We had dinner with my mom the other night. She was telling us about how she occasionally ran into her former students over the years. Once while in Nordstroms, a former student tapped her on the shoulder to say hello. It was a pleasant surprise and the two had a nice conversation. I asked how old her former student was when she bumped into her. Holy crap. She was 31. I wondered how in the world she recognized my mom after twenty five years. At best, I might be able to remember a teacher’s name, if all the stars are aligned. And that’s a big if. Otherwise, there’s no chance in hell I could pick any of them out of a police lineup.
That last line made me think about that police lineup scene in the movie The Usual Suspects.
The iconic police lineup scene in The Usual Suspects was actually a series of outtakes due to the actors, particularly Benito Del Toro, not being able to stop laughing, a result that was serendipitously kept and pieced together by the director, Bryan Singer. This unplanned moment of camaraderie and insubordination created an iconic cinematic moment, as the actors’ real laughter provided an unplanned connection that mirrored the film’s own narrative misdirection.
AI
Great scene, but unfortunately, not much on the soundtrack to choose from.
After an hour or so searching, I’m calling uncle and choosing a song that mildly refers to familiar faces. In 1983, Tears for Fears released Mad World. I read the backstory hoping there might be a remote connection to today’s post. Nope. All I’ve got is the first verse. It will have to do or I’ll never push the publish button.
All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
–
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All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places
Worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere
Going nowhere
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression
No expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow
No tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
'Cause I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it's a very very
Mad world
Mad world
Mad world
Mad world
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen
Sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me
No one knew me
Hello, teacher, tell me what's my lesson?
Look right through me
Look right through me
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
'Cause I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it's a very very
Mad world
Mad world
Mad world
Mad world
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
'Cause I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it's a very very
Mad world
Mad world
Halargian world
Mad world
MyGenXerLife 
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that this song slipped below the radar for me as a kid. I only really discovered it through the Gary Jules cover – as heard in Donnie Darko.
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That’s a pretty good cover song.
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Funny about your mom being recognized all those years later. I’m friends with a few teachers on FB and have apologized for my behavior in their classrooms 😂 They’re a forgiving bunch. Some of them said they actually had a hard time not busting out laughing at some of our antics. And isn’t it funny how no matter how old we get, they’re always Mrs. So-and-so or Mr. So-and-so.
Thanks for a great song selection for the weekend. 😎
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That’s pretty funny! Yes, they could never be anything else but Mr or Mrs.
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My late husband preferred the Gary Jules version over the TFF. I respectfully disagreed with him as I found it way too maudlin. But then he became terminally ill and the Gary Jules version made more sense. Both are great iterations of an emotional tune.
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Thanks for sharing your connection to the song. I appreciate the deeper meaning with others. I do like both versions, but I grew up with TFFs, so I always lean that way.
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Great song
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I first heard this song as a middle aged person and it blew me away, the lyrics hit me hard.The first time I heard this song was as sung by Adam Lambert on ‘American Idol’ and that’s the one I will love because, well, you know, first loves. I just listened to this Gary Jules fellow and his version is also very nice. Funny how the original by TFF doesn’t have the same emotional impact – a bopping little dance tune????
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I haven’t heard the Adam Lambert version, but thanks – will be sure to look it up. I do like the Jules version. It has a more melancholy tone. As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.
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Great song choice and good recovery on the theme! I also liked the version Brandi Carlile posted to Twitter in the fall of 2020 from her home, ending with the statement that it’s a mad world, so go vote. I couldn’t find the video now, but remember being very moved by it.
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Hi Steve, thanks a million. I just listened to a live version of the song and loved it. I appreciate good covers!
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You’re welcome. I found a few live versions, too, but wish I could find the one she posted to Twitter… it was marvellous, very moving, well recorded.
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I love that your Mom’s students still recognize her! Does she remember their names? When you think about a class of 30 students every year for 20 years would be 600 names. I know that’s more than I can remember.
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So true! She didn’t recognize her because if the years, but when she mentioned her name, she knew immediately. She loved teaching and her students.
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That laughter scene is because Benecio farted
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I ran into one of my high school English teachers at my lap pool once. I recognized and remembered her (and she me) but elementary school teachers are a whole different story!
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I read somewhere that Benicio del Toro knew his character was a throwaway (my word) since he’s there to be killed so he made sure to make him memorable, hence the mumbling. After his character is killed off, he went home and wondered if he’d ever work again in the business. So glad he persevered. The Usual Suspects is one of my all time favorite movies (up there with LA Confidential with its awesome soundtrack), and so is the band Tears for Fears. Great choice!
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It’s such a great movie, I agree!
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A song I love, and the first video. I remember when one of the kids teachers moved across the street from us… the energy from them was so funny. They couldn’t reconcile having a teacher be a normal neighbor for a while. haha
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