"Ordinary World" is the 23rd single by Duran Duran, and the first single from The Wedding Album. It was released on December 19, 1992 in the United States and January 26, 1993 in the United Kingdom, reaching the top ten in both countries.

Contents 1 About the song 2 Lyrics 3 Music video 4 B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes 4.1 Other Mixes 5 Covers, samples, & media references 6 Chart positions 7 Track listing 7.1 7": Parlophone DD 16 (UK) 7.2 CD: Parlophone CD DDS 16 (UK) 7.3 CD: Parlophone CD DDP 16 (UK) 7.4 CD: Part of "Singles Box Set 1986-1995" boxset 8 Other appearances 9 Personnel 10 References 11 Comments

About the songEdit

By the early 1990s, Duran Duran's once-Beatlesque popularity had faded. Their album Liberty had proved a commercial failure, its two singles failing to make a significant showing on British or American charts.

It wasn't until Capitol leaked "Ordinary World" to a radio station in Florida in the autumn of 1992 that it looked like Duran Duran mania might yet hit again. The single proved so popular that Capitol had to push the US release date up, ultimately releasing it in December. In the UK, the original January release date stood. The song can also be credited with introducing Duran Duran to a new generation of fans.

Simon Le Bon would go on to sing the song with Luciano Pavarotti at a WarChild benefit, which was released on Pavarotti & Friends: Together for the Children of Bosnia.

The strings in the song were arranged and performed by Nick Rhodes, using a Kurzweil K2000, the first digital synthesizer that was able to recreate any sound.

The song won an Ivor Novello Award in May 1994.

It has been voted Best Duran Duran Song On Earth by fans.

LyricsEdit

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 are saying
Where is the life that I recognize?
Gone away

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 both 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

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

Papers in the roadside
Tell of suffering and greed
Here today, forgot tomorrow
Ooh, here besides the news
Of holy war and holy need
Ours is just a little sorrowed talk

And I don'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

Every one
Is my world, I will learn to survive
Any one
Is my world, I will learn to survive
Any one
Is my world
Every one
Is my world

Music videoEdit

The video was filmed by director Nick Egan at Huntington Gardens in Pasadena, California and features a woman and her husband posing for photographs after presumably getting married while the band attend the wedding or rather reception as guests.

B-sides, bonus tracks and remixesEdit

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 MixesEdit

An acoustic version of the song was included on the band's next release, the "Come Undone" single.

There were several other versions of "Ordinary World" released.^[1]

• The "Single Version" or "Single Mix" was a differently mixed and edited version, sent to radio stations, used for the promotional video, and available on the CD single release in certain countries outside the US.

• The "Acoustic version" was more correctly the "Acoustic Mix" and was created using the studio guitar & vocal tracks and adding specially arranged live string orchestration. An alternative live acoustic performance was recorded at the May 15 "No Ordinary Tour" live performance at Tower Records in Hollywood, which was simulcast to Hard Rock Cafés around the world. This live version was found on a number of "Ordinary World" releases outside the UK, most notably the Canadian and American cassette single. It would eventually be released in the UK on the first CD single for "Come Undone".
• The "AC edit" was featured on a US promo CD that came packaged with the Decade album.
• A version recorded live on Simon Mayo's Radio 1 show would surface in 1995 as a b-side to "White Lines".
• A 6:08 version, recorded at Sony Studios in New York City for Hard Rock Live, was included on a promotional 2-track CD in June 2000 by the band's new label Hollywood Records.

Covers, samples, & media referencesEdit

The song has been covered by RED, Riverfenix, Something for Kate, Stereoblonde , Aurora, Kurt Nilsen, Circa Survive, and Mandy Kane.

The song appeared in the soundtrack to the film Layer Cake in 2005, and was noted for its use in the memorable attack scene in the restaurant.

Chart positionsEdit

Ordinary World peaked at #3 in the US and held at #6 in the UK.

Track listingEdit

7": Parlophone DD 16 (UK)Edit

1. "Ordinary World [single version]" (4:43)
2. "My Antarctica" (5:00)

CD: Parlophone CD DDS 16 (UK)Edit

1. "Ordinary World" (5:49)
2. "Save A Prayer [single version]" (5:25)
3. "Skin Trade [radio cut]" (4:25)
4. "My Antarctica" (5:00)

• This CD came in a 2-CD case that also housed CD DDP 16.

CD: Parlophone CD DDP 16 (UK)Edit

1. "Ordinary World [single version]" (4:41)
2. "The Reflex [Dance Mix-edit]" (4:25)
3. "Hungry Like The Wolf [130 B.P.M. single version]" (3:25)
4. "Girls On Film" (3:30)

• This CD was released as a picture disc.

CD: Part of "Singles Box Set 1986-1995" boxsetEdit

1. "Ordinary World [single version]" (4:41)
2. "My Antarctica" (5:00)
3. "Ordinary World" (5:49)
4. "Save A Prayer [single version]" (5:25)
5. "Skin Trade [radio cut]" (4:25)
6. "The Reflex [Dance Mix-edit]" (4:25)
7. "Hungry Like The Wolf [130 B.P.M. single version]" (3:25)
8. "Girls On Film" (3:30)

Other appearancesEdit

Apart from the single, "Ordinary World" has also appeared on:
Albums:

• The Wedding Album (1993)
• Greatest (1998)
• Singles Box Set 1986-1995 (2005)
• Layer Cake (soundtrack)

Singles:

• "Come Undone" (1993)
• "White Lines" (1995)

EPs:

• From Mediterranea With Love (2010)

PersonnelEdit

Duran Duran are:

• Simon Le Bon - Vocals
• John Taylor - Bass
• Warren Cuccurullo - Guitar
• Nick Rhodes - Keyboards

With:

• Steve Ferrone - Drums

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ Tom McClintock's Duran Duran discography (pdf)

DURAN DURAN

Simon Le Bon • Nick Rhodes • John Taylor • Roger Taylor Andy Taylor • Warren Cuccurullo • Sterling Campbell

DISCOGRAPHY

ALBUMS

Duran Duran • Rio • Seven and the Ragged Tiger • Arena • Notorious • Big Thing • Liberty • Duran Duran (The Wedding Album) • Thank You • Medazzaland • Pop Trash • Astronaut • Red Carpet Massacre

COMPILATIONS and EP's

Carnival • Decade: Greatest Hits • Greatest • Night Versions: The Essential Duran Duran • Strange Behaviour • Singles Box Set 1981-1985 • Singles Box Set 1986-1995

SINGLES

"Planet Earth" • "Careless Memories" • "Girls on Film" • "My Own Way" • "Hungry Like the Wolf" • "Save a Prayer" • "Rio"• "Is There Something I Should Know?" • "Union of the Snake" • "New Moon on Monday" • "The Reflex" • "The Wild Boys" • "A View to a Kill" • "Notorious" • "Skin Trade" • "Meet El Presidente" • "I Don't Want Your Love" • "All She Wants Is" • "Do You Believe in Shame?" • "Burning the Ground" • "Violence of Summer (Love's Taking Over)" • "Serious" • "Ordinary World" • "Come Undone" • "Too Much Information" • "Perfect Day" • "White Lines" • "Out of My Mind" • "Electric Barbarella" • "Someone Else Not Me" • "(Reach Up for The) Sunrise" • "What Happens Tomorrow" • "Nice" • "Falling Down"

RELATED BANDS

Arcadia • Power Station • Neurotic Outsiders • The Devils

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