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"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	14 June 1985
Genre	New wave progressive pop
Length	5:01 (album version) 3:51 (radio edit) 4:14 (7-inch version)
Label	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 " (1985)
Music video
"Head over Heels" on YouTube

"Head over Heels" is a song recorded by British band Tears for Fears for their second studio album Songs from the Big Chair (1985). The song was released by Mercury Records, as the album's fourth single on 14 June in the UK. It was the band's tenth single release in the United Kingdom and eighth top 40 hit in the region, peaking at number 12. In the United States, it was 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. A limited edition four-leaf-clover-shaped picture disc was issued for the single's release in the UK. The song was also an international success, reaching the top 40 in several countries.

Reception

Cash Box called it "another searching lyric and richly evocative melody."

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.

This song predates a track called "The Working Hour" from the Big Chair album. The motif is identical; it's something Ian 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

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.

In popular culture

An edited version of "Head over Heels" is featured in the 2001 film Donnie Darko.

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.

• Roland Orzabal – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
• Curt Smith – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Manny Elias – drums
• Ian Stanley – keyboards
• Andy David – grand piano
• Marilyn Davis – backing vocals
• Annie McCaig – backing vocals
• Sandy McLelland – backing vocals

Charts

Certifications

References

1. Iwasaki, Scott (26 April 1996). "Orzabal, Tears for Fears plan May 2 show at Abravanel Hall". Deseret News. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
2. Reed, Ryan (20 November 2019). "A Guide to Progressive Pop". Tidal. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
3. Head over Heels (sleeve). Mercury. 2021. IDEP 10.
4. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 7 September 1985. p. 9. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
5. Tears for Fears Saturnine Martial & Lunatic CD liner notes
6. "About Us". Victoria University. Retrieved 19 May 2016. The music video, "Head over Heels" by the English band Tears for Fears was filmed in Emmanuel library in June 1985.
7. "Donnie Darko [Original Soundtrack & Score] – Head over Heels, song". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
8. Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels, 14 June 1985, retrieved 9 November 2023
9. https://images.genius.com/8ad9ee27a5302f8d437a46c12299b698.800x800x1.jpg
10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 306. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
11. "Tears For Fears – Head Over Heels" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
12. Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide 1975–present. Mississauga, Ont.: Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
13. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0573." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
14. "Le Détail par Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Select "Tears for Fears" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
15. "Tears For Fears – Head Over Heels" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
16. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Head over Heels". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
17. "Tipparade-lijst van week 28, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
18. "Tears For Fears – Head Over Heels" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
19. "Tears For Fears – Head Over Heels". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
21. ^ "Tears for Fears – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
22. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending NOVEMBER 9, 1985". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012.
23. "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Vol. 43, no. 16. 28 December 1985. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
24. "Top 100 Hits for 1985". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
25. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1985". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012.
26. "Brazilian single certifications – Tears for Fears – Head Over Heels" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
27. "New Zealand single certifications – Tears For Fears – Head Over Heels". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
28. "British single certifications – Tears for Fears – Head over Heels". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 January 2023.

• 1985 songs
• 1985 singles
• Tears for Fears songs
• Mercury Records singles
• Phonogram Records singles
• Songs written by Roland Orzabal
• Songs written by Curt Smith
• Song recordings produced by Chris Hughes (record producer)
• Progressive pop songs