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.
Who you are
Curt Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone's left the TV on
I don't suppose
No I don't suppose
Someone's let the genie in
I don't suppose
No I don't suppose
You know
Who you are
Who you
Who you are
Today
Someone's phoning up old friends
Someone's tying up loose ends
I don't suppose
No I don't suppose
Someone's crying at the sun
Someone's hiding from someone
I don't suppose
No I don't suppose
You know
Who you are
Who you are
Who you are
Today
Who you are
Who you are
Who you are
Today
Someone's folding paper planes
Someone's on the line again
Someone's crying at the sun and
Someone's hiding from someone
I don't suppose
No I don't suppose
You know who you are
Who you are
Who you are today
Who you are
Who you are
Who you are
Today
The song "Who You Are" by Curt Smith is a contemplative piece that reflects on the experiences and actions of others. The opening lines describe an individual who is drinking alone and has left the television on, suggesting a sense of loneliness and perhaps even despair. The next lines reveal that someone is sleeping in the singer's bed, a sign of emotional intimacy and shared space that is now being violated. The chorus repeats the phrase "Who You Are" three times, emphasizing the importance of self-knowledge and self-awareness.
The second verse continues with a theme of connection and loss. Someone is calling old friends and tying up loose ends, indicating a desire to reconnect and perhaps make amends. However, someone else is crying at the sun and hiding from someone, suggesting unresolved pain and fear. The repetition of "I don't suppose" throughout the song conveys a sense of uncertainty and ambiguity, as if the singer is unsure of what to make of these experiences.
Overall, "Who You Are" is a song that asks us to consider our own identities and relationships, as well as the experiences of those around us. It encourages us to seek self-knowledge and empathy, even in the midst of confusion and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone's drinking all alone
There's probably someone somewhere, sad and lonely, drinking all by themselves
Someone's left the TV on
That TV might be left on by somebody who forgot to turn it off or left it on purpose for their own reasons
I don't suppose
I assume it's happening, but I'm not entirely sure
No I don't suppose
I assume it's not happening, but I'm not completely sure
Someone's sleeping in my bed
Maybe someone is using my bed without me knowing, and I'm unaware
Someone's let the genie in
Perhaps someone let the genie (wish-granting spirit) in, with unpredictable consequences
You know who you are
You have a clear idea of your identity, and I hope you stay true to it
Who you are
Your sense of identity is a core part of who you are, and it's important to be aware of it
Today
At this moment, right now
Someone's phoning up old friends
Someone might be feeling nostalgic or in need of support, reconnecting with old friends
Someone's tying up loose ends
Someone might be trying to finish something off or set things right before moving on
Someone's crying at the sun
Someone could be feeling overwhelmed by the beauty and power of nature, or feeling helpless in their current situation
Someone's hiding from someone
It's possible that someone is scared or avoiding someone else, for reasons unknown
Who you are today
Today, you might be a different version of yourself than yesterday, and that's okay
Someone's folding paper planes
Somebody is just casually folding paper airplanes, perhaps as a way of passing the time
Someone's on the line again
Someone is back on the phone, maybe for another round of conversation or negotiation
Who you are
Your personality, strengths, and flaws are unique to you, and it's important to recognize and embrace them
Today
This day is a new chapter of your life, filled with potential and opportunities
Contributed by Camden P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
webwezal
I have began to fall in love with this version. I have had this song in my head since I heard it. Nicely done.. No, great!!
jezzyby47
Brilliant upload. Never seen this before and Curt is in remarkable voice and shape for his age.
Paola
💗💗💗💗💗💗
jennifer craig
fantastic, cant get this out of my head now...
robeast9009
Great song, very moving performance
Paola
💞💞💞💞💞💞💞
Chorltonia
@xPikmin2x. The song (especially the title) is quite metaphorical. Chris Martin (of Coldplay) says the song is about unrequited love and devotion, and that the "yellow" of the title represented brightness and hope and was also the colour of the band's mood at that time. Believe me, its not about zombies or anything.
CelesteK
God! Curt sings that song better than Chris Martin does.
TooSoonOrTooLate
wow... amazing
Paola
💜💜💜💜💜💜