(Here is a cool article about the guys who covered Mad World by Tears for Fears for the Donnie Darko soundtrack. Turns out they are local here!)

La Jolla musicians strike a British chord on pop singles charts

By George Varga
POP MUSIC CRITIC

December 26, 2003

If Ripley's Believe It Or Not! is seeking the most improbable pop-music story of 2003, Michael Andrews and Gary Jules are the clear front-runners.

The two boyhood pals from La Jolla last week became only the sixth American artists since 1970 to top England's pop singles charts during Christmas week. Their feat places them in the company of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Johnny Mathis, the late Jackie Wilson and Little Jimmy Osmond.

What is more surprising is that Andrews and Jules, neither of whom are signed to a major record label, topped the English charts with their spare, somber version of "Mad World." The dark-edged song first appeared on the 1982 debut album by Tears For Fears, an English band Andrews and Jules greatly admired as fledgling teen musicians.

Jules, 34, and Andrews, 36, recorded their dramatically revamped version of "Mad World" in just 90 minutes at Andrews' home studio in Los Angeles as the end title song for the 2001 sci-fi cult film "Donnie Darko," for which Andrews wrote the score. The song features Jules on vocals and Andrews on piano.

"What's great is that Gary and I were 14 and 16 when Tears For Fears' album came out," Andrews said Wednesday in Mission Valley. "The album was about people between childhood and adulthood, and we were those kids. Then, looking back as adults, we recorded this song for a movie that's about kids the same age as us when we'd first heard the Tears For Fears album."

"Mad World" beat out "Christmas Time" by The Darkness and "Changes" by Ozzy & Kelly Osbourne to top the English charts. It has not been released as a single here, although it can be heard on the "Donnie Darko" film score album and on Jules' 2001 indie album, "Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets," which he released on his own label and co-produced with Andrews. (The album will be re-released by Sanctuary Records next year.)

"The big question we were asked in England last week is: 'How does a song with no drums, guitar or bass, and a suicidal chorus, get to be No. 1 at Christmas time?' " Jules said with a grin.

"There are so many reasons why this shouldn't have happened – and that's exactly why it should have," Andrews interjected. "It's subtle, not aggressive or grandiose – a rare moment of peace and introspection on the radio."

Jules and Andrews performed last Friday on "Top of the Pops," England's fabled weekly music TV show. They also performed on "The Jonathan Ross Show," England's equivalent of "Late Night with David Letterman."

At betting parlors in England, where wagers are placed each year on what song will top the pop charts Christmas week, the La Jolla-bred duo was a dramatic long shot.

"When the first day bets were open we were 144-to-1 odds," said Jules, who is now managed by former San Diego concert promoter Bill Silva.

"No one we knew in England even placed a bet at those odds; I wish I would have," added Andrews, who is best-known as the guitarist in San Diego's Greyboy Allstars and for his solo work as Elgin Park.

Jules will tour the United Kingdom in February. Andrews hopes to perform on some dates if his film scoring schedule allows.

"It's the greatest Christmas ever for us, it really is," Jules said. "This isn't just a professional accolade; it feels like something for your whole life."

Very cool version of the song, and hey, that movie is fantastic if you're into psycho crazy time travelling rebellious teens... and a few other things as well.

yeah, that was a great movie!

Nice read!

thanx Vina


Jshua




http://www.soundclick.com/jshua

I just think it's so awesome that two local independent musicians recorded this song and it was #1 in the UK charts without being officially released as a single. It's just a great song. And why the week of Christmas? Because some people are sad during the holiday season, and it helps to hear a beautiful, therapuetic song. I love this version, when I saw the movie I loved it. I loved the movie too.

This kind of news just gives me hope. I mean, music isn't only about dancing around like a muppet and acting like you're selling hot dogs and cokes at 7-11. Sometimes music is sad and beautiful. It's art and it's soothing to the soul. There needs to be more of that. It's way unbalanced now.

Great song from a great movie. And it's world's better than the original.

Very cool that they're "local". That is inspiring.

Yeah man, I was beggining to think the uk were completely musically illiterate untill this tune beat the pop idol crap to christmas number one

cloud9mission said:

The Darkness shoulda been no1.