On this day in 1985: Tears For Fears started a two-week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Everybody Wants To Rule The World’, the group’s first U.S. #1. In 1986, the song won Best Single at the Brit Awards. Band member and co-writer Roland Orzabal argued that the song deserved to win the Ivor Novello International Hit of the Year award, claiming that the winner, ’19’ by Paul Hardcastle – was not an actual song, but only a “dialogue collage.”
It was written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, and Chris Hughes and produced by Hughes. The song was first released on March 18, 1985 as the third single from the band’s second album, ‘Songs From the Big Chair.’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” is a new wave and synth-pop song with lyrics that detail the desire humans have for control and power and center on themes of corruption.
Music critics praised “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” in their retrospective reviews, with some including the song in their respective decade lists. It is regarded as the group’s signature song, along with “Shout.” It garnered success on charts internationally, peaking at #2 in Ireland, Australia, and the United Kingdom and at #1 in Canada, New Zealand, and on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Here’s a look at the complete Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1985:
1 2 EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD –•– Tears For Fears (Mercury)-13 (1 Week at #1) (1)
2 1 EVERYTHING SHE WANTS –•– Wham! (Columbia)-12 (1)
3 3 AXEL F –•– Harold Faltermeyer (MCA)-11 (3)
4 5 SUDDENLY –•– Billy Ocean (Jive)-12 (4)
5 7 HEAVEN –•– Bryan Adams (A&M)-8 (5)
6 8 THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER –•– Howard Jones (Elektra)-12 (6)
7 9 IN MY HOUSE –•– Mary Jane Girls (Gordy)-14 (7)
8 4 DON’T YOU (Forget About Me) –•– Simple Minds (A&M)-16 (1)
9 10 FRESH –•– Kool & The Gang (De-Lite)-12 (9)
10 11 WALKING ON SUNSHINE –•– Katrina & The Waves (Capitol)-12 (10)
11 14 ANGEL –•– Madonna (Sire)-7 (11)
12 17 SUSSUDIO –•– Phil Collins (Atlantic)-5 (12)
13 6 SMOOTH OPERATOR –•– Sade (Portrait)-15 (5)
14 18 SMUGGLER’S BLUES –•– Glenn Frey (MCA)-10 (14)
15 27 A VIEW TO A KILL –•– Duran Duran (Capitol)-4 (15)
16 22 THE SEARCH IS OVER –•– Survivor (Scotti Brothers)-8 (16)
17 25 RASPBERRY BERET –•– Prince & The Revolution (Paisley Park)-4 (17)
18 20 NEVER ENDING STORY –•– Limahl (EMI-America)-12 (18)
19 12 JUST A GIGOLO / I AIN’T GOT NOBODY –•– David Lee Roth (Warner Brothers)-12 (12)
20 26 WOULD I LIE TO YOU? –•– Eurythmics (RCA)-7 (20)
