Shout (Tears for Fears song)

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"Shout"
File:TFF Shout.jpg
Single by Tears for Fears
from the album Songs from the Big Chair
B-side "The Big Chair"
Released
  • 23 November 1984 (UK)
  • 4 June 1985 (USA)
Format
Recorded 1984
Genre
Length 6:31
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Chris Hughes
Tears for Fears singles chronology
"Mothers Talk"
(1984)		 "Shout"
(1984)		 "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
(1985)
Music sample
"Shout"
noicon

"Shout" is a song by the British band Tears for Fears, written by Roland Orzabal and Ian Stanley and sung by Orzabal (with Curt Smith duetting on the chorus). First released in the UK on 23 November 1984,[3] it was the band's eighth single release (the second taken from their second album Songs from the Big Chair) and sixth UK Top 40 hit, peaking at no. 4 in January 1985. In the US, it reached no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 3 August 1985 and remained there for three weeks. "Shout" would become one of the most successful songs of 1985, eventually reaching the Top Ten in 25 countries.[citation needed] "Shout" is regarded as one of the most recognisable songs from the mid-eighties and is also recognised as the group's signature song.[4]

Background

While Tears for Fears' previous single "Mothers Talk" had showcased a new, more extroverted songwriting style, "Shout" was completed with power chords, heavy percussion, a bass solo and female backing vocals. The song even features a lengthy guitar solo, something previously unheard of in Tears for Fears' music.

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The song was written in my front room on just a small synthesizer and a drum machine. Initially I only had the chorus, which was very repetitive, like a mantra. I played it to Ian Stanley, our keyboardist, and Chris Hughes, the producer. I saw it as a good album track, but they were convinced it would be a hit around the world.

— Roland Orzabal

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We were halfway through recording 'Mothers Talk' when Roland first played us a rough version of a new song he'd been working on. It was then very slow and very simple. I remember saying "this is so simple it should take about five minutes to record." Weeks later... We were halfway through recording 'Shout' when Roland had a birthday party. That evening I asked the four of them separately if they had any thoughts about sleeve notes for the record. Roland said "White text on black paper and say something about arguably the best offering yet." Curt said "You're probably the best person to make up some off the wall irrelevant drivel." Ian said "I don't like them, I'm not interested." Manny said "Did you know I used to play drums for 'Rocky Ricketts and The Jet Pilots of Jive?"

— Chris Hughes, from the "Shout" single sleeve notes

Meanings

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A lot of people think that 'Shout' is just another song about primal scream theory, continuing the themes of the first album. It is actually more concerned with political protest. It came out in 1984 when a lot of people were still worried about the aftermath of The Cold War and it was basically an encouragement to protest.

— Roland Orzabal

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It concerns protest inasmuch as it encourages people not to do things without actually questioning them. People act without thinking because that's just the way things go in society. So it's a general song, about the way the public accepts any old grief which is thrown at them.

— Curt Smith[5]

Song versions

"Shout" is by far the most abundantly remixed song in the Tears for Fears catalog, with at least fifteen different versions of it having been officially released under the band's name.

As was commonplace during the 1980s, the original 12-inch vinyl single release featured an extended remix of the song. Three remixes by collaborators Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero later appeared on American releases of the single, including dub and a cappella versions. More recently, remixes have been done by notable DJs such as Jakatta, Fergie, Skylark and Beatchuggers. It was also remixed in the video game DJ Hero, where the song was mixed with Pjanoo.

In addition to the twelve-inch mixes, "Shout" also appeared in three different 7-inch versions. The original single version released in the UK and much of the rest of the world clocks in at 5:53 and is the same mix of the song found on the Songs from the Big Chair LP, albeit in an edited form. The version released in Germany and Japan is 4:51 in length and fades out during the guitar solo. Meanwhile, the final version released in America is specifically tailored for radio play at a concise 3:59 in length, featuring edits to the chorus and instrumental sections.

Release variations

In addition to the standard 7- and 12-inch releases, the "Shout" single was issued in two collectible formats in the UK: a limited edition 10-inch single and a 7-inch boxed pack featuring a 1985 Tears for Fears calendar. A similar limited edition 7-inch pack was released in Canada, this one featuring a 12-page booklet of band photos. In 1988, "Shout" was reissued on the short-lived CD Video format. The disc included two mixes of the title track, a remix of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", and the "Shout" music video.

B-side

"The Big Chair" is an instrumental that served as the B-side to the "Shout" single. Though there are no lyrics, the track contains dialogue samples performed by actors Sally Field and William Prince from the 1976 television film Sybil, from which the song (and the album Songs from the Big Chair) takes its name. This is one of the few songs in the Tears for Fears catalogue on which bandmember Curt Smith shares a writing credit. The song has since been included in the band's B-sides and rarities collection Saturnine Martial & Lunatic (1996) as well as the remastered and deluxe edition reissues of Songs from the Big Chair.

