Ordinary World (song) explained

Ordinary World
Cover:Duranduran ordinaryworld.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Duran Duran
Album:Duran Duran
B-Side:My Antarctica
Released:19 December 1992
Studio:Privacy (Battersea)[1] [2]
Genre:Soft rock[3] [4]
Length:
  • (album version)
  • (single version)
Label:
Producer:
  • Duran Duran
  • John Jones
Prev Title:Serious
Prev Year:1990
Next Title:Come Undone
Next Year:1993

"Ordinary World" is a song by English rock band Duran Duran, released in December 1992 by Parlophone, EMI and Capitol as the first single from their self-titled album (1993), commonly known as the Wedding Album. The ballad, both written by the band and co-produced with John Jones, reached 1 on the US Billboard Top 40/Mainstream chart, the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, and the Italian Singles Chart. It also peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 2 in Iceland and Sweden, and No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart. The song's music video was directed by Nick Egan and filmed in California.

The song was nominated for Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in May 1994. Lead vocalist Simon Le Bon sang the song with Luciano Pavarotti at a benefit concert for War Child. "Ordinary World" remains one of Duran Duran's most popular songs and, in October 2021, was their second-most streamed song in the UK.[5]

Background

The song was apparently leaked to a Florida radio station prior to its release. Their label had no choice but to move up the release date due to the positive reception it received.[6] [7] [8]

In the United Kingdom, the song was released on 18 January 1993.[9]

The keyboards in the song were arranged and performed by Nick Rhodes and John Jones. The drums were played by Steve Ferrone at Maison Rouge. The guitar solo that characterises this song was arranged and performed by Warren Cuccurullo, former player with Frank Zappa. His instrumental rock trio version became a staple of his solo shows and was included on one of his solo albums "Roadrage". Le Bon noted the song lyrics are about "trying to get over the death of a best friend. And putting it into words freed me, absolutely. It really worked for me emotionally and mentally. Everyone who heard it could apply it to something in their life, but for a different reason."[10]

Le Bon later performed the song with Luciano Pavarotti at a WarChild benefit.[11]

In July 2022, the band performed the song at the closing of the opening ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. [12]

On stage, during the 2023 tour, Le Bon introduced the song stating enigmatically that it had "saved the life of the band".[13]

Critical reception

In a retrospective review of "Ordinary World", AllMusic journalist Donald A. Guarisco praised the song for having what he described as "a warm ballad feel, matching elegant verses full of entrancing repeating-note hooks with a rousing chorus built on soaring runs of ascending notes." Guarisco described Simon Le Bon's vocal as being "rich in emotion but tastefully restrained".[14] Upon the release, J. D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun said the success of "Ordinary World" "is nothing short of miraculous — who'd have thought these pretty boys would still be producing memorable singles at this stage of the game?"[15] The Independent praised it as "a classic of transcendent beauty".[16] Cathi Unsworth from Melody Maker declared it as "as sober, melancholy and absurdly touching as you might expect". She added, "Duran Duran lurk in the shadow between the bright lights of now and then. Some of you might find the idea of the pampered, rich, porky Simon Le Bon detailing the world's injustices a mite unpalatable, but somehow the fat boy sounds neither pompous nor patronising, just down on his luck and depressed."[17]

Tony Fletcher for Newsday stated that the "excellently crafted" ballad shows the group "to be capable of delivering the goods. And as an added irony for a band that was introduced by MTV when radio wouldn't touch it, this particular song exploded across radio's many formats before a video was even made."[18] Ann Powers from New York Times declared it as "a smooth yet pathos-ridden ballad".[19] Sam Wood from Philadelphia Inquirer called it a "sober ballad".[20] Andrea Odintz from Rolling Stone felt the "dreamy" song "achieves the almost spiritual effects" of Duran Duran's 1982 hit "Save a Prayer".[21] Peter Howell from Toronto Star remarked that the "ethereal" debut single "has all the earmarks of an unstoppable radio hit".[22] Mark Jenkins from The Washington Post found that such ballads as "Ordinary World" "achieve melodic sufficiency".[23]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Ordinary World" was directed by British director Nick Egan at Huntington Gardens in San Marino, California, and the song later featured in the soundtrack to the film Layer Cake in 2004. The music video was nominated for MTV’s Best Cinematography in a Video in 1993.[24]

The music video for "Ordinary World" centers around a woman in a white dress; she is seen attending a photoshoot and exploring the surreal, dreamlike landscape of Huntington Gardens while switching to Simon Le Bon and the band's other members performing the song in a studio. Wedding photos of the members' parents, also featured on the album cover, are shown in the video.

