Tag Archives: Tears for Fears

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Linkin Park “New Divide” and Offspring both sound like Mad World

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Given the history of The Offspring on this site Travis and I were both a little surprised to see a band sounding LIKE The Offspring rather than the other way around. Check out the main riff on Linkin Park’s 2009 “New Divide” and The Offspring’s 1997 “Gone Away”. After listening to the both of these I also certainly hear Tears for Fears “Mad World” especially in “New Divide”. Maybe that’s what the guy on the turntable in the band is actually playing 🙂



And overall “New Divide” and “Gone Away” have very similar verse instrumentation.


Submitted by Travis.

Very important 2026 update. I asked ChatGPT to make me a new image for this post based on the “Songs from the Big Chair”. Here you go:

SEE ALSO

Muse vs. The Offspring

Muse vs. The Offspring (Again)

Belle & Sebastian vs. The Offspring

 

UPDATE: Maroon 5 vs. Tears for Fears

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Update for Tears for Fears vs. Hillary Duff

Elle made a nice find in the pre-chorus of Maroon 5‘s single “She Will Be Loved”. Check out the Tears for Fears vs. Hillary Duff post for the others.

Maroon 5 - "She Will Be Loved" (2002)

Tears for Fears - "Break it Down Again" (1993)

Hillary Duff - "Wake Up" (2005)

Tears for Fears “Mad World” Sounds Like Cat Stevens “Matthew & Son”

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I’ve been on a bit of a Cat Stevens kick lately. With so many great songs it’s no wonder his work has been borrowed so often. The other day I was listening to the track Matthew & Son from his debut album of the same title. There’s a short little vocal melody that sounded so much like the Tears for Fears hit “Mad World”. Check it out below. I threw in the Gary Jules version for the younger folks out there.

Cat Stevens - "Matthew & Son " (1966)
Tears for Fears - "Mad World" (1982)
Gary Jules - "Mad World" (2003)

 

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