Throughout her career, Susan Boyle hasn’t shied away from taking contemporary hits and making them her own.

Susan Boyle performs during Season 1 Episode 1 of America’s Got Talent: The Champions. Photo: Trae Patton/NBC
Although the Got Talent star shines arguably the brightest when performing timeless religious hymns and famous Broadway songs, there’s something about her covering Tears For Fears’ “Mad World” that puts a smile on our faces. The new wave group is unabashedly ’80s, and in 2011, Boyle included her version of “Mad World” as part of her third studio album, Someone to Watch Over Me. (She also included the same recording in the 2019 compilation album, Ten.)

The original is a poppy, radio-friendly bopper that is impossible to get out of your head. Boyle’s version, on the other hand, is angelic and understated. It’s a must-listen.
Boyle’s vocals, laid over simple acoustic guitar and some atmospheric effects, shine as she puts her own spin on a classic. The result is a rollercoaster ride of emotion.