If my username were *Nomi_Malone, you might have a point. 
Tears for Fears? The one-hit wonder from the mid-80’s? They’re still around? Why?
All I remember about them is “Shout,” a boring song that went on way too long and consisted solely of a montonous, repetitive chorus with no verses and no guitar solo.
People still pay to hear that song? Amazing.
What about Dexy’s Midnight Runner…are they still around too? At least their song was dirty.
I was assured on this very board that the song wasn’t really “Cum On Eileen”…
Yes.
Not exactly. “Shout” and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” both took #1 on the U.S. charts. “Sowing the Seeds of Love” came in at #2, and “Head Over Heels” took #3 for a short time. You may also have heard “Advice For the Young at Heart”.
Yes.
Well, Roland Orzabal himself did two albums under the TFF name that weren’t widely publicized in the U.S., though the tours for both included a brief U.S. run. Two years ago, Roland got back together with Curt Smith to produce the new album “Everybody Loves a Happy Ending”. That’s the one they’re currently touring with.
Subjective. I disagree, given that the entire song is an intricate buildup, but you’re more than entitled to your opinion.
It has two, as well as a lyrical bridge.
It has two standalone guitar solos, and plenty of interesting bass guitar work behind the verses and chorus, which is what I personally pay attention to when I listen to the song. If you only listen to the lyrics, then yeah, it’s repetetive.
Well, I payed $13.95 for the Songs From the Big Chair (remaster) CD, so I guess you could divide that by the number of times I’ve listened to Shout, and that would give you the price I pay to hear the song. Maybe I ought to listen to it more often; it’d give me a better value for my money. Regarding the concert, frankly I did not expect them to play Shout; up to that point they hadn’t played it on the tour, and it had little to do with their new album. They played it as an encore because they knew it was something the fans would like to hear.
That people pay to go see bands they like? You must be easily amazed.
Before I googled them, I had no idea who that group even was. You knew the name “Tears For Fears” when you heard it. That ought to tell you something; interpret it as you will.
(And yes, Diogenes, I’m aware your post was tongue-in-cheek; this reply is intended in a similar manner. Or, to put it another way: )
I have to be a stick in the mud and say this: I"ve carried on at concerts like that (I remember an REO Speedwagon show that I had the time of my life at as a teen. I cringe now to think of how I behaved and wonder how many people’s time I ruined)
If people are telling you “Down in front!” or complaining about singing or dancing, it’s obviously bothering them. I personally can’t stand the concert standers because I can’t stand for a concert myself, and I end up seeing squat. I find it incredibly stupid- if we all sit, we can all see. If we all stand, we cannot.
I can understand the urge to sing and dance, but you can’t do it at the expense of the other concert goers. I can’t speak for how you behaved, but I’ve had more then one show ruined by someone obnoxiously yelling “COME ON, GET INTO IT YOU GUYS!!!” to the general seating area at an Eagles concert (very expensive tickets- people were seriously annoyed) and I had to ask a standee to sit at a Billy Joel concert. I waited on line for good seats, and I couldn’t see a thing, sitting or standing.
My point is, you may not think you were obstructing someone’s view, but you probably were or they wouldn’t be complaining. Some people really do come to a show to just listen to the music being performed. If it were Ozzfest or something I could see a higher energy level going on and dancing, standing, etc. But at TFF? Hmmm. Probably not.
Just my 2 cents.
I’ve been to very few rock/pop concerts in my life, but was interested to note how the standing thing was handled at the recent Eagles concert here. After a fairly restrained first half - just your normal hollering and whistling - and a few seated numbers at the beginning of the second half (some of the mellow songs, man), Glenn Frey said: “You’ve listened very attentively so far, and we’re very grateful. Now lets rock!”
Cue Joe Walsh donning a hard hat and the atmosphere instantly changed. Around half the 12,000 crowd spent the next hour on their feet. Couldn’t notice anyone complaining, even those in the expensive seats (350 US!); in fact, that was the one section where everyone was up on their feet.
If you have an experienced band, who can feel the pulse and the potential of an audience, and the band gives permission to freak out, it works well.
Meh. If you want to sit down and listen to the music, pick up a bootleg copy and buy a nice pair of headphones.
