The song takes its name from a chapter title in Arthur Janov's book Prisoners of Pain and features lyrics related to the concept of primal therapy. 'Ideas as Opiates' is a song that originally served as the B-side to the 'Mad World' single, and was later re-recorded for inclusion on The Hurting. A later remix by noted British music producer Afterlife was featured on the 2005 reissue of the Tears for Fears greatest hits collection Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82–92). This mix is very similar to the album version, with the most notable differences being the additional echo added to the intro and middle sections and the subtraction of a subtle keyboard part from the bridge. The song had only one remix on its initial release, the World Remix that was featured on a 7-inch double-single. The 7-inch version of 'Mad World' is the same mix of the song found on The Hurting. The lyric 'the dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had' suggests that dreams of intense experiences such as death will be the best at releasing tension. The song was influenced by the theories of Arthur Janov, author of The Primal Scream. Not that Bath is very mad – I should have called it 'Bourgeois World'! That came when I lived above a pizza restaurant in Bath and I could look out onto the centre of the city. The band then opted to re-record 'Mad World' with producers Ross Cullum and Chris Hughes, the latter a former drummer with Adam and the Ants. 'Mad World' was intended to be the B-side for the band's second single ' Pale Shelter (You Don't Give Me Love)', but their record company stated that 'Mad World' could be a single in its own right. After a few false starts with Orzabal on vocals, he suggested Smith sing it and 'suddenly it sounded fabulous'. 'Mad World' was originally written on acoustic guitar when Orzabal was 19 after being inspired to write a new wave song in the vein of Duran Duran's ' Girls on Film'. 9 Michael Andrews and Gary Jules version.The cover photo was taken at Round Pond in Kensington Gardens (London, England). A 2021 rendition of the song was included on Demi Lovato's album Dancing with the Devil. 'Mad World' has since been covered by various artists, including a 2001 version recorded by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules for the soundtrack of the film Donnie Darko a 2003 single release of the song reached number one in the UK for three consecutive weeks and won Orzabal his second Ivor Novello Award. This single was also the band's first international success, reaching the Top 40 in several countries in 1982–83.

Both 'Mad World' and its B-side, 'Ideas as Opiates', appeared on the band's debut LP The Hurting (1983).

Written by Roland Orzabal and sung by bassist Curt Smith, it was the band's third single release and first chart hit, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart in November 1982. ' Mad World' is a 1982 song by British band Tears for Fears.

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