Head over Heels (Tears for Fears song)

"Head over Heels" is a song recorded by the British band Tears for Fears for their second studio album Songs from the Big Chair (1985). The song was released by Phonogram Records/Mercury Records, as the album's fourth single on 10 June 1985 in the UK.^[3] It was the band's tenth single release in the United Kingdom and eighth top 40 hit in the country, peaking at number 12. In the United States, it was released in September 1985 as the third single from the album and continued the band's run of hits there, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In addition to the regular 7" and 12" formats, a 10" single and limited edition four-leaf-clover-shaped picture disc were also issued for the single's release in the UK. The song was also an international success, reaching the top 40 in several countries.

"Head over Heels"
Single by Tears for Fears
from the album Songs from the Big Chair
B-side	"When in Love with a Blind Man"
Released	10 June 1985
Genre	New wave[1] progressive pop[2]
Length	5:01 (album version) 3:51 (radio edit) 4:14 (7-inch version)
Label	Phonogram/Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Roland Orzabal Curt Smith
Producer(s)	Chris Hughes
Tears for Fears singles chronology
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" (1985) "Head over Heels" (1985) "Suffer the Children [second release]" (1985)
Music video
"Head over Heels" on YouTube

Reception

Cash Box called it "another searching lyric and richly evocative melody."^[4]

B-side

"When in Love with a Blind Man" is a short song that served as the B-side to the "Head over Heels" single. It features bassist Curt Smith on vocals and features a synthesized shakuhachi flute, a popular musical motif for pop music in the 1980s.^{[citation needed]}

This song predates a track called "The Working Hour" from the Big Chair album. The motif is identical; it's something Ian [Stanley] came up with which I later put melody and lyrics to. It was recorded in the Wool Hall and was the B-side to "Head over Heels".

— Roland Orzabal^[5]

Music video

The music video for "Head over Heels", filmed in late May and into June 1985, was the fourth Tears for Fears clip directed by music video producer Nigel Dick. A lighthearted video in comparison to the band's other promos, it is centred on Roland Orzabal's attempts to get the attention of a librarian (Joan Densmore), while a variety of characters (many played by the rest of the band), including a chimpanzee wearing a Red Sox jersey, engage in shenanigans in the library. The final scene shows Orzabal and the librarian as an older married couple. The video was filmed at the Emmanuel College Library in Toronto, Canada.^[6]

In popular culture

• An edited version of "Head over Heels" is featured in the 2001 film Donnie Darko.^[7][8]

• In the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris (2005-2008), the song is also used at the end of the 8th episode of the 4th season, where the protagonist Chris is surprised by the transformation of the student known as "Big Bird", after rejecting her because of her appearance.

Formats and track listings

7": Mercury / IDEA10 (UK)

1. "Head over Heels" (Remix) – 4:14
2. "When in Love with a Blind Man" – 2:22

• Also released as a 10" single (IDEA1010) and as a four-leaf clover shaped picture disc (IDPIC10)

12": Mercury / IDEA1012 (UK)

1. "Broken/Head over Heels/Broken" (Preacher Mix) – 7:53
2. "Head over Heels" (Remix) – 4:14
3. "When in Love with a Blind Man" – 2:22

CDV: Mercury / 080 062-2 (UK)

1. "Head over Heels" (Remix) – 4:14
2. "Sea Song" – 3:52
3. "The Working Hour" – 6:27
4. "Mothers Talk" (U.S. remix) – 4:14
5. "Head over Heels"

Personnel

Personnel are taken from original album credits and the UK CD liner notes.^[9][10]

Tears for Fears

• Roland Orzabal – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
• Curt Smith – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Manny Elias – drums
• Ian Stanley – keyboards

Additional musicians

• Andy David – grand piano
• Marilyn Davis, Annie McCaig, Sandy McLelland – backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1985–1986) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[11] 21 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 18 Canada (The Record)[13] 11 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14] 8 France (IFOP)[15] 53 Germany (GfK)[16] 55 Ireland (IRMA)[17] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[18] 12 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] 29 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] 12 UK Singles (OCC)[21] 12 US Billboard Adult Contemporary[22] 5 US Billboard Hot 100[22] 3 US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[22] 49 US Billboard Top Rock Tracks[22] 7 US Cash Box[23] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1985) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[24] 81 US Billboard Hot 100[25] 60 US Cash Box[26] 28

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[27]	Gold	30,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[28]	Gold	15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[29]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.