Gary Jules
Gary Jules Aguirre Jr. (born March 19, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter, known primarily for his cover version of the Tears for Fears song "Mad World", which he recorded with his friend Michael Andrews for the film Donnie Darko. It became the UK Christmas number-one single of 2003.
albums by Gary Jules
Songs by Gary Jules
length: 5:04
listen:
The Main Mix
I actually like this version more than the original. Go figure.
All that to say, it's not taking anything from Tears for Fears to elevate this song as an achievement in its own right.
A bit maudlin? Maybe
But this has to be a fricking 9 or 10 because it is a unique, haunting composition that taps right into some subterranean flow.
13 (my grand-niece) to 69 (me) .... it gets you.
Some composition.
Not better or worse to me - just different. Puddles Pity Party also does an interesting version.
Frank: - "Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?"
Last weekend i took the time to watch Donnie Darko for the first time, i had seen it before but didn't pay attention to it....
WOW! Great, GREAT movie! A movie with a manual, but great! Especially hearing this song in that context makes it a beautiful song...
And to think I associate it with Donnie Darko exclusively.
How fortunate I am to have missed all the other uses. (But as long as it hasn't been on The OC or others of its ilk, I think I can live with it.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEpfvTdR5-U
I actually like this version more than the original. Go figure.
This is such a good song, all versions are good
springof63 wrote:Happy Christmas,
War is... (oh shit)
.
This was the UK Christmas Number 1 single 2003
it works on many levels but it will always make me think of Christmas.
Perhaps you could follow this with
Ian Gillan - M. A. D. (Mutually Assured Destruction)
I'm doing that myself now, be back in a minute.
cheers
inbagt wrote:
I was working in the UK at the time. Never understood why this was the UK Christmas Number 1 single. But it was probably the best thing on the radio at the time. Everything else was manufactured boy/girl pop groups.
It was hard to believe then.
But even harder to believe that its now (very nearly) 20 years ago.
I mean WTF happened?
It was mad before, but look at it now....
Good, but unnecessary cover.
I disagree - for once, it's an interesting and different take on the original. What is not in dispute is that it's a stonker of a song.
I wish I had a dollar for how often I've corrected people who insist that it is Michael Stipe performing this cover.
...although that'd be quite cool to hear.