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"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), 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 USA, 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. "Shout" is regarded as one of the most recognizable songs from the mid-eighties and is also recognized as the group's signature song.[3]

Contents[]

 [hide*1 Background

Background[edit][]

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.

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

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[edit]==

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

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[4]==Song versions[edit]==

"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 JakattaFergie, Skylark and Beatchuggers. It was also remixed in the video game DJ Hero, where the song was mixed withPjanoo.

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 theSongs 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[edit][]

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[edit][]

"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.

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[edit]==

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[edit][]

7-inch: Mercury / IDEA8 (United KingdomIrelandSouth Africa) / 880 294-7 (AustraliaEurope) / SOV 2351 (Canada) 10-inch: Mercury / IDEA810 (United Kingdom)

  1. "Shout" — 5:53
  2. "The Big Chair" — 3:20

7-inch: Mercury / 880 481-7Q (Germany) / 7PP-167 (Japan)

  1. "Shout [Short Version]" — 4:51
  2. "The Big Chair" — 3:20

7-inch: Mercury / 880 294-7 (United States)

  1. "Shout [US Single Version]" — 3:59
  2. "The Big Chair" — 3:20

12-inch: Mercury / IDEA812 (United Kingdom) / 880 294-1 (Australia, Europe) / SOVX 2351 (Canada) / MIX 3080 (Mexico)

  1. "Shout [Extended Version]" — 7:35
  2. "Shout" — 5:53
  3. "The Big Chair" — 3:20

12-inch: Mercury / 880 929-1 (United States)

  1. "Shout [US Remix]" — 8:02
  2. "Shout [UK Remix]" — 7:40
  3. "The Big Chair" — 3:20

CDV: Mercury / 080 064-2 (United Kingdom)

  1. "Shout" — 5:58
  2. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World [Urban Mix Edit]" — 5:20
  3. "Shout [US Remix]" — 8:00
  4. "Shout [Video]" — 6:00

Chart performance[edit][]

Weekly charts[edit][]

Chart (1985) Peak

position

Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 1
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[8] 2
Canada (CHUM)[9] 1
Canada (RPM 100 Singles)[10] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] 1
France (SNEP)[12] 21
Germany (Media Control AG)[13] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[14] 5
Italy (FIMI)[15] 2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 1
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[17] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[19] 5
Poland (Polish Singles Chart)[20] 3
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[21] 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 16
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[24] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[25] 1
US BillboardHot Black Singles[25] 56
US BillboardHot Dance Club Play1[25] 1
US BillboardHot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales1[25] 1
US BillboardTop Rock Tracks[25] 6
US Cash Box[26] 1

1Remix

Year-end charts[edit][]

Chart (1985) Peak

position

Australia (Kent Music Report)[27] 14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[28] 14
Canada (RPM Top 100 Singles)[29] 8
Italy (FIMI)[15] 20
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 6
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[32] 16
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[34] 21
US Cash Box[35] 13

Certifications and sales[edit][]

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[36] Platinum 10,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] Silver 200,000^
United States (RIAA) (Digital)[38] Gold 500,000^
United States (RIAA) (Physical)[38] Gold 500,000^

  • sales figures based on certification alone ^shipments figures based on certification alone xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Cover versions[edit][]

"Shout" has been covered by the following artists:

Shout For England[edit][]

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.[47] On 13 June, the track entered the UK Singles Chart at no. 1 (the second remake of a Tears For Fears song to reach no. 1 in the UK, after Michael Andrews and Gary Jules version of "Mad World" became 2003'sChristmas number-one).

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