"I'd Really Love to Break Your Heart"

For those of you who don't remember the 80s, either legitimately or via VH1, I feel really bad for you. Because, quite frankly, the 1980s produced some of the greatest songs and musicians in the history of popular music. Of course, for every Madonna, there were about 15 one-hit wonders, but there were also plenty of bands in the middle, who did solid work that still holds up today. Tears for Fears is one of those bands.

While their "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" probably gets more airplay (and not without reason), I'm more a fan of "Shout." You know that song--the one with the boss percussion that has a video featuring the duo singing by the sea, a bunch of close-ups of instruments, and a group of people (including some rhythmless children) singing along at the end even though they don't belong there at all. Really, it's a terrible--and terribly 80s--video. Luckily, the video will probably not outlast the song itself.

And that's awesome, because the song is so much better than that. It tells a great tale of teenage angst, if you want to look at it that way, or if you're feeling very grown up, a protest against the class system and adult arrogance. We are told that "you shouldn't have to sell your soul," and also that They (who are never directly identified) have "those one-track minds." Of course, there is also some  (probably emotional) violence perpetrated by the speaker--"and in return you gave them hell" and "I'd really love to break your heart"--but those actions are actually quite understandable.

If you're not looking for a deep analysis of the lyrics, that's fine, too, because "Shout" has a great singalong chorus as well as a good guitar riff and bridge. I recommend checking this one out today if you don't know it and downloading it if you do; either way, you won't regret it.

Buy through Amazon for $0.99.

Photo via VH1.

-Cate-