Change (Tears for Fears song)

"Change"
Single by Tears for Fears
from the album The Hurting
B-side	"The Conflict"
Released	24 January 1983
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	1982
Genre	New wave
Length	3:52 (Single Version) 4:14 (Album Version) 6:00 (Extended Version)
Label	Phonogram Mercury
Writer(s)	Roland Orzabal
Producer(s)	Chris Hughes Ross Cullum
Certification	Silver (BPI)[1]
Tears for Fears singles chronology
"Mad World" (1982) "Change" (1983) "Pale Shelter" (second release) (1983)

"Change" is a song by the British band Tears for Fears. Written by Roland Orzabal and sung by bassist Curt Smith, it was the band's fourth single release. It would eventually become the second hit from their debut LP The Hurting (1983) and second UK Top 5 chart hit, following the success of "Mad World". The song also gave Tears for Fears their first charting single in America when it cracked the Billboard Top 100 in August 1983. "Change" was also a big international success, reaching the Top 40 in numerous countries.

Meaning

It's not really about much. It's just one of those cheap pop lyrics.

— Roland Orzabal^[2]

Song versions

The 7" version of "Change" is the same mix of the song found on The Hurting, but in a slightly edited form. An extended remix of the song is showcased as the lead track on the 12" single. While many copies of the 12" single use the 7" mix of the song as one of the b-sides, some feature an altogether different recording. Although uncredited on the singles themselves, this mix is labeled the "New Version" on the UK cassette release of The Hurting, where it was included as a bonus track. Featuring an alternate set of lyrics, this version actually predates the 7" mix, despite its title.

It's a step backwards to what we were doing before "Mad World"... the version on The Hurting is a vast improvement.

— Curt Smith

More recently, a mix by British DJ Joey Negro was included, along with other Tears for Fears remixes, on a 2004 promotional EP.

B-side

"The Conflict" is a song that served as the b-side to the "Change" single. Its repeated verse describes a conflict between two individuals. Sung by Curt Smith, this is one of the few songs in the Tears for Fears catalogue on which he shares a writing credit.

Music video

The music video for "Change" was directed by Clive Richardson, best known for his early work with Depeche Mode.

Track listings

7": Mercury / IDEA4 (United Kingdom, Ireland) / 812 677-7 (United States) / 6059 596 (Australia, Europe, South Africa) / SOV 2322 (Canada) / 7PP-101 (Japan)

1. "Change" (3:52)
2. "The Conflict" (4:02)

12": Mercury / IDEA412 (United Kingdom) / 6400 730 (Europe)

1. "Change [Extended Version]" (5:54)
2. "Change" (3:52)
3. "The Conflict" (4:02)

12": Mercury / IDEA412 (United Kingdom) / 6400 730 (Australia) / SOVX 2322 (Canada)

1. "Change [Extended Version]" (5:54)
2. "Change [New Version]" (4:33)
3. "The Conflict" (4:02)

• The "New Version" is not specifically identified as such on this release

Chart positions

Chart (1983)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3]	29
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4]	30
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[5]	24
Canada (CHUM)[6]	12
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7]	23
Ireland (IRMA)[8]	8
Italy (FIMI)[9]	27
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10]	32
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11]	36
Poland (LP3)[12]	9
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[13]	5
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[14]	4
US Billboard Hot 100[15]	73
US Billboard Top Tracks[15]	22
US Cash Box[16]	74

Sampled

The xylophone melody has been sampled by several artists:

• Culture Beat on "No Deeper Meaning" (1991)^[17]
• Havana on "Ethnic Prayer" (1993)^[18]
• David Guetta on "Always" (2007)^[19]
• Lexy & K-Paul on "Trick on Me" (2009)^[20]

Cover versions and remixes

Israeli born DJ/Producer Offer Nissim produced two versions of "Change", both sampling the xylophone melody from the original Tears for Fears track. Vocals were provided by Ohad Heim.

Offer Nissim - Change ft Ohad Heim (Offer Nissim Remix) Released on the album Happy People in 2008.

Offer Nissim - Change ft Ohad Heim (Original Mix)

References

1. "Certified Awards". BPI. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
2. "Top 10 Tears for Fears Songs We Want to Hear Live This Sunday". Spot.ph. Summit Media. 29 April 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 306. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
4. "Ultratop.be – Tears For Fears – Change" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
5. "Radio 2 Top 30 : 2 april 1983" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
6. CHART NUMBER 1383 – Saturday, July 16, 1983 at the Wayback Machine (archived 7 November 2006). CHUM. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
7. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6312." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Tears For Fears". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
9. "I singoli più venduti del 1983" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
10. "Dutchcharts.nl – Tears For Fears – Change" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
11. "Charts.org.nz – Tears For Fears – Change". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
12. "CHANGE – Tears For Fears" (in Polish). LP3. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
13. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (T)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
14. "Archive Chart: 1983-02-19" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
15. "The Hurting – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
16. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending SEPTEMBER 10, 1983 at the Wayback Machine (archived 11 September 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
17. "Culture Beat's No Deeper Meaning sample of Tears for Fears's Change". WhoSampled. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
18. "Havana's Ethnic Prayer sample of Tears for Fears's Change". WhoSampled. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
19. "David Guetta's Always sample of Tears for Fears's Change". WhoSampled. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
20. "Lexy & K-Paul's Trick on Me sample of Tears for Fears's Change". WhoSampled. Retrieved 24 June 2013.