Robert Glasper, Everybody Wants To Rule The World | COVERS

In the 11^th edition of COVERS (2023), Robert Glasper delivers a compelling rendition of “Everybody Wants To Rule The World,” originally recorded by Tears For Fears.

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and totally cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS separates itself from a related column, Head 2 Head 🗣️ only highlighting the musician who covers, as opposed to the original/most famous performer. COVERS is open to both established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 11^th edition of COVERS (2023), 🎙 Robert Glasper delivers a compelling rendition of 🎵 “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”, originally recorded by 🎙 Tears For Fears.

“Acting on your best behavior / Turn your back on Mother Nature / Everybody wants to rule the world.” Woo! Those spirited lyrics hail from one of the preeminent songs from the 1980s, 🎵 “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”. 🎙 Tears For Fears struck gold with the gem which never seems to grow old. Renowned jazz pianist and producer 🎙 Robert Glasper makes this 80s gem sound even fresher in 2022.  It appears on his 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B album, 💿 Black Radio III, and enlists the services of 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer, 🎙 Lalah Hathaway, and 🏆 Grammy-winning rapper, 🎙 Common. Sure, it is hard to tweak a classic that does not need tweaking, but Glasper and company do a bang-up job.

In Glasper’s hands, fitting the bill of his Black Radio series, he transforms “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” into an R&B record.  Sure, back then, a youthful 🎙 Curt Smith sang with incredible energy, but Hathaway brings a more adult contemporary, soulful vibe. Her vocals are refined against an equally refined and classy backdrop.  The tempo is also slackened, giving “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” a more laidback, chill feel.  Adding to the chillness, and the ‘blackness,’ is a rap feature from Common.  Common, who is a class act, keeps his bars classy to, fitting this jazzy, adult contemporary aesthetic to perfection. During this particular section of the record, it sounds nothing like the original, showcasing the most innovative spirit.  Also, worth noting, the intro, prior to the most recognizable portion of the 80s classic, finds Glasper in forward thinking mode.  Perhaps Glasper does not steal the thunder of the original, which is irreplaceable, but his reinterpretation, with the help of Hathaway and Common, makes 2022 🎵 “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” pretty sweet.

🎙 Robert Glasper • 💿 Black Radio III • 🏷 Loma Vista • 🗓 2022

Robert Glasper, “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”: Covers No. 11 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; Loma Vista; Paul Brennan from Pixabay;  Sdf Rahbar on Unsplash]