Tuesday, July 10, 2007

80s Song of the Week - Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"

Ahhh, yeah: who can forget Tears for Fears and the cherub-faced, mullet wearing duo Roland Orzabel and Curt Smith. Formed in the early 80s, the Brit group was part of the New Wave British invasion but quickly became more pop and mainstream with tons of hits from their album, "Songs from the Big Chair". This was their first one. I remember watching it and my brother Ben teasing the way they sang with their mouths SO open - it's actually correct singing. hahaha.

Interesting things in the video - not much is going on. Just a lot of driving in the Southern California desert (the 15 freeway to be exact) on the way to Las Vegas and Joshua Tree National Park. Been on the same stretch of road several times, seen the kids on their dirt bikes blazing paths on the sand dunes, at the beginning you catch a glimpse of the famous truck stop where the 2 huge dinosaurs stand menacingly at the edge of a little grass section where kids can play while eating their fastfood (also featured in the fabulous 80s movie, "Pee Wee's Big Adventure").

Other things I love in the video: the 80s fashion of preppy salmon-colored polo shirt (altho the collar should have been lifted up at the back of the neck); the round (totally 80s, totally ugly!) spectacle-shape wire sunglasses (not flattering on ANYONE); the horrible 80s big, puffy jacket and tight pants that he wears while driving; the 80s hair mullets; and the lone, dangling earring on Roland.

The song is just so cheerful and brings me back to 1984 - I was in 6th grade, happy as a clam riding horses and playing with my siblings, summer beach days with the family on Sundays - starting to have crushes on boys at school...sigh - such a sweet song.

Two years ago, my old neighbor and sweet friend, Matthew, took me to a concert of Tears for Fears and I couldn't believe how many songs I still knew all the lyrics! It was a lot of fun - even though they were fatter and with receding hair lines - their voices still sounded the same! Good stuff!

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