Head over Heels (Tears for Fears song)

"Head over Heels" is a song by the British New Wave band Tears for Fears.

It was the band's tenth single release in the United 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 the Billboard Hot 100. A limited edition four-leaf clover shaped picture 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 live reprise of "Broken" following it.

The song features Roland Orzabal on lead vocals.

Meaning

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

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 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 and features a synthesized shakuhachi flute, a popular musical motif for pop music in the 1980s.

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

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 (Joan Densmore), while a variety of characters (many played by the rest of the band) take part in shenanigans in the library. The final scene shows Orzabal and the librarian as an older married couple. The video was filmed at the Emmanuel College Library in Toronto, Canada.

Track listings

7": Mercury / IDEA10 (UK)

1. "Head over Heels" (Remix) – 4:14
2. "When in Love with a Blind Man" – 2:22

• Also released as a 10" single (IDEA1010) and as a four-leaf clover shaped picture disc (IDPIC10)

12": Mercury / 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

CDV: Mercury / 080 062-2 (UK)

1. "Head over Heels" (Remix) – 4:14
2. "Sea Song" – 3:52
3. "The Working Hour" – 6:27
4. "Mothers Talk" (U.S. remix) – 4:14
5. "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 band Kids in the Way, on their 2005 album Apparitions of Melody.
• American experimental folk singer Samamidon, on his 2007 album But This Chicken Proved False Hearted.
• In 2006, Southern California's freeform Bargain Music covered the song. This version finds vocalist Josh alone with an acoustic guitar playing the entire song solo. It is track #7 on their album American Born.
• Australian electro pop band Rogue Traders sampled pieces of the song on their 2006 single "In Love Again". Some of these pieces were also used in an Australian television advertisement on Channel 10 for the Australian drama Neighbours in mid 2007, helping to revamp the show.
• American pop punk band New Found Glory on their second "movie song" cover album From the Screen to Your Stereo Part II.
• Relient K also covered this song on their 2007 summer tour as an introduction to their song "In Love With the 80s", which mentions the band in the line "And my favorite band will always be Tears for Fears."
• The X-ecutioners with DJ Cash Money and Marvelous Marvin used the introduction to the song in the song "Ugly People Be Quiet" on their 2003 album Scratchology.
• American pop singer Katy Perry covered this song in late October 2008.
• Johnny Goudie and Joseph King have covered the song at their joint concerts, and Goudie has also played a solo acoustic version.
• P. Diddy sampled the song on the 2006 Press Play album track "Testimonial (Intro)".
• Kissy Sell Out as "Head Over Heels (Kissy Klub Version)".
• The Dillinger Escape Plan covered the song during their 2010 European tour.
• Slow Moving Millie covered the song on her album Renditions.

References