Tears For Fears – Woman In Chains Featuring Oleta Adams

A long, long time ago, my brother went away to college. He left behind many items and gave me explicit instructions to use them as I wish. Over the years, I have.

One cluster of items he left behind was a stack of CDs. To this day, he says I stole them. I keep telling him that he gave them to me. He has a faulty memory that will be a timeless wedge between the two of us. Little does he know, his gift to me has opened up a whole world of music that otherwise would have been left unexplored. I would call it “80s” music, but I am sure there’s some 70s mixed in there too.

A few days ago, we were in the car driving to the rail trail. We were engaging in some idle chit chat while listening to “Tears For Fears.” Now, Tears For Fears has never really meant much to me. They were mentally lumped in with Mr. Mister and Thompson Twins. If someone had asked me what the difference between the bands were, I couldn’t respond with anything of any substance.

As we were driving and talking and talking and driving, the song “Woman In Chains Featuring Oleta Adams” began to play. The sun was setting just the right way and we were heading through some pretty rural land. It was another one of those Summer nights I am so fond of. If you have been following this blog over the past five years, you would have read descriptions of some of my most favorite times. In case you haven’t, you can read them here:

– My Hazy Summer Nights With Garrison Keillor
– Epiphany Project with John Hodian and Bet Williams
– Thistle & Shamrock with Fiona Ritchie

Boy, I’ve been writing for a long time. I have to say that this has been one of my life’s most worthwhile endeavors and I’m not sure anyone has enjoyed this blog more than I have. Sometimes I sit at my desk and go through my old posts. It’s like reading my diary.

These Summer nights are life changers. They always include the arts and open me up to something I didn’t know before. I swear, I am biologically altered after some of these experiences.

So there we were, driving along. Since we had been listening to Tears For Fears for most of the ride, we were primed for the song that came on at the moment I described above. I don’t know, we just got quiet. We listened to the song which lasts for more than six minutes.

Have you ever heard one of those songs that you need to listen to over and over? It’s a talent that’s few and far between. I wonder how someone does it…how they find the magic that enables them to assemble something so beautiful.

Tears For Fears – Woman In Chains Featureing Oleta Adams

The thing with this one is that it last long enough to hook you. It really hooks you, and I’m not alone in thinking this. The comments on Youtube on each and every version of this video are all the same:

– Such a strong voice he has. I always come back to these guys when I need a break from the messed-up world we live in.

– Although not featured on the video, that’s Phil Collins on the drums. What an ethereal piece. Perfectly structured, layered so richly with perfect rhythms and harmonies — it takes you to another world. The power of the lyrics matched only by the power of the vocal harmonies. Wow. Just wow.

– This music video sends chills down my spine. One of the most beautiful pieces of art I have ever been privy too. What a treasure.

– Man what a beautiful song. It just pulls at your heart.

– For me the very, very best song ever recorded! Once I put it on I listen to it over and over…….and then over again.

When something like this happens in the car, I wonder what the other person is thinking. I slowly increase the volume to the point of enjoyment and expect something to be said. When nothing happens, I increase it a bit more and drive. We both look at the land and enjoy.

Tears For Fears has talent. There is so much I listen to on all their albums without forwarding through much.

So here’s what happened. When it came time to take them out of the CD player in the car, I thought I would see if I could find something similar in Mr. Mister and the Thompson Twins. The next time we drove to the rail trail, we flipped through both of the albums and couldn’t find one thing that held a candle to Tears For Fears. I mean, we were comparing something that was one dimensional to something else that was five dimensional. There was a serious difference and I began questioning the earthliness of these two.

I don’t know. I guess I’ll just chalk it up to another memorable Summer night that I’ll be reading about in the years to come.