Jules recorded the song, originally by the British duo Tears For Fears, for the film Donnie Darko from 2001. Two years later it became the Christmas hit of 2003 in Great Britain, after which it became a world hit. Mad World was on the album in the early 1980s The Hurting by Tears For Fears.
“There has been such widespread loss in recent years, so much illness and loneliness, such violent and dramatic upheaval in the world and in the personal lives of people, including my family and me,” Jules said in a statement about the release of MadWorld. ,,Mad World gives people permission to think about that, to perhaps find beauty in chaos and loss and a sense of community in times of loneliness. I feel it too, every time I sing it, even twenty years later.” The American also announced that he is working on new music.
MadWorld can be found in both the Jules and Tears For Fears versions in the upcoming edition of the Top 2000. Jules is ranked highest at 1535. Tears For Fears stands at 1752 with the original.