Chapter 7 | "Mad World" - Gary Jules

As a child of the 80s, I'm sure I heard Tears for Fears' original rendition of this song when it came out, but if I did, it wasn't memorable enough for it to stick. I ran across Gary Jules' cover via the movie Donnie Darko and was immediately drawn in by its haunting melancholy. When I found out it was a cover and looked up the original, I was shocked to hear how drastically different the two versions were.

As a music lover, I can appreciate both for different reasons. The original's faster, more frenetic pace speaks to how easy it is to overlook things that are staring you in the face. Taking a cue from the song's lyrics, perhaps like a teacher who mistakes one of their students as just being the quiet, reserved type without seeing that student is really suffering and hoping someone will notice enough to help.

Though some consider it blasphemy to hold the opinion that a cover is better than the original, in some cases, it is. For me, personally, that's the case with this one. Hearing the two side-by-side, there is no denying at the cover's overall pace, tone, and feel more closely matches the type of feelings that align to the lyrics.

In previous posts, I said that I would refrain from lyrical interpretations on this blog -- and that still applies -- but some songs don't require much to get the gist of its inspiration. Suffice it to say that I think it's a universal truth that most people will, at some point in their lives, face challenges that can be difficult enough where they question whether it's worth it to stick around.

It is, and I can prove it... but not until Chapter 14.