Smith, now a naturalized U.S. citizen, originally hails from Bath, England, where he and Roland Orzabal met when both were teenagers. They first formed a band at school, for which Smith taught himself to play bass guitar, and later formed the band Graduate, which achieved minor fame in continental Europe, and released one album in 1980. After disbanding Graduate, Smith and Orzabal founded Tears for Fears. TFF’s debut album, 1983’s The Hurting, was a UK number one and produced three international hit singles –"Mad World", "Change", and "Pale Shelter" – each with lead vocals performed by Smith.
Their second album, 1985's Songs from the Big Chair was even more successful, yielding hits including "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" (sung by Smith), "Shout," and "Head Over Heels" (which Smith co-wrote). The duo spent the next several years recording their 1989 album The Seeds of Love, which proved to be another international bestseller, but Smith left the band a year after its release and moved to New York.
Smith released his first solo album, Soul On Board, in 1993, but the album was a commercial failure. Smith later claimed he hated the album and made it purely to fulfill his contract with Phonogram Records (the label to which Tears For Fears had signed to in 1981). He acclimated to life in New York by hosting an MTV show, as well as a new music radio show that was syndicated to over 300 U.S. colleges, and by teaching a music industry course at New York University. In 1995, a mutual friend introduced Smith to songwriter-guitarist Charlton Pettus. They began writing together and formed a band called Mayfield, which released a self-titled album in 1997.
Smith moved to Los Angeles in 1998, and began work on what was to become "Halfway, pleased" a few years later, but the project was put on hold after he had begun speaking to Roland Orzabal again in 2000 after nearly a decade of silence. Their conversations culminated in the duo reforming Tears For Fears for a new album, 2004’s Everybody Loves A Happy Ending, which led to a worldwide tour. Smith resumed work on "Halfway, pleased" in 2006. The semi-autobiographical album explores Smith’s relationships with his children, parents and friends. Halfway, pleased was released in May 2008, via Smith’s own KOOK Media imprint. It is available in CD and download configurations from major online retailers and from select retail locations.
In May 2013, Smith confirmed that he was writing and recording new Tears for Fears material with Orzabal and Charlton Pettus. 3-4 songs were worked on in the UK at Orzabal’s home studio, Neptune’s Kitchen, in April of 2013. Further work on a new Tears For Fears album commenced in L.A. in July of 2013. According to Orzabal, they have been producing of more dark, dramatic pieces of music, which gave the pending album the tongue-in-cheek working title of Tears for Fears: The Musical. “There’s one track that’s a combination of Portishead and Queen. It’s just crazy,” Orzabal stated.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of TFF’s debut album The Hurting, Universal Music are re-releasing it in two Deluxe Editions (one a 2-disc set and the other a 4-disc set with a DVD of the 1983 In My Mind’s Eye concert) in October 2013.
In August 2013, Tears For Fears released their first newly recorded material in nearly decade, with a cover of Arcade Fire’s “Ready to Start” made available on SoundCloud.
Coming Out
Curt Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing in the outline
Pin the medal to the floor, the hero to the open door
Skin is only outside
Don't cut me down, don't bring me round, don't break my fall
I'm coming out today
Don't take me back, don't change at all
Cut into decision day, we move ahead in different ways
Standing in the outline
We move the arrow to the cross, the building to the butcher block
Skin is only outside, I don't mind
Don't cut me down, don't bring me round, don't break my fall
I'm coming out today
Don't take me back, don't change at all
I'm coming out today
Everybody's gone again, falling out and falling into
His father's on his knees again reaching out for reason and truth
Don't cut me down, don't bring me round, don't break my fall
I'm coming out today
Don't take me back, don't change at all
I'm coming out today
The song "Coming Out" by Curt Smith is an uplifting anthem of self-expression and self-acceptance. The opening lines convey a sense of readiness to break free from the metaphorical starting gun and the curtain that has been drawn to cover up the true self. The singer is standing at the outline, ready to reveal their inner self to the world. The image of pinning the medal to the floor and the hero to the open door signifies the singer's willingness to embrace their vulnerability and let their true self shine through. The reference to skin being only outside further emphasizes this theme of showing the world one's inner self.
The chorus of the song reaffirms the singer's determination to come out and be true to themselves. The repetition of the phrase "I'm coming out today" is a powerful declaration of self-acceptance and an almost celebratory statement of freedom. The singer asks not to be cut down, brought around, or have their fall broken, indicating their willingness to face the consequences of their actions and the full weight of their choices.
In the second verse, the song takes a turn towards a more philosophical exploration of choice and decision-making. The reference to "decision day" and moving ahead in different ways conveys a sense of agency and personal responsibility. The singer is ready to move the arrow to the cross and the building to the butcher block, accepting that actions have consequences and that there is no going back. The repetition of the phrase "skin is only outside" reinforces the idea that what's on the inside, the true self, is what matters most.
Overall, "Coming Out" is a powerful, uplifting song about embracing one's true self and being unapologetically authentic.
Line by Line Meaning
Never mind the starting gun, cover's up, the curtain's drawn
Let's not worry about the past or the present, let's just start fresh and move forward.
Standing in the outline, Pin the medal to the floor, the hero to the open door, Skin is only outside
We are who we are, we can only be judged by our actions, and what truly matters is on the inside.
Don't cut me down, don't bring me round, don't break my fall, I'm coming out today, Don't take me back, don't change at all, I'm coming out today
I am ready to embrace who I am and I don't want anyone to stop me or hold me back. Today is the day I will come out.
Cut into decision day, we move ahead in different ways, Standing in the outline, We move the arrow to the cross, the building to the butcher block, Skin is only outside, I don't mind
We are making a choice and even though it may be difficult, we are ready to accept the outcome. We understand that our appearance does not define us and are unafraid of the consequences.
Everybody's gone again, falling out and falling into, His father's on his knees again reaching out for reason and truth
Everyone goes through difficult times and even when it seems like no one is left, there is always someone who cares and wants to understand.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Charlton Clay Pettus, Curt Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tatianenepomuceno1945
Curt nunca vai ficar feio, sempre vai ser um neném 💙
@nikokita
Esta genial en directo. Se le ve joven
@claramacario8894
Com certeza, eu sei que ele mudou com o passar dos anos, o rosto mudou, mas ele é do tipo que continua belo em qualquer idade!
@deisilenacruz1787
O Curt continua lindo e envelheceu muito bem. Acho ele talentosíssimo e tem muito charme e um jeitinho que é só dele...😍❤️ Amo!
@wiltoncarvalho2818
Sou fã dessa banda 🎉🎉🎉🎉
@yvonnemiller963
What a beautiful person Tears for Fears has the most beautiful young men who grew up to be beautiful older men with their beautiful voices I hope Kurt is doing well
@dirtpipedan
such a bizarre comment. and an even weirder video
@tenrc26
Not to mention they were British 😆😆
@pritapp788
Curt Smith is the definition of aging with grace.
@nikokita
Yes