Live versions

"Ordinary World" is one of two Cuccurullo-era songs ("Come Undone" being the other) during Duran Duran's reunion tour with Andy Taylor and Roger Taylor. Cuccurullo was brought in to teach Andy Taylor how to play it.

B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes

"My Antarctica", a song from the band's previous album Liberty, featured as the main B-side of the "Ordinary World" single.

Many other older singles were also used as B-sides. To capitalise on the success of "Ordinary World" and the new Duran Duran fans it was finding, EMI used the single's release to lure these new fans to the band's back catalogue. This mini-Decade was spread over the two CD singles released during the campaign.

Other mixes

There were several other versions of "Ordinary World" released:[25]

Track listings

  1. "Ordinary World" (single version) – 4:41
  2. "My Antarctica" – 5:06
  1. "Ordinary World" (single version)
  2. "Save a Prayer"
  3. "Skin Trade"
  4. "My Antarctica"
  1. "Ordinary World" (single version)
  2. "The Reflex"
  3. "Hungry Like the Wolf"
  4. "Girls on Film"
  1. "Ordinary World" – 5:39
  2. "My Antarctica" – 5:06
  3. "Save a Prayer" – 5:33
  4. "UMF" – 5:31
  1. "Ordinary World" – 5:39
  2. "Ordinary World" (acoustic version) – 5:05
  3. "Save a Prayer ('Til the Morning After)" (live) – 6:12
  1. "Ordinary World" (single version) – 4:41
  2. "My Antarctica" – 5:06
  3. "Save a Prayer" – 5:33
  4. "The Reflex" – 4:25
  1. "Ordinary World" (single version) – 4:43
  2. "My Antarctica" – 5:00
  3. "Ordinary World" – 5:39
  4. "Save a Prayer" (single version) – 5:25
  5. "Skin Trade" – 4:25
  6. "The Reflex" (7-inch version) – 4:25
  7. "Hungry Like the Wolf" – 3:25
  8. "Girls on Film" – 3:30

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1993)Peak
position
Denmark (IFPI)[34] 7
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[35] 10
Europe (European Hit Radio)[36] 1
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[37] 2
Italy (Musica e dischi)[38] 1
UK Airplay (Music Week)[39] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[40] 3
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[41] 14
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[42] 2
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[43] 1
US Cash Box Top 100[44] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1993)Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[45] 7
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[46] 72
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[47] 26
Germany (Official German Charts)[48] 69
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[49] 19
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[50] 94
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[51] 84
UK Singles (OCC)[52] 65
UK Airplay (Music Week)[53] 25
US Billboard Hot 100[54] 34

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesDecember 1992Capitol[55]
United Kingdom18 January 1993
Japan24 February 1993Mini-CDEMI[56]

Aurora version

Ordinary World
Cover:OrdinaryWorld.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Aurora featuring Naimee Coleman
Album:Dreaming
B-Side:"Hear You Calling" (remix)
Released:[57]
Genre:Trance[58]
Length:4:26
Label:Positiva
Producer:
  • Sacha Collisson
  • Simon Greenaway
Chronology:Aurora
Prev Title:Hear You Calling
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:The Day It Rained Forever
Next Year:2000

British electronic music group Aurora released a trance version of "Ordinary World" featuring Irish singer-songwriter Naimee Coleman in 2000. This version, released on 11 September that year, charted at No. 5 in the United Kingdom, No. 6 in Ireland, and No. 47 in Germany. In the United States, it appeared on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, peaking at No. 37 in June 2001.

Track listings

  1. "Ordinary World" (radio edit) – 4:26
  2. "Ordinary World" (Above & Beyond remix) – 8:25
  3. "Hear You Calling" (Dark Moon remix) – 6:23

A1. "Ordinary World" (Condor remix edit) – 8:01

AA1. "Ordinary World" (Above & Beyond remix edit) – 6:45

AA2. "Ordinary World" (Gizeh remix edit) – 4:54

  1. "Ordinary World" (radio edit) – 4:26
  2. "Ordinary World" (Condor remix) – 9:08
  1. "Ordinary World" (original radio mix) – 4:24
  2. "Ordinary World" (Floorfilla radio cut) – 3:47
  3. "Ordinary World" (club mix) – 9:06
  4. "Ordinary World" (Floorfilla remix) – 6:50
  5. "Ordinary World" (Gizeh mix) – 7:01
  6. "Ordinary World" (DJ Janis vs. Plus One remix) – 8:04
  1. "Ordinary World" (radio edit) – 4:26
  2. "Ordinary World" (extended mix) – 8:16
  3. "Ordinary World" (Condor remix) – 9:08
  4. "Ordinary World" (Above & Beyond remix) – 8:25
  5. "Hear You Calling" (Dark Moon remix) – 6:23

