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TFF

Real Name:
Curt Smith, Roland Orzabal, Manny Elias, Ian Stanley
Profile:
UK Synth-pop group from the early '80s formed by Curt Smith (b. June 24, 1961) and Roland Orzabal (b.August 22, 1961).
The group was succesful in both the UK and USA until a split in Oct. 1991 saw Smith leave the band.
The 1993 album release 'Elemental' was a solo project by Orzabal.
In 2000 after sorting out the earlier problems, the pair started working together again on new material.
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Discography

Releases:
Change (Single, EP) (5 versions)   Mercury ... 1982
Pale Shelter (Single) (4 versions)   Mercury 1983
The Way You Are (12")   Mercury 1983
The Seeds Of Love (Album) (7 versions)   Fontana ... 1989
Woman In Chains (CD, Single)   Fontana 1992
Secret World (CD + DVD-V)   XIII BIS Records 2006
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YouTube Videos

Tears For Fears - Everybody wants to RUN the world
▸ show all 1 review

Reviews & Discussion

Review by Alastis Mar 08, 2008
Just recently, I watched a TV show where TFF were mentioned as one of the disposable pop groups of the 80s. I disagree with that opinion - indeed, they were producing slick music, but it was a bit more sophisticated than stuff done by their peers.

In general, 80s were not good for pop music - whatever comes to mind is overused synthesizer sound and hollow sounding drums. Somehow, TFF were able to inject more life into their songs than many others - even with some of the typical production values for those times.

On a downside, some of their songs are/were overplayed (think "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World") and there was a definite reliance on image (although not as heavy as in, say, Duran Duran or Erasure or bands of that ilk). All in all, many of their songs stood the test of time very well and one can easily find less attractive examples of pop music from the 80s out there.

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