Shout by Tears for Fears

Album: Songs From the Big Chair (1984)

Charted: 4 1

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Songfacts®:

Tears for Fears were followers of American psychologist Arthur Janov's school of Primal Therapy. This song was inspired by his primal therapy treatment, which worked by getting people to confront their fears by shouting and screaming. The name of the group came from Janov's book Prisoners Of Pain.
This was written by Tears For Fears frontman Roland Orzabal and keyboard player Ian Stanley. In the liner notes to the single, Orzabal explained: "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."
This was a huge international hit, especially in the US, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK.
Songs From the Big Chair was named after the movie Sybil, in which a girl with 16 personalities retreats to a psychiatrist's chair.
John Lennon went through Primal therapy in 1970. Many of the songs he wrote immediately afterward were inspired by his experience in therapy, including God, Mother, and Working Class Hero.
The music video for "Shout" features vocalists Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith venting their anger on a gorgeous, isolated cliffside at Durdle Door in Dorset, England.
Disturbed did a cover of this song on their 2000 album The Sickness. >>
Suggestion credit:
Matt - Bakersfield, CA

Comments: 13

M. Turboffy from Alma Co.Caught TFF at 2018 Fiddlers Green show. Still had pretty good vocal chops. Instrumentally rendered their hit songs well. Played w/ Hall & Oates..
Ricardo from Mexico CityIn an interview for Creem Magazine in 1985. This guys said that they got the chords for this song from a song from Talking Heads' Remain in light
Marco H from United Kingdom I am a fan of Disturbed and they absolutely nailed it with their cover of this classic. To me it’s as good as or even better than the original
Retrobond from Missouri"You gave them love, and in return, they gave you hell"
I thought this song was about parents taking care of their kids
Adriana from Longislandremembermeozabalyourwife
Anne from New Jerseyoops, OFCOURSE, Shout is singularly brilliant. As a 14 year old living the life of an adult, that song became MY MANTRA. Playing over and over in my head. So I got shout all of the time to this exquisite powerful music and two brilliant, determined, shouting, unwavering musicians singing, SHOUT, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.
THANK YOU!
Anne from New JerseyWe are so suppressed practically from the womb beginning from toddler-hood. Do this. Don't do that. Be like this not like that. We're told this at home. Outside home. School, work, just pick a place unless you've already lost your mind and found your people. Found your purpose. But it's not as neat as that is it? It's messy, painful. No way out. But there is always a way out. Keep fighting the good fight. Channel 'it' into something that will save you and blow the hum drums heads off. See? No one gets hurt.....too badly!
Josh Souvannakasy from Tumwater WaI heard this song before it’s an anthem for anger
Thegripester from Wellington, New ZealandShout®, Shout®, Shout® it out,
These are the stains I can do without,
Come on - it's new and improved,
Come on.
Budoshi from Sandnessjøen, NorwayAtrocity has done a passable cover on this.. in the album "Werk 70" from 1997
Sam from Chicago, Ili uppose this song means to speak out and/or up.
nobody really does that anymore!
Matt from Harlan, KyI just love this song. I love the powerful vocals, addictive bass, and the egyptian style keyboards, and guitar solo.
Danielle from Palm Coast, FlI love the beat, i always thought it had to do with anger. But i guess not, very creative got to give props for that i get so tired of hearing the same lyrics over and over. This is different Im so sick of love songs you can only go so far with them.

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