“Ordinary World”, released on December 19, 1992, appeared on Duran Duran’s second self titled album, known in the Duranie circles as the Wedding Album. (The working titles were 4 On The Floor and Here Comes The Band, so yay for rejecting those names, because – meh.) The single reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 1 on an adult contemporary chart, and No. 6 on the UK’s Official Singles chart. It also debuted at No. 23 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart the week of Dec. 26, and peaked at No. 2.

The Ghost Song Trilogy

The song speaks to the shared human experience of dealing with loss and finding resilience and peace in turbulent times. It’s part of a trilogy of “ghost songs” about Simon’s friend David Miles who died in 1986. (The trilogy includes “Do You Believe in Shame?” (1988) and “Out of My Mind” (1997).

But before you go thinking that Simon is always serious, according to the official Duran Duran website, he sometimes sings the lyrics of Ordinary World as “And I don’t mind when you’re away, there’s a sordid looking girl I can take from behind.” Oh, Simon, you saucy minx.

Fun fact
The band also refers to “Hungry Like the Wolf” as “Angry Like the Wife”; “The Wild Boys” as “The Mild Boys”; “Save a Prayer” is “Save Us a Slice of Pizza”; “Union of the Snake” is “the onion for the steak is on the side.”; “The Reflex” as “The Roof-Rack”; “Rio” – “Rolos”; and “Late Bar” as “Hate Bar”.
Those crazy Brits.

How “Ordinary World” Was Born

Back in 1991, Duran Duran decided to set up shop in guitarist Warren Cuccurullo’s home studio, called “Privacy.” John said most of the song ideas were already locked and loaded. So, no ticking studio clock, no panic. Just vibes.

Simon remembers the chorus basically writing itself, and the rest of the song followed in record time.

Once the core of the track was nailed down, the band dove headfirst into the recording process. Under the watchful ear of producer-engineer John Jones, the band was able to push the boundaries, layering sounds, tweaking arrangements, and revisiting ideas until the track crossed the rooftops and run away to become a hit.

Music Video

The “Ordinary World” music video, directed by Nick Egan, was filmed at the stunning Huntington Gardens in San Marino, California, just before Christmas. Sure, it wasn’t Sri Lanka, but it was still lovely. The production unfolded in two phases: first, the band’s performance was shot on a stage followed by Huntington Gardens, including the striking Cactus Gardens, as the backdrop. The band appears barefoot as they walk the gardens, which is something we’re sure they would never do unless it was for a music video.

Egan set out to prove that “the world is anything but ordinary,” casting the band as backup players in this surreal garden wedding. Drawing inspiration from Fellini’s Juliet of the Spirits, he added whimsical touches like the bride’s lampshade-style hat and her chic white tuxedo dress. As the bride drifts through the gardens, the band lingers nearby, looking moody and pensive, and clearly distraught that she picked some no-name lanky guy over them. Like, girl, what are you thinking? Simon’s rocking an adorable ’90s Rob Thomas haircut, and Nick is serving pure intellectual vibes with his sexy turtleneck game.

The video was nominated for an MTV VMA in 1993 for Best Cinematography along with Sting “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You”, k.d. lang “Constant Craving” and others. Madonna’s “Rain” took the award despite it just being a montage of Madonna’s face, sometimes with water.

The “Wedding Album”

Let’s get something straight—The Wedding Album is hands down one of Duran Duran’s best. It was their seventh studio effort and followed Liberty, which, let’s be honest, had a few good tracks but didn’t exactly set the world on fire in the hearts of Duranies. The Wedding Album came at a time of major transition—John was battling demons, Nick was battling his wife, and Simon was battling… well, the desire to trade it all in for a fishing rod and a bucket hat. Even Sterling Campbell, Roger’s stand-in drummer, threw in the towel and jumped ship to Soul Asylum. How rude.

That’s when Warren Cuccurullo stepped up shirtless, in skin-tight leather no doubt, to bring a gritty edge and swirling guitar riffs to Durans new sound.

Track Listing

• Too Much Information
• Ordinary World
• Love Voodoo
• Drowning Man
• Shotgun
• Come Undone
• Breath After Breath
• U.M.F.
• Femme Fatale
• None of the Above
• Shelter
• To Whom It May Concern
• Sin of the City

Listen To Your Friend, Billy Zane

The album cover was designed by Nick Egan and featured wedding photos of each band member’s parents, and it was all thanks to Billy Zane.

Huh?

It’s true. John Taylor once mentioned to Billy Zane that he needed an album cover designer. Zane, a mutual friend of designer Nick Egan, connected the dots, and a serendipitous meeting at Taylor’s house in London quickly followed.

Photograph based on Ordinary World

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
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

[Pre-Chorus]
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

[Verse 2]
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

[Pre-Chorus]
What is happening to me?
Crazy, some’d say
Where is my friend when I need you most?
(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

[Guitar Solo]
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, Ah-uh-huh

[Verse 3]
Papers in the roadside tell of suffering and greed
Fear today, forgot tomorrow
Ooh, here beside the news of holy war and holy need
Ours is just a little sorrowed talk (Just blown away)

[Chorus]
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

[Outro]
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