Woman in Chains

The song Woman in Chains, released in 1989, is notable for the powerful guest vocals of Oleta Adams, who brought a special dimension to the composition. The original recording, which took place on February 8 and 9, 1988, at London's Townhouse Studios, was made in a format that departed from studio conventions. Sound engineer David Bascombe recalled that, while impressed, he also had reservations about the free structure of those sessions, which involved "endless takes" without adding additional layers of sound afterward. Even Phil Collins participated on drums, contributing a style reminiscent of his work on In the Air Tonight, responding to Tears for Fears' request for a powerful sound.

The central theme of Woman in Chains, written by Roland Orzabal, addresses repression and social expectations, exploring not only how these affect women but also men, who are often raised to suppress their emotions. Orzabal has explained that the lyrics were partly inspired by his own family history, referring to experiences of domestic abuse. The collaboration with Oleta Adams came about after the band discovered her singing in a hotel in Kansas City during a tour. Her performance, along with the instrumentation including guitar, keyboards, bass, and Collins' drums, creates a piece with a marked gospel influence and an emotional intensity that gradually unfolds. The song reached the top 40 in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, France, and the Netherlands. In 1992, it was reissued with a new B-side and credited to "Tears for Fears featuring Oleta Adams," leading it to reach number 57 in the UK.