Some songs are so ingrained in the collective psyche that covering them can be a risky proposition. Everyone knows exactly how they are supposed to sound, how they should feel, and when that one little lick is supposed to happen.
But when artists truly bring themselves into a composition, they can supersede the rigid expectations and enlighten listeners to something new.
That’s exactly what Kubla did in this stunning performance of the Tears for Fears classic “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.”
“This Tears for Fears song has such an addictive shuffle! A beautiful and unique concept!” the vocalist/guitarist states in the video description. “A beautiful piece of songwriting. Everybody wants to rule the world is one of my favs. I actually rediscovered it through Mark Lettieri (I took a lesson from him once) and Lettuce, and decided I would put my own jazzy [R&B] spin on it with some of the best musicians I know!”
Kubla assembled a crack team of musicians for his concert in the park with Carlo Santo Domingo on bass, Christian Antonacci on trumpet, and Austin Gembora on drums. Together, they create a live, organic rendition of the song, which marks a departure from the original.
Tears for Fears crafted the new wave/synth-pop groove for “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” on new technology. The song was a last-minute addition to their breakout record, “Songs from the Big Chair,” which was recorded in 1984 at keyboardist Ian Stanley’s home studio in Bath, UK.
“Stanley’s studio featured a mixing console, analog tape machines, and an impressive collection of synthesizers, drum machines, and samplers, including the Yamaha DX7, PPG Wave 2.3, and Sequential Prophet T-8,” Reverb Machine explains.
Producer Chris Hughes recalled the process of using sequencers to build the song. “I had a little 8-bit computerized MIDI sequencer called a UMI, and I programmed those two chords and a bass line, and had that running on and off for days in the studio… if you put up the 2-inch masters of that song now, it almost mixes itself. It’s very straightforward.”
The original version has a shuffling swing, but at its core, it is mechanical. Tears for Fears used several drum machines to craft the rhythm, including the LinnDrum, Drumulator, Oberheim DMX, and Fairlight synthesizer.
Kubla and his bandmates give the track a refreshing vibe by bringing each part to life. The drums are dynamic and exciting. The bass line goes beyond the repetitive pedal point, adding dimension and melody to the low end. Kubla and Antonacci then add even more of their own sonic fingerprints to the track with inspiring solos over the song’s form.
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” has been around for forty years, and it continues to inspire artists to make incredible versions like this. Now it’s your turn.
Check out the sheet music for “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and make your own version:
