Michelle Zauner, a.k.a. Japanese Breakfast, is now one of the hundreds of artists who have covered Tears for Fears’ “Head Over Heels.” Released off W Records, an imprint of W Hotels, the cover is the second of Zauner’s two singles off the label — her original song “Essentially” was released last month. Portions of the proceeds from both singles will benefit the ACLU.
Glossed in delicate synth-y vocals, the cover gives the 1985 New Wave hit a dream-pop makeover. “Something happens and I’m head over heels,” she sings gently. “Ah, don’t take my heart, don’t break my heart/Don’t, don’t, don’t throw it away.” Tears for Fears have been covered countless times—including Gary Jules’ austere cover of “Mad World” famously used in a Gears of War commercial — but never has it felt so illuminating.
Zauner released her sophmore album, Soft Sounds from Another Planet, in 2017. She’s currently on tour throughout the fall, making a stop at Central Park’s SummerStage with Hatchie on June 24th. She’ll wrap up with back-to-back shows at San Diego’s Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival on November 23rd and 24th.
“I felt so alone doing what I do for a really long time,” Zauner told Rolling Stone in 2017. “Now there’s this really fucking awesome community of women who I can relate to. And it feels really good.”