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.
Perfect Day
Curt Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looks down his crown on the bed
As he's lead to the edge of town
September pardon the son
The hardest part is the one
That you hold in your hands dear
This is the perfect time
This is the perfect way and everyone will say
Hey, it's a perfect day
Sunday king's out for a drive
I'm taking leaves from the fire
As the gold in his eyes screams
Forecast is lookout below
Slow dances crashes and God only knows
Where he goes to
This is the perfect day to blow myself away
This is the perfect time
This is the perfect way and everyone will say
Hey, it's a perfect day
This is the perfect day to blow myself away
This is the perfect time
This is the perfect way and everyone will say
Hey, it's a perfect day
Hey, it's a perfect day, hey, it's a perfect day
Hey, it's a perfect day, hey, it's a perfect day
Hey, it's a perfect day, hey, it's a perfect day
The lyrics to Curt Smith's song "Perfect Day" are dark and heavy, with themes of suicide and desperation. The opening lines of "Black velvet, Elvis is dead / Looks down his crown on the bed / As he's lead to the edge of town" create an image of a deceased Elvis, his crown lying on the bed, as he is taken to the outskirts of town. The next verse, "September pardon the son / The hardest part is the one / That you hold in your hands dear" suggests a struggle with forgiveness and a feeling of holding something precious and vulnerable.
The chorus, "This is the perfect day to blow myself away / This is the perfect time / This is the perfect way and everyone will say / Hey, it's a perfect day" is a haunting and alarming declaration of suicidal ideation. The verse that follows, "Sunday king's out for a drive / I'm taking leaves from the fire / As the gold in his eyes screams / Forecast is lookout below / Slow dances crashes and God only knows / Where he goes to" further underscores the singer's despair and desperation.
There are several ways to interpret these lyrics, but it seems clear that the singer is struggling with deep emotional pain and contemplating suicide. The references to Elvis, the King, and the crucifixion (with "pardon the son") suggest a religious undertone to the song as well. Overall, "Perfect Day" is a heartbreaking exploration of the darkest corners of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Black velvet, Elvis is dead
The world is a dark and desolate place; even the king of rock n' roll has passed away.
Looks down his crown on the bed
Even the crowned king has fallen and his throne now lays empty.
As he's lead to the edge of town
The once great and powerful have been cast out and pushed to the fringes of society.
September pardon the son
Forgiveness is given for past transgressions, as September represents a time for new beginnings.
The hardest part is the one
The most difficult aspect of life is the ability to let go of the past and move forward.
That you hold in your hands dear
The key to happiness lies in being able to cherish what is currently in one's possession.
This is the perfect day to blow myself away
The singer is contemplating suicide and feels that today is the ideal time to do so.
This is the perfect time
The artist believes that in this moment, they have reached the lowest point and can no longer continue living.
This is the perfect way and everyone will say
The artist believes that suicide is the only option left and that others will understand their decision.
Hey, it's a perfect day
In the artist's eyes, death represents the ultimate perfection and escape from the burdens of life.
Sunday king's out for a drive
Even those in power require a break from the daily grind to keep their sanity.
I'm taking leaves from the fire
The artist is trying to find comfort in small things amidst their despair.
As the gold in his eyes screams
The singer is describing the intensity of life's struggles, and how it can almost feel like they are burning up from the inside.
Forecast is lookout below
The future appears bleak and dangerous.
Slow dances crashes and God only knows
The singer feels lost and helpless, not knowing what the future may hold or if there is a higher power watching over them.
Where he goes to
The artist is questioning where one goes after death and if it is any better than life on earth.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@obnoxiousalien
I honestly don't understand why people call him obnoxious, I think it's very pleasant to listen to him speak and he seems to be a nice, warm person. Besides a wonderful musician who stays curious and creative.
@dangercat8919
I never heard anyone call him obnoxious. He's one of the nicest men you can meet.
@kindface
You heard him talk about the studio system. It's populated with the corporate types who are really dispensable to the final product, yet managed to ensconce themselves there to enrich themselves and make the whole music production process painful. You discern the same theme when Smith talked about a speaker before him trotting out all the MBA-speak as he plugged a promotion for Pepsi. If Smith is obnoxious, I speculate it would be a piece of propaganda spread by the corporate leeches who just didn't like the fact Smith calls them for their con jobs.
@saysHotdogs
He’s adorable. When he was younger he could kind of get a bit snobby at times but who is actually all that tolerable at 22? Haha. He’s a total gem. He clams up, though, the more famous he gets. I think he gets cagey. He’s never been comfortable with a huge amount of fame.
@ddeaae
We need to hear more from Tears for Fears. Roland Orzabal also has a lot to share. Sharing and sing about your hurt helps you heal.
@lamas8347
I’m 14 and I’m so glad that I’m a fan of this band
@Bjorja
Same I’m 13 and I’m glad my mum brought me up with this kind of music
@70sladyalways25
Curt is his own person. Not trying to fit a narrative. I understand why he went silent but I’m also thrilled he’s written/created the new album with Roland. I saw them recently (May 2022). They seemed to really enjoy performing their work their way. I’m appreciative for all the great songs and memories I have affiliated with them.
@jerdan2834
I’ve always respected overall how curt tries to stay true to himself. A lot of people now forget that in the day to day life and don’t realize it.
@nicholasjohnson6724
Its so nice hearing from an intelligent, insightful, honest musician that isn't f@cked up by their own ego.
An amazing human being.