Tears for Fears “I Believe” released

I Believe Tears for Fears

Writer(s): Roland Orzabal (see lyrics here) Released: September 30, 1985 First Charted: October 12, 1985 Peak: 23 UK, 2 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 1.42 video, -- streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: This was the fifth single from Tears for Fears’ 1985 album Songs from the Big Chair. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and “Shout” were #1 hits in the U.S. and “Head Over Heels” got to #3 while “Mother’s Talk” reached #27. “I Believe” didn’t fare so well; it failed to chart in the United States although it did hit #23 in the UK and was a top 10 hit in Ireland. Technically it was a live version of the song labeled “I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording)” that was not available on Songs from the Big Chair. Roland Orzabal wrote the song about Primal Therapy, as evidenced in references to “a newborn scream” and “the shaping of a life.” WK Orzabal calls “the introspective ballad” SF one of his favorites on the album. SF “Very simple, a nice sort of jazz swing to it…I think that they are the most potent and powerful lyrics we've ever put onto vinyl.” SF “The narrator taking a hard look at his beliefs, including whether his destiny is created through free will or determined by fate, and challenging the listener to do the same.” SF He intended to offer it to British singer/songwriter Robert Wyatt, WK but the band decided to record it themselves. The B-side of the song was a cover of Wyatt’s “Sea Song.” Resources: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Tears for Fears SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 8/5/2022.