In the late eighties and early nineties, the ranks of Duran Duran’s fans thinned noticeably. The audience lost interest in the new wave in general and the synth-pop genre in particular. Music critics were quick to dismiss the band, and the bosses of the recording industry blatantly ignored him.
The track Ordinary World (“Ordinary World”) from the “Wedding Album” helped to return the fans of Duran Duran. It leaked to the radio before the official release and made a splash, and then began a triumphal procession through the charts and a revival of the group’s popularity.
History of Ordinary World – Duran Duran
The song was co-written by Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Warren Cuccurullo and Nick Rhodes.
Along with Do You Believe in Shame and Out of Mind, Ordinary World is part of a trilogy dedicated to David Miles, LeBon’s friend who died of an overdose in 1986.
At first, Simon did not want to explain what Ordinary World was about, and limited himself to a story about how one day in the supermarket no one paid attention to him. Allegedly, then the musician realized that he had ceased to be a star and returned to the world of ordinary people.
He also said:
We wrote Ordinary World when the Gulf War was in full swing. The lines “Papers in the roadside tell of suffering and greed/ feared today, forgot tomorrow / Here beside the news of holy war and holy need / ours is just a little sorrowed talk” put events in perspective. They force you to realize that the story of two people is just a tiny part of a larger story called humanity. That was the case in 1992, and I think that’s how it is now.
It wasn’t until a few years after the single’s release that Simon Lebon revealed the true meaning of the song.
I don’t really believe in the supernatural, but six years later [после смерти друга – примета Blimey] I started to feel heaviness inside. Ordinary World helped to let it go.
Recording and release
Even before the release of the Duran Duran album, the song was played on the radio in Jacksonville, Florida, and became a hit with local listeners. It was released as a single in the US in December 1992, and a month later it was officially released in the UK.
The song topped the Billboard Mainstream Top 40, peaked at number two on the Alternative Songs chart, and peaked at number three on the Top 100. It rose to the top of the charts in Canada and Italy, and reached the top ten on the charts in several other countries.
In May 1994, the song was awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello Award.
Simon Le Bon performed Ordinary World with Luciano Pavarotti.
Music video of Ordinary World Duran Duran
The music video for Ordinary World was directed by Nick Egan. We look.
Interesting Facts
- Duran Duran cemented the success of Ordinary World with the next single from the Wedding Album, Come Undone. It also became a major hit.
- Ordinary World was featured on the soundtrack of the film Layer Cake.
Ordinary World Lyrics
Came in from a rainy Thursday on the avenue
Thought I heard you talking softly
I turned on the lights, the TV, and the radio
Still I can’t escape the ghost of you
What has happened to it all?
Crazy, some’d say
Where is the life that I recognize?
Gone away
chorus:
But I won’t cry for yesterday
There’s an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive
Passion or coincidence
Once prompted you to say
“Pride will tear us apart”
Well now pride’s gone out the window
Cross the rooftops
run away
Left me in the vacuum of my heart
What is happening to me?
Crazy, some’d say
Where is my friend when I need you most?
Gone away
Chorus
papers in the roadside
Tell of suffering and greed
Fear today, forgot tomorrow
Ooh, here besides the news
Of holy war and holy need
Ours is just a little sorrowed talk
Chorus
Ordinary World: Warren Cuccurullo, Nigel John Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Simon John Charles Le-Bon
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Ordinary World Lyrics
On a rainy Thursday, I came in from the street.
I thought I heard your quiet voice.
I turned on the light, TV, radio,
But I can’t seem to get rid of your ghost.
What happened in everything?
Some would say insane.
Where is my usual life?
She disappeared.
Chorus:
But I won’t cry for yesterday.
There is an ordinary world.
I have to find it somehow.
And while I’m looking for a way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to hold on.
Passion or coincidence.
Once forced you to say:
“Pride will tear us apart.”
So, pride flew out the window,
Rushed over the rooftops
And ran away
Leaving me with an empty heart.
What is happening to me?
Some would say insane.
Where are you my friend when I need you the most?
You are absent.
Chorus
Scraps of paper on the side.
Talk about suffering and greed.
Be afraid today, forgot about tomorrow.
And here is the news
About holy war and holy need.
Our story is just a little sad conversation.
Chorus
