Ordinary People (The Box song)
| "Ordinary People" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Box | ||||
| from the album Closer Together | ||||
| Released | 1987 | |||
| Recorded | 1986 | |||
| Genre | New wave, rock, progressive rock | |||
| Length | 3:51 | |||
| Label | Alert | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jean-Marc Pisapia | |||
| Producer(s) | Marc Durand and The Box | |||
| The Box singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Ordinary People" is a song written by Jean-Marc Pisapia, and recorded by Canadian new wave group The Box. It was released in July 1987 as the second single from their album Closer Together.
Content and controversy[edit]
The song's theme created some controversy at the time its release due to its Cold War and political themes, and for combining the American and Soviet national anthems during the instrumental break.
Some music critics chafed at the idea that the song was recorded by a French-Canadian band, despite the song's opening and closing line referencing both the United States and Soviet Union.
According to Pisapia, the song's content labelled them a politically oriented band, which wasn't the case. He was inspired to write the song after hostile events taking place around the world at the time. Pisapia cleared up any hints that the song was politically motivated, stating that regardless of what side of the world they lived on, they are all ordinary people who don't care about political issues and stances and just want to live in peace.[1][2]
Pisapia directed the music video for the single, which garnered him a nomination for Best Video at the 1989 Juno Awards.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ The Box – Painting a New Canvas The Music Express, August 5, 2014
- ^ Behind The Vinyl: "Ordinary People" The Box Behind The Vinyl: "Ordinary People" The Box
- ^ Bastien, Mark (2 February 1989). "Urban cowboys lasso five nominations Blue Rodeo tops Juno list". The Globe and Mail. p. C5. Retrieved 4 August 2023 – via ProQuest.
Best video : Ron Berti-The Northern Pikes, Wait For Me; Michael Buckley- Blue Rodeo, Try; James O-'Mara and Kate Ryan-Art Bergmann, Our Little Secret; Donald Robertson-Jane Siberry, Ingrid and the Footman; Jean Marc Pisapia-The Box, Ordinary People.
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