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This track was very much inspired by the film Sybil about a woman suffering from multiple personalities undergoing psychotherapy. The big chair in her therapist's office is the place Sybil feels safest to recount the horrors of her childhood.

— Roland Orzabal

Music video

The promotional video for "Shout", filmed in late 1984, was the second Tears for Fears video directed by famed music video producer Nigel Dick. It features footage of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith at Durdle Door in Dorset, England, as well as at a studio performance with the full band (including Ian Stanley and Manny Elias) performing the song amidst a crowd of family and friends. The video reportedly cost only £14,000 to produce. Along with the clip for "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", the "Shout" video had a big hand in helping establish Tears for Fears in America due to its heavy airplay on the music video channel MTV. Ironically, the band had at one time considered making a second video for the song's American single release, as the original was not considered MTV friendly.[citation needed]

Track listings

Chart performance

Order of precedence
Preceded by Canadian CHUM number-one single
23 March 1985 – 30 March 1985 (2 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Tears Are Not Enough" by Northern Lights
Canadian RPM number-one single
30 March 1985 – 6 April 1985 (2 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Can't Fight This Feeling" by REO Speedwagon
Preceded by New Zealand number-one single
31 March 1985 – 7 April 1985 (2 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"We Are the World" by USA for Africa
Preceded by Australian number-one single
25 March 1985 (1 week)		 Succeeded by
"I Should Have Known Better" by Jim Diamond
Single Top 100 number-one single
2 February 1985 – 2 March 1985 (5 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Ik meen 't" by André Hazes
Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single
9 March 1985 – 23 March 1985 (3 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"You're My Heart, You're My Soul" by Modern Talking
German number-one single
4 February 1985 – 25 February 1985 (4 weeks)
Swiss number-one single
24 February 1985 – 3 March 1985 (2 weeks)
Preceded by Belgian Ultratop 50 Flanders number-one single
2 March 1985 – 16 March 1985 (3 weeks)
Preceded by Dutch Top 40 number-one single
23 February 1985 – 9 March 1985 (3 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"This Is Not America"
by David Bowie and Pat Metheny Group
Preceded by US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
3 August 1985 – 17 August 1985 (3 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News
US Cash Box number-one single
10 August 1985 – 17 August 1985 (2 weeks)
Preceded by US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
24 August 1985 – 31 August 1985 (2 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Trapped" by Colonel Abrams

Cover versions

"Shout" has been covered by the following artists:

Shout for England

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Main article: Shout (Shout for England song)

In 2010, "Shout" was used as the basis for an unofficial anthem of the England football team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The new version, performed by Shout for England featuring Dizzee Rascal and James Corden, utilises elements from the Tears For Fears song amid new verses written specifically for the 2010 World Cup. The track also samples "Grandma's Hands" by Bill Withers and was produced by Simon Cowell in association with TalkTalk. It was released on 9 June.[48] On 13 June, the track entered the UK Singles Chart at no. 1.[49]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Tears for Fears – Shout" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Tears for Fears – Shout" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ CHART NUMBER 1474 – Saturday, March 23, 1985 at the Wayback Machine (archived 7 November 2006). CHUM. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  11. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0502." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  12. ↑ MusicSeek.info – UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits at the Wayback Machine (archived 14 June 2006). MusicSeek.info. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  13. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Tears for Fears – Shout" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Tears for Fears – Shout". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Shout". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  16. ↑ Italy Top 20 Singles – Week Ending 20.04.85 at the Wayback Machine (archived 16 April 2015). World Charts. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  17. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Tears for Fears - Shout search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Tears for Fears – Shout" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  19. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Tears for Fears – Shout". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  20. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Tears for Fears – Shout". VG-lista. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Tears for Fears – Shout". Singles Top 60. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  24. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Tears for Fears – Shout". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  25. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1985-01-26" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending AUGUST 10, 1985 at the Wayback Machine (archived 1 October 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1985 at the Wayback Machine (archived 1 October 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Shout in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "United_StatesTears_for_FearsShoutsingleCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
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  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  44. ↑ Kawashima, Dale. Kirk Franklin Continues Gospel Message With His Hero Album, and Launches Major U.S. Tour at the Wayback Machine (archived 12 April 2010). SongwriterUniverse Magazine. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  45. ↑ Exclusive MP3: Grizzly Bear: "Knife (Girl Talk Remix)" at the Wayback Machine (archived 24 February 2009). Pitchfork Media. 12 January 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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