For what it’s worth, it appears I’m not the only one. Some commentary from other fans, taken from Curt Smith’s official website, Curt Smith Zerodisc:
So, among fans, it’s pretty much agreed: the audience, not the performers, were the ones responsible for the crappy atmosphere. Oh well, there’s always next time…I hope.
I just thought you might want to know I’ve damned you all to hell because “Seeds of Love” is now stuck in my brain…for the remainder of the day, if history is any indication.
I’m just not all that sure there’s such a thing as a “bad crowd” in show business. A tough crowd, certainly. But not a bad one.
“Mad World” and “Pale Shelter” didn’t ‘happen’ in the US? That’s a shame … I thought that was their best era … IMO they got a bit lame after that.
Just got back from the Chicago show and it rocked. And yes, it was due in no small part to the enthusiastic crowd. The thing is (don’t kill me Roland) yes, we are dealing with an act that is 98% nostalgia act. If the crowd ain’t excited for nostalgia, then there’s just not a whole lot left. There’s some beautiful singing voices and a whole lotta bass, but nothing terribly groundbreaking. So it really revolves around the audience and their energy.
This audience (which was pretty old by my usual concert standards: over 18 show, estimated average age around 35) sang along so loudly that it was almost hard to hear the vocals at times. But no one cared, 'cause we were having so much fun! Roland-the-singer (not Roland-the-Doper) was having a great time himself just laughing at us. He made us sing “Tiiiiiiiiime Fliiiiiiiiiiiiieeeess” four extra times after the song was over! He also just sat back and laughed as we all sang the first verse of Shout for him, because he joked he was sick of singing it. Curt’s two adorable little daughters were in from LA to watch the show and came running out on stage to hug their daddy. It was just a fun, fun time.
I think the venue helped. It was at the Vic, a very small theater. General admission, with a large balcony with seating and a main floor which is standing only - so people got to choose their experience. I can’t see it going over so well in a large arena.
I’m a “greatest hits” TFF fan, by no means a die-hard, and I had a wonderful time. So there. 
Sigh…that sounds totally awesome, WhyNot. I’m glad you had such a great time. Wish I could’ve been there with you.
Yeah, I’m (painfully) aware that we’re dealing largely with nostalgia here. It’s an easy thing to forget – especially for a fan like me, who wasn’t around for the original run – but if I had any doubts, the AC show whisked them away forever. It’s not as if ELAHE is the best thing they’ve ever done, either; I certainly enjoy it, but it lacks that grandiose Tears For Fears “energy” that was so prevalent back in the early days. Thing is, I really don’t know why that’s so, since Roland’s 1990 efforts (“Elemental” and “Raoul and the Kings of Spain”) were masterpieces equal in quality to, if different in tone from, TFF’s heyday, and his solo effort released under his own name in 2001, “Tomcats Screaming Outside”, contained some out-and-out, balls-to-the-wall rock.
It’s as if they still have it in them; they just don’t feel like using it anymore. I thought they brought back a bit of it in Atlantic City – rather than get discouraged, they tried to make the audience feel it – but the unresponsive crowd just would not have any of it.
Maybe you, me, my friend, and Anastasaeon ought to hook up for one of the Midwestern shows and really go for broke. Whaddaya say? 
While I’m inclined to almost take offense at TfF being called a rock group, I know what you’re feeling Roland.
I just don’t understand why someone would pay good money to see a band they like and want to sit like a lump to watch like it was a video! Of course, I’m more into Rob Zombie, Metallica, Marilyn Manson (all seen recently), and I couldn’t imagine sitting for any of it. I’m on my feet getting the full experience for the entire show. Don’t like it? Buy the frigging CD on your way out.
Hell, in the past year or so we also went to Cinderella/Ratt and REO Speedwagon/Styx. Even the boomers were on their feet for most of the show.
I suspect the problem was that you saw them at a casino. Comp’d tix, bored tourists, etc. (Or was it a different venue?)
Nope, it was the arena at the Taj Mahal, and your thought on the demographic is right on target. The place was rougly 70% filled. Of those in attendance, I’d say that 5% were hardcore fans like myself, an additional 10% were city residents who happened to have liked “Shout” and “EWTRTW”, and the rest were comps and bored people. Drunken comps and bored people. Just the sort of audience I know I’d want if I were trying to perform.
In retrospect, I should’ve expected that a casino audience would play out like that. Oh well, first concert, first lesson, and one I’ll make sure to keep in mind for next time.
Here’s hoping there is a next time…