-side(s) "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(s) Roland Orzabal
Curt Smith
Producer(s) Chris Hughes
Chart positions
Tears for Fears singles chronology
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
(1985)
"Head Over Heels"
(1985)
"I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording)"
(1985)

"Head Over Heels" is a song originally written by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith of the British band Tears for Fears. It was the band's tenth single release in the United Kingdom (the fourth taken from their sophomore LP Songs from the Big Chair) and eighth UK Top 25 chart hit, peaking at #12 in July 1985. In the USA, it was the third single from the album and continued the band's dominance of the singles chart, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. A limited edition four-leaf clover shaped picture disc highlighted the single's release in the UK.

Contents

[edit] Background

"Head Over Heels" is the oldest song on the Songs from the Big Chair LP. It had been developed nearly two years prior as part of a medley with the song "Broken", which was previously a stand alone b-side to the "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 the song and a live reprise following it.

The song features guitarist Roland Orzabal on lead vocals.

[edit] Meanings

It is basically a love song and one of the most simple tracks that Tears for Fears have ever recorded. It is a love song that goes a bit perverse at the end.

Roland Orzabal

[edit] Song 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, replacing the segue into the reprise of "Broken" found on the album.

[edit] 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.

This song predates a track called 'The Working Hour' from the Big Chair album. The motif is identical; it's something Ian (Stanley) came up with which I later put melody and lyrics to. It was recorded in The Wool Hall and was the b-side to 'Head Over Heels'.

Roland Orzabal

[edit] Music video

Guitarist Roland Orzabal in the "Head Over Heels" music video
Guitarist Roland Orzabal in the "Head Over Heels" 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 around Roland Orzabal's attempts to get the attention of a librarian (played by Canadian model Joan Densmore), while his bandmates and other interesting people take part in shenanigans in the library. The video was filmed at the Emmanuel College Library in Toronto, Canada.

[edit] Track listings

7":  IDEA10 (UK)
  1. "Head Over Heels [Remix]" (4:14)
  2. "When In Love With A Blind Man" (2:22)
10":  IDPIC10 (UK) (four-leaf clover shaped picture disc)
  1. "Head Over Heels [Remix]" (4:14)
  2. "When In Love With A Blind Man" (2:22)
12":  IDEA1012 (UK)
  1. "Broken / Head Over Heels / Broken [Preacher Mix]" (7:53)
  2. "Head Over Heels [Remix]" (4:14)
  3. "When In Love With A Blind Man" (2:22)

[edit] 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.

[edit] Cover versions

"Head Over Heels" has been covered by the following artists:

[edit] External links