Jacques' Ponteefication: Tears For Fears: Everybody wants to rule the world

I am in the process of buying back pieces of my past which brings me to:

Tears For Fears: Everybody wants to rule the world

When I first heard this song ages ago (1985), I was hooked and has been ever since obsessed.

The song was released on the 18th March 1985. It was the 9th single released by the band. By April 1985 the song climbed to the second spot in the UK chart. It won the best single in the British Award the following year.

The song's success was much more pronounced across the Atlantic ocean. It reached the top spot in the US chart on the 8th of June 1985 and stayed there for 2 weeks. The song also reached the number one spot in the US Hot Dance Music chart and US Hot Dance singles sales the same year.

Due to the massive reception of the song internationally the song was remixed and re-released in 1986 under the name "Everybody wants to run the world". The purpose of the re-released was to promote the Sport Aid campaign which helped in raising money for the famine crisis in Africa at the time. The song peaked at number 5 in the UK chart in June 1986

The song has an accumulated radio broadcasts of over 2 million by 1994 which affirmed the song's endearing popularity. This song represents the pinnacle of the band's success (sadly).

Roland Orzabal commented that the song almost did not make it into the album "Songs from the Big Chair". After much convincing from the producer Chris Hughes the band eventually agreed to record the song... and the rest is history.

Here are the different versions of the song:

Everybody wants to rule the world 4:10

7, 10, 12 inch singles

Songs from the big chair (Album)

Everybody wants to rule the world (urban mix) 6:06
7 & 12 inch singles

Everybody wants to rule the world (extended version) 5:43
12 inch single

Everybody wants to run the world 4:30
7 & 12 inch singles (Sports Aid, Run the World)

Everybody wants to run the world (running version) 4:30
7 & 12 inch singles (Sports Aid, Run the World)