"Head Over Heels" by Tears for Fears

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  2466
Date:  09/14/1985
Debut:  49
Peak:  3
Weeks:  20
Genre:  New Wave



Pop Bits:  After two big #1 hits from their album Songs from the Big Chair, the duo issued out this third single. Although it wouldn't reach the top of the Pop chart, it did very well getting to #3. It was also a winner at Rock (#7) and AC (#5). Back in their UK homeland, this was the fourth single from the album and it stalled just shy of the Top 10 at #12.

ReduxReview:  This song grabs you right away with a banged out piano melody that sounds regal and grand. From there it dips into verses with memorable little touches inserted along the way followed by a hooky chorus. Add to that the phased drum fill to the "la-la's" over the original piano melody and you end up with a catchy track that stood out on the radio. It was their third excellent single in a row and by this point I had to buy the album. However, for me the balance of the album didn't match the quality of the three singles and I was a bit disappointed at the time. I like the LP a bit better now, but really I all need to hear from it are the three big singles.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  When this song was originally written, it was meant to follow directly after another song titled "Broken" as sort of a two-song suite. Both songs contain the piano melody heard at the beginning of "Head Over Heels." In their concerts, the band would perform "Broken," then flow into "Head Over Heals," and then finish off with another small section of "Broken." When putting together Songs from the Big Chair they decided to keep the songs as they would do them in concert. They recorded the two main songs in the studio, but for the "Broken" tag ending, they used a live version that had been previously recorded. Therefore, when you hear the full album version of "Head Over Heals" that includes the tag ending, you hear the applause of the crowd as they finish the song. A studio version of the tag ending was recorded, but it was only used on a 12" mix of the whole medley titled the "Preacher Mix." It was titled as such due to an intro where Roland Orzabal recites lyrics to another Tears for Fears song ("I Believe") like a preacher talking through a megaphone.

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