While watching NBC’s Medium (“But For the Grace of God”), which centered around the solving of a young girl’s murder in the 1980s, I was struck by the effective and nostalgic use of original 80s pop music in the soundtrack, including “Everybody Want to Rule the World” by the British duo Tears For Fears.

“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” was a #1 hit in April of 1985. (The second single off their breakout album Songs from the Big Chair, “Shout,” also hit #1 in June of the same year.) Like many hit songs from the era, including the likes of “Only the Lonely” in 1982 by the Motels, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” is characterized by its simple, memorable, synthesizer pad repeated throughout the verses.

The Medium episode also borrows 1987’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by the New Zealand trio Crowded House (which reached #2), and other great songs from the decade.

Is it just me or did we pretty much STOP making great music somewhere between now and then? My suspicion is that the new millennium somehow ushered in an audience less demanding of its musical artists and less interested in “messages,” at least temporarily.

“Tears for Fears were always more ambitious than the average synth pop group. From the beginning, the duo of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith were tackling big subjects — their very name derived from Arthur Janov’s* primal scream therapy, and his theories were evident throughout their debut, The Hurting. Driven by catchy, infectious synth pop, The Hurting became a big hit in their native England, setting the stage for international stardom with their second album, 1985’s Songs From the Big Chair. On the strength of the singles “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and “Shout,” the record became a major hit, establishing the duo as one of the leading acts of the second generation of MTV stars….” —Allmusic.com

*”The Primal Scream (1970) is a book by Dr. Arthur Janov, the inventor of Primal Therapy, sometimes wrongly called ‘primal scream therapy’…The book summarises Janov’s clinical work to that point, which centres on his ‘discovery’ of the Primal Scream. Janov’s theory holds that accumulations of emotionally painful events (Primal Scenes) permanently affect psychological health, and that resolution (and hence cure) can come about only by reliving those experiences in therapy, and resolving them by admitting the pain. The book stirred controversy at the time by identifying many behaviours, including homosexuality, as symptoms of neurosis…Through this book in particular, Janov is often identified as a key figure in the 1960s Counter Culture, most notably influencing John Lennon’s first solo album Plastic Ono Band.” —Wikipedia

Everybody Wants to Rule The World Lyrics

(Words and Music by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith)

Welcome to your life
There’s no turning back
Even while we sleep
We will find you
Acting on your best behaviour
Turn your back on mother nature
Everybody wants to rule the world

It’s my own design
It’s my own remorse
Help me to decide
Help me make the most
Of freedom and of pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world

There’s a room where the light won’t find you
Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down
When they do I’ll be right behind you

So glad we’ve almost made it
So sad they had to fade it
Everybody wants to rule the world

I can’t stand this indecision
Married with a lack of vision
Everybody wants to rule the world
Say that you’ll never never never never need it
One headline why believe it?
Everybody wants to rule the world

All for freedom and for pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world