Change

“Change” is Tears for Fears fourth single release. It eventually became the second hit from their debut LP The Hurting (1983) and second UK Top 5 chart hit, after the success of “Mad World”. This song gave Tears For Fears the first charting single in America when it hit the Billboard Top 75 in August 1983. “Change” became a big international success, having reached the Top 40 in different countries around the world.

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

—Roland Orzabal

It’s a step backwards to what we were doing before “Mad World”… the version on The Hurting is a vast improvement.

—Curt Smith

“Change” 7” version is actually the same mix of the song found on The Hurting, just a little change was made. On the 12” single an extended remix was showcased. Most of the 12″ single use the 7″ mix of the song as one of the b-sides, but a few of them made a different recording of the song. The mix is tagged as the “New Version” on the UK cassette release of The Hurting, where it was added in as a bonus track. Featuring an alternate set of lyrics, this version in fact predates the 7″ mix, in regards to its title.

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

Clive Richardson, best known for his early work with Depeche Mode, directed the music video for “Change”.

Chart positions:

1983

#4   UK Singles Chart

#5   South African Singles Chart

#8    Irish Singles Chart

#12 Canadian Singles Chart

#27 Italian Singles Chart

#29 Australian Singles Chart

#32 Dutch Singles Chart

#36 New Zealand Singles Chart

#73 USA Billboard Hot 100

Tears For Fears – Change – Top of the Pops performance 1983