"Mad World" cover on "Gears of War" Xbox 360 TV commercial

[Mark Lanctot]

I guess the subject line says it all. Who's the artist?

I was hooked on this from the time I first saw the extended 60-second spot.

It's really eerie, that lone vocal and echoey piano.

[Brian Ritchie]

Haven't seen the commercial, but from your description, it's almost certainly the version by Gary Jules, from the film Donnie Darko. Unless someone else has done it again.

-- Brian

[Mark Lanctot]

Thanks Brian!

Y'know, I've got to see Donnie Darko. I keep hearing about it.

It's 8.3 on the IMDB, which I usually categorize as a "must see".

[Mark Lanctot]

Yep, there's a sample on his site. That's it.

http://cdbaby.com/mp3lofi/garyjules-11.m3u

[vacaboca]

I loved this song from the first Tears for Fears album (The Hurting) - found it amusing when my younger brother started playing it on a piano one day, in a weird slow fashion... he said it was this great new song he'd heard from the Donnie Darko soundtrack, and I introduced him to the "real" version I love both versions... just a great song to start with.

[oreillymj]

This song was the Xmas No. 1 in the UK music charts last year or in 2004. Loved it from the first time I heard it in Donnie Darko.

It's one of my favourite film soundtrack covers along with "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometimes" by Beck in Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind.

[Mark Lanctot]

Incidentally, just got Donnie Darko (on sale for $9.99!)

It was by far the best DVD I have ever bought without having seen the movie first. Usually I don't risk it, but there was a lot of buzz around this one.

Well, besides having my mind blown by the movie, there's a music video of this song on the disc. So I can now get it in 24/48 FLAC!

[Brian Ritchie]

Now turn on the commentary... ! But maybe you didn't miss as much as me :-)

-- Brian

[Mark Lanctot]

Now turn on the commentary... ! But maybe you didn't miss as much as me :-)

Picked up a lot of it from the FAQ:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246578/faq