Peak
3
Weeks
22
Score
4,291
Chart Year
1993
The accompanying music video for "Ordinary World" was directed by 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.[23] The music video for “Ordinary World” centers around a woman in a white dress; she’s seen attending a photoshoot and exploring a surreal, dreamlike landscape while switching to Simon Le Bon and the band's other members performing the song in a studio. Old photos of the members' parents' wedding, also featured on the album cover, are shown in the video, along with flashing visuals.
This is the last song of a trilogy written about the death of Simon Le Bon's friend David Miles in 1986. The first was "Do You Believe In Shame," followed by "Out of My Mind" and "Ordinary World." They all deal with the grief and loss he experienced after the death of his friend. Le Bon had been evasive about the inspiration for the lyric, but revealed its true source as part of an interview included with their 2004 Live from London DVD. >> When this song showed up, it was hard to believe it was Duran Duran. They were global superstars in the '80s with an impressive run of hits, mostly uptempo songs, but their 1990 album Liberty stiffed, and they didn't release any new music until the "Ordinary World" single late in 1992. It's far more doleful and introspective than their previous work, but radio stations jumped on it, eager for mature pop songs with no trace of hip-hop or grunge. It made the Top 10 in several territories and did especially well in America, where it went to #3. Duran Duran's record company tested the waters by leaking "Ordinary World" to a few radio stations in Florida. It got a great response and quickly spread to other stations around the country, while also getting support from MTV and VH1. The next single, "Come Undone," was also a hit, and the self-titled album became their first Platinum-seller since Notorious in 1986. (Their first album was also self-titled; the 1993 album is known as "the wedding album" because the cover shows wedding photos of the band members' parents). Adam Lambert recorded the song for his 2023 covers album, High Drama. The American Idol alumnus performed his haunting version on the NBC's 2022 season finale of The Voice.
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) 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 Ooh-ooh-ooh, ah-ah Oh, yeah, oh 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 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 world Is my world (I will learn to survive) Any world Is my world (I will learn to survive) Any world Is my world Every world Is my world
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 9, 1993 | 67 | 59 |
| 2 | Jan 16, 1993 | 51 | 75 |
| 3 | Jan 23, 1993 | 23 | 103 |
| 4 | Jan 30, 1993 | 21 | 105 |
| 5 | Feb 6, 1993 | 7 | 119 |
| 6 | Feb 13, 1993 | 5 | 121 |
| 7 | Feb 20, 1993 | 3 | 123 |
| 8 | Feb 27, 1993 | 3 | 123 |
| 9 | Mar 6, 1993 | 3 | 123 |
| 10 | Mar 13, 1993 | 4 | 122 |
| 11 | Mar 20, 1993 | 6 | 120 |
| 12 | Mar 27, 1993 | 5 | 121 |
| 13 | Apr 3, 1993 | 7 | 119 |
| 14 | Apr 10, 1993 | 12 | 114 |
| 15 | Apr 17, 1993 | 15 | 111 |
| 16 | Apr 24, 1993 | 17 | 109 |
| 17 | May 1, 1993 | 26 | 100 |
| 18 | May 8, 1993 | 30 | 96 |
| 19 | May 15, 1993 | 34 | 92 |
| 20 | May 22, 1993 | 38 | 88 |