Raoul and the Kings of Spain (song)

"Raoul and the Kings of Spain" is a song by the band Tears for Fears, released as the first single from their 1995 album of the same name. Upon its release, the single reached #31 in the UK and would be the band's last Top 40 hit there for ten years (until 2005's "Closest Thing to Heaven"). The song also reached #39 in Belgium (Wallonia) and #26 in Poland.

Background

"Raoul and the Kings of Spain" is about Roland Orzabal's Spanish heritage (Orzabal's father was of Spanish-Basque descent, and his grandfather was Argentinian). Raoul was actually Roland Orzabal's name for the first two weeks of his life, but his mother renamed him Roland because the family were then living in England. Orzabal named his own first son Raoul.

The track was first performed two years prior to its release, on the band's 1993 Elemental World Tour.

Music video

The video for the song was filmed at The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, California. The Inn is a listed historic landmark, and was where Bette Davis married in 1945. The video features Orzabal with his full supporting band including guitarist Alan Griffiths (who co-wrote and co-produced the song) and bass player Gail Ann Dorsey.

Track listing

UK 2-CD set

Disc 1

"Raoul and the Kings of Spain" - 5:15
"Queen of Compromise" - (Roland Orzabal, Alan Griffiths, Brian Macleod, Jebin Bruni, Gail Ann Dorsey, Jeffrey Trott)-3:52
"All of the Angels" - (Roland Orzabal, Alan Griffiths)-4:25

Disc 2

"Raoul and the Kings of Spain" - 5:15
"Creep" (Live in Birmingham) - 4:55 (Radiohead cover)
"The Madness of Roland" -(Roland Orzabal, Alan Griffiths)- 5:09

UK CD5 Promo

"Raoul and The Kings of Spain" (Special Version) 4:32

German CD5 Promo

"Raoul and The Kings of Spain" (Edit) 4:43

Tears for Fears

Roland Orzabal Curt Smith Ian Stanley Manny Elias

Studio albums	The Hurting Songs from the Big Chair The Seeds of Love Elemental Raoul and the Kings of Spain Everybody Loves a Happy Ending

Live albums	Secret World Live in Paris

Compilations	Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82–92) Saturnine Martial & Lunatic Shout: The Very Best of Tears for Fears

Singles	"Suffer the Children" "Pale Shelter" "Mad World" "Change" "The Way You Are" "Mothers Talk" "Shout" "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" "Everybody Wants to Run the World" "Head over Heels" "I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording)" "Mothers Talk (US Remix)" "Sowing the Seeds of Love" "Woman in Chains" "Advice for the Young at Heart" "Famous Last Words" "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams" "Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down)" "Break It Down Again" "Cold" "Goodnight Song" "Elemental" "Raoul and the Kings of Spain" "God's Mistake" "Secrets" "Falling Down" "Closest Thing to Heaven" "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending/Call Me Mellow" "Secret World" Ready Boys and Girls? (EP)

Video/DVD releases	The Videosingles In My Mind's Eye Scenes from the Big Chair Sowing the Seeds Going to California Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82–92) Secret World (Live in Paris)

Related articles	Discography Graduate

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