Listen up Pop Idols and Fame Academy students - this is the way to tackle a cover version. This beautifully understated version of the Tears For Fears classic first attracted attention when it was used in one of the best films of recent years, Donnie Darko.

With the film rapidly gaining huge cult status, Mad World has eventually been released as a single, and you won't hear a more haunting few minutes all Christmas. Andrews and Jules strip the song down to the bare bones of just voice and piano - the line "the dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had" never fails to send a shiver down the spine.

With this little gem picking up plenty of airplay, some people are even tipping it to take the Christmas number one spot from the Pop Idol wannabes. If that was to happen, maybe it wouldn't be such a mad world after all...

(CD 1)

BUY Michael Andrews feat Gary Jules - Mad World (CD 2)

Gary Jules - Trading Snakeoil For Wolftickets

Gary Jules - Broke Window

Michael Andrews - Donnie Darko Original Score

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