“Everybody Wants To Rule The World”

Tears for Fears is a duo formed in 1981 in Bath, England, by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. They’ve sold over 30 million albums, starting with their first, The Hurting, which went to number one in the UK. But it was their second album, Songs from the Big Chair, that made them international stars. It came out in 1985, and had huge singles like “Shout” and “Head Over Heels.” But their biggest hit is “Everybody Wants to Rule The World.” It won Best Single at the BRIT Awards in 1986, and it’s been streamed over 2 billion times. So I talked to the two of them about how they, along with their producer Chris Hughes and keyboard player Ian Stanley, made a song that would help define the sound of the 80s.

You can buy or stream “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” here.

Illustration by Carlos Lerma.

Neil Taylor – guitar solo
Jimmy Page
“Then Came the Last Days of May” by Blue Öyster Cult
Peter Gabriel
Culture Club
“The Way You Are”
“Mothers Talk”
“Waterfront” by Simple Minds
Cabasa
LinnDrum
“Throw Away the Key” by Linx
David Bates
Phonogram Inc.
“The Primal Scream” by Arthur Janov
Union Studios in Munich
Massey Hall