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September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Music Box • Music

Head Over Heels

Head Over Heels is a title used for multiple music releases, most notably the 1983 second studio album by Scottish dream pop band Cocteau Twins and the 1984 single by the Go-Go's, as well as the 1985 single by Tears for Fears.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Head Over Heels is a title used for multiple music releases, most notably a 1983 album by Cocteau Twins and songs by the Go-Go's and Tears for Fears. Because several works share the name, context is needed to identify the correct one.

What it is

Head Over Heels is not a single work but a title shared by several music releases. The best-known examples are Cocteau Twins’ 1983 album, the Go-Go's 1984 song, and Tears for Fears’ 1985 song. Each belongs to a different artist and genre, so the title alone is ambiguous.

Key details

Cocteau Twins released *Head Over Heels* as their second studio album on October 31, 1983, shaping early dream pop. The Go-Go's released “Head over Heels” in 1984 from *Talk Show*, written by Charlotte Caffey and Kathy Valentine. Tears for Fears released “Head over Heels” in 1985 from *Songs from the Big Chair*, reaching No. 3 on the U.S. chart.

Why it matters

Because several notable songs and albums share the title, encyclopedic references usually disambiguate by artist. Canadian readers may encounter these works through radio play, streaming, and 1980s music coverage, though no Canada-origin work is among the best-known releases.

In short

  • The title is shared by multiple music works.
  • Cocteau Twins album released in 1983.
  • Go-Go's song released in 1984.
  • Tears for Fears song released in 1985.
Canadian angle

Canadian readers may encounter these works through radio play, streaming services, record collections, and coverage of 1980s alternative and pop music. There is no distinct Canada-origin work among the best-known releases with this title.

Quick questions

Is Head Over Heels a song or an album?
Both: the title is used for multiple music works, including a Cocteau Twins album and songs by the Go-Go's and Tears for Fears.
Who released the 1983 album Head Over Heels?
The Scottish band Cocteau Twins released the album on October 31, 1983.
Why does this title need disambiguation?
Several unrelated music works share the same title, so the artist is needed to identify which one is meant.

Sources

  1. Post-Punk.com — https://post-punk.com/cocteau-twins-head-over-heels/
    Supports: Cocteau Twins released Head Over Heels as their second studio album on October 31, 1983.
  2. Apple Music — https://music.apple.com/us/album/head-over-heels/1027462118
    Supports: Lists Head Over Heels by Cocteau Twins as a 1983 alternative album released October 31, 1983.
  3. 1Perfect Song — https://1perfectsong.com/2020/06/08/the-go-gos-ending-on-a-perfect-high-note/
    Supports: The Go-Go's 'Head Over Heels' was released February 21, 1984 and was written by Charlotte Caffey and Kathy Valentine.
  4. Ultimate Classic Rock — https://ultimateclassicrock.com/tears-for-fears-head-over-heels/
    Supports: Tears for Fears released 'Head Over Heels' on June 10, 1985 and it peaked at No. 3 in the U.S.
  5. Songfacts — https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-go-gos/head-over-heels
    Supports: Confirms the Go-Go's song title and notes the related Broadway musical connection.