Ordinary Lives

"Ordinary Lives" is a single released by the Bee Gees in 1989. It was taken from their 16th studio album One. Following the premature death of their younger brother Andy Gibb in 1988, the Bee Gees dedicated this song and their new album to him. Originally the song was titled "Cruel World" but was later changed to "Ordinary Lives".

For the social history series of the same name, see Clive Murphy.
"Ordinary Lives"
Single by Bee Gees
from the album One
B-side"Wing and a Prayer"
ReleasedMarch 1989
RecordedApril 1988
GenrePop
Length4:01
LabelWarner Bros. Records, Warner Music
Songwriter(s)Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Producer(s)Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Brian Tench
Bee Gees singles chronology
"E.S.P."
(1987)		 "Ordinary Lives"
(1989)		 "One"
(1989)

Composition and inspiration

Scott Glasel recalled that "Ordinary Lives" was started before Andy died, but as completed it seems to be a philosophical comment on life and death. For a time it was called "Cruel World", a phrase heard at the start of the second verse as complete. The rhythm has some similarity to "You Win Again" and may have been a deliberate attempt to follow it up, but it has many new features including the brief spoken word parts and the existential musings of the lyrics, something often associated with Robin but clