Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World

“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” was written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, and Chris Hughes and produced by Hughes. The song was first released on 18 March 1985 with “Pharaohs” on the B-side as the third single from the Tears For Fears‘ second album, “Songs from the Big Chair (1985)”. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” is a new wave and synth-pop song with lyrics that detail the desire humans have for control and power and centre on themes of corruption.

Music critics praised “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” in their retrospective reviews, with some including the song in their respective decade lists. It is regarded as the group’s signature song, along with “Shout” (1984). It garnered success on charts internationally, peaking at number two in Ireland, Australia, and the United Kingdom and at number one in Canada, New Zealand, and on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was certified gold by both Music Canada (MC) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

The promotional video for “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, filmed in early 1985, was directed by Nigel Dick. It was filmed in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, a desert in Southern California, the Salton Sea and Cabazon as well as a London studio. Curt Smith admitted to Pitchfork that the video shoot was a “disaster”; Dick was “in tears” on the second night of shooting.Smith also mentioned that there was an accident while filming the “dirt bikes and four-wheel off-road vehicles” scene, with one child flying out of a vehicle and smashing his head, leaving him unconscious In 1986, the song won Best Single at the Brit Awards.

The group re-recorded the song as a charity single for the Sport Aid campaign.