Tears For Fears Are Ruling The World Again, Thanks To TikTok

Seminal English pop rockers Tears For Fears have expressed disbelief after being catapulted back into the spotlight, thanks to TikTok.

Beloved ‘80s classic Everybody Wants To Rule The World has found new life after becoming a favourite on the social media platform.

After being used on over 10,000 pieces of user-generated content, it's soared into the Spotify Top 50 in the US and within the past couple of days has re-entered the Australian Top 50. And it’s showing no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Taking to TikTok, Tears For Fears thanked fans with a video captioned with “this was not on our 2022 bingo cards”.

“We released this song in 1985. It went #1 in the US and #2 in the UK. This week, it charted in the Top 50 on Spotify. Thank you TikTok!” they said. “We love that you love it as much as we still do.”

@tearsforfears

this was not on our 2022 bingo cards… #tearsforfears #everybodywantstoruletheworld #SplashSummerVibe #80s #80smusic

♬ ewtrtw - Tears For Fears

A new generation discovering Tears For Fears feels reminiscent of Kate Bush’s rise to global stardom in recent months thanks to Stranger Things making Running Up That Hill a hit again.

Indeed, Everybody Wants To Rule The World was listed in a Reddit thread titled ‘What Songs Would You Want In Stranger Things 5?’ shortly before blowing up, so there might be a connection there (maybe the Duffer brothers should take note).

Both Bush and Metallica hit the spotlight in a big way after their feature on the trending Netflix series, with Running Up That Hill STILL #1 in Australia.

According to music sales data early last month, Bush had earned US$2.3 million in streaming royalties from 1985’s Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) since season four of the Netflix series premiered in late May.

Meanwhile, Metallica recently took the opportunity to cash in on a Stranger Things merch collab.