# Everybody Wants to Rule the World guitar solo

> Neil Taylor's guitar solo on Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears (1985) starts at about 3:20. Watch from the solo, with tab and lesson links.

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Tears for Fears, 1985. Solo by *Neil Taylor*.

A relaxed, melodic solo that became one of the song's best-remembered hooks.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World rides a relaxed shuffle, and its melodic guitar solo became one of the song's best-remembered hooks. Neil Taylor's lines are smooth and singable, built around a simple, memorable melody that complements the song's gentle groove. The tone is clean with a touch of sustain, fitting neatly into the polished '80s production. Rather than showing off, the solo reinforces the song's mood, adding warmth and a sense of ease. Listen for how the guitar phrases echo the vocal melody, and how the solo's gentle rise and fall mirrors the song's laid-back rhythm, making it easy to hum along.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears is featured in our New Wave (#14), Pop (#11) lists. The solo is played by Neil Taylor and the song was released in 1985.

## In our lists

- [The 25 Greatest New Wave Guitar Solos](https://greatestsolos.com/list/new-wave/) — #14
- [The 25 Greatest Pop Guitar Solos](https://greatestsolos.com/list/pop/) — #11
- [Top 20 Guitar Solos of 1985](https://greatestsolos.com/list/best-guitar-solos-1985/) — #6
- [Pop Songs You Didn't Know Had a Guitar Solo](https://greatestsolos.com/list/pop-songs-with-guitar-solos/) — #8

## Sources

- [Far Out Magazine: 10 pop songs with outrageously good guitar solos](https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/10-pop-songs-with-outrageously-good-guitar-solos/)

### Who played the guitar solo on Everybody Wants to Rule the World?

Neil Taylor played the solo on Tears for Fears's Everybody Wants to Rule the World (1985).

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