Charts

Chart (2000–2001)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[64] 26
Ireland Dance (IRMA)[65] 2
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)[66] 37

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Reflections on Duran Duran's "The Wedding Album". Duran Duran. 20 February 2013. 14 March 2019.
  2. Web site: Popklassikot 1993: #3 Duran Duran – Ordinary World / Nuorgam. Nrgm.fi. 28 October 2012. 14 March 2019.
  3. Web site: CD REVIEWS. Hartford Courant. 3 August 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606013323/https://www.courant.com/2000/08/03/cd-reviews-59/ . 6 June 2024 . live.
  4. Web site: Nostalgia trip is marked by litany of great hits. Irish Independent. McCarthy. Patrick. 1 July 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606014334/https://m.independent.ie/entertainment/music/nostalgia-trip-is-marked-by-litany-of-great-hits/26301315.html . 6 June 2024 . live.
  5. Web site: Duran Duran's Official Top 20 most-streamed songs revealed. Griffiths. George. Official Charts Company. 26 October 2021. 12 June 2022.
  6. Duran Duran rediscovers success in the 'Ordinary World' of the '90s . July 26, 1993 . . March 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240303182116/https://www.baltimoresun.com/1993/07/26/duran-duran-rediscovers-success-in-the-ordinary-world-of-the-90s-2/ . March 3, 2024 . live .
  7. Ordinary World: How Duran Duran created a manifesto for the future . January 4, 2023 . Elliott . Mark . ThisIsDig . March 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927205012/https://www.thisisdig.com/feature/ordinary-world-duran-duran-song-story/ . September 27, 2023 . live .
  8. Friday Song: "Ordinary World" . April 7, 2023 . Kent . Anderson . The Geyser . March 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240303181600/https://www.the-geyser.com/friday-song-ordinary-world/ . March 3, 2024 . live .
  9. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 21. 16 January 1993.
  10. Web site: Duran Duran: There's Something You Should Know (2018) | SHOWTIME . 2 May 2021 . 23 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210123075510/https://www.sho.com/titles/3475029/duran-duran-theres-something-you-should-know . dead .
  11. Web site: Duran's new tour to feature surprises . https://archive.today/20130116083943/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/D/Duran_Duran/1997/11/14/744699.html . usurped . 16 January 2013 . Richard . John . Canoe.ca . 12 January 2014.
  12. Web site: 2022-08-01 . Duran Duran Performs Epic Mini-Set to Open Commonwealth Games 2022 - Duran Duran . 2024-08-09 . en-US.
  13. Web site: Duran Duran's momentous welcome to Manchester for launch of UK headline tour at AO Arena. 4 May 2023. 30 April 2023 .
  14. Web site: Donald A. Guarisco . Ordinary World: Song Review . . 12 January 2014.
  15. [J. D. Considine|Considine, J. D.]
  16. "Duran Duran; British band hits the comeback trail". The Ottawa Citizen. (11 February 1993).
  17. Cathi. Unsworth. Singles. Melody Maker. 16 January 1993. 25. 5 May 2023.
  18. Fletcher, Tony (21 February 1993). "Duran Duran Bounces Back". Newsday.
  19. Powers, Ann (18 February 1993). "Pop and Jazz in Review". New York Times.
  20. Wood, Sam (27 April 1993). "A Trumpeter Breaks Out of Marsalis' Shadow". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20061109122438/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/duranduran/albums/album/203219/review/6067998/duran_duran_the_wedding_album Rolling Stone review
  22. Howell, Peter (20 February 1993). "Berg leads happy pursuit down road to love". Toronto Star.
  23. Jenkins, Mark (4 April 1993). "Repeat Performances from David Bowie, Suede and Duran Duran". The Washington Post. p. G12.
  24. MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) 1993 Awards . 1993 . IMDB . January 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190710222428/https://m.imdb.com/event/ev0003172/1993/1/ . July 10, 2019 . live .
  25. Web site: Tom McClintock's Duran Duran discography . 10 June 2006 . 24 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924035813/http://www.ionpool.net/duran/discography.pdf . dead .  
  26. Ordinary World. Duran Duran. 1993. UK 7-inch single vinyl disc. Parlophone. DD 16.
  27. Ordinary World. Duran Duran. 1993. UK cassette single sleeve. Parlophone. TCDD 16, 7243 8 80217 4 6.
  28. Ordinary World. Duran Duran. 1993. UK CD1 liner notes. Parlophone. CDDDS 16, 7243 8 80218 2 1.
  29. Ordinary World. Duran Duran. 1993. UK CD2 liner notes. Parlophone. CDDDPD 16, 7243 8 80217 2 2.
  30. Ordinary World. Duran Duran. 1992. US CD single liner notes. Capitol Records. C2 0777 7 15894 2 3.
  31. Ordinary World. Duran Duran. 1992. US & Canadian cassette single sleeve. Capitol Records. 4KM 0777 7 44908 4 9.
  32. Ordinary World. Duran Duran. 1993. Australian CD single liner notes. Parlophone, EMI Records. 7243 8 80457 2 8.
  33. The Singles 1986–1995. The Singles 1986–1995. Duran Duran. 2004. UK box set liner notes. Parlophone. 7243 5 49892 2 3.
  34. Top 10 Sales in Europe. Music & Media. 10. 13. 27 March 1993. 28. 22 March 2018.
  35. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 10. 7. 13 February 1993. 19. 31 January 2020.
  36. EHR Top 40. Music & Media. 10. 12. 20 March 1993. 26. 6 April 2024.
  37. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (28. jan.–4. feb.). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 29. 28 January 1993. 7 October 2019.
  38. Top 10 Sales in Europe. Music & Media. 10. 13. 27 March 1993. 28. 24 November 2019.
  39. Top 50 Airplay Chart. Music Week. 27 February 1993. 14. 27 April 2024.
  40. Web site: Billboard Hot 100 – Week of February 20, 1993. 1 April 2024. Billboard.
  41. Web site: Adult Contemporary – Week of March 27, 1993. 1 April 2024. Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20240402035308/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1993-03-27/ . 2 April 2024. live.
  42. Web site: Alternative Airplay – Week of February 6, 1993. 1 April 2024. Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20221016002353/https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1993-02-06/ . 16 October 2022. live.
  43. Web site: Pop Airplay – Week of February 20, 1993. 1 April 2024. Billboard.
  44. Top 100 Pop Singles. Cash Box. LVI. 27. 13 March 1993. 2. 20 April 2024.
  45. The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 6 April 2018.
  46. The RPM Top 100 A\C Tracks of 1993. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 6 April 2018.
  47. 1993 Year-End Sales Charts. Music & Media. 10. 51/52. 18 December 1993. 15. 31 January 2020.
  48. Web site: Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1993. GfK Entertainment. de. 26 July 2016.
  49. News: Árslistinn 1993. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 16. 4 January 1994. 1 June 2020.
  50. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1993. Dutch Top 40. nl. 26 July 2016.
  51. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1993. Single Top 100. nl. 26 July 2016.
  52. Top 100 Singles 1993. Music Week. 24. 15 January 1994.
  53. Airplay Top 50 1993. Music Week. 15 January 1994. 41. 3 May 2024.
  54. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1993. 27 August 2010. 10 November 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061110095203/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1993. dead.
  55. Duran Duran timeline - 1992 . duranduran.com . October 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230930162338/https://duranduran.com/dd-timeline/1992/ . September 30, 2023 . live .
  56. Web site: オーディナリー・ワールド デュラン・デュラン. Ordinary World Duran Duran. Oricon. ja. 30 August 2023.
  57. Airborne. Stavenes Dove. Siri. Music & Media. 17. 42. 13. 14 October 2000. 5 October 2020.
  58. Web site: Week Ending September 23rd 2000. Masterton. James. James Masterton. Chart Watch UK. 17 September 2000. 11 June 2021.
  59. Ordinary World. Aurora. 2000. UK CD single liner notes. Positiva Records. CDTIV-139, 7243 8 89324 2 4.
  60. Ordinary World. Aurora. 2000. UK cassette single sleeve. Positiva Records. TCTIV-139, 7243 8 89324 4 8.
  61. Ordinary World. Aurora. 2000. UK 12-inch single vinyl disc. Positiva Records. 12TIV-139, 7243 8 89324 6 2.
  62. Ordinary World. Aurora. 2000. European CD single liner notes. EMI Records. 7243 889421 2 6.
  63. Ordinary World. Aurora. 2000. Australian CD single liner notes. U-Music. UM12007CD.
  64. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 17. 40. 30 September 2000. 9. 31 January 2020.
  65. Web site: Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 14 September 2000. GfK Chart-Track. 29 May 2019.
  66. Dance Club Songs. Billboard. 16 June 2001. subscription. 15 July 2023.

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