Mad World

“Mad World” was released by the British band Tears for Fears in 1982. It was written by Roland Orzabal, the lead vocalist of Tears for Fears, and performed by the band’s lead singer, Curt Smith. The lyrics were inspired by the book “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, which Orzabal had read in his youth. The book’s protagonist, Holden Caulfield, embodies the sense of alienation and disillusionment that Orzabal wanted to convey in the song.

The song’s dark and brooding atmosphere was typical of Tears for Fears’ early music, which was influenced by the post-punk and new wave movements of the late 70s and early 80s. It was a commercial success in several countries, including the UK, where it reached number three on the charts.

However, it was the cover version of the song by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules that brought it to a wider audience. Their version of the song, which was recorded for the soundtrack of the film “Donnie Darko” in 2001, stripped away the original’s synth-pop instrumentation and replaced it with a piano and a haunting vocal performance by Jules.

The Andrews/Jules cover of “Mad World” became a massive hit, reaching number 1 in the UK and several other countries. The music video for the song, which featured Jules sitting at a piano in an abandoned building while images of a desolate urban landscape were projected onto the walls around him, also became iconic. The video’s eerie visuals perfectly complemented the melancholic tone of the song and helped to create an atmosphere of despair and isolation.

Which version do you like better?  Tell us in the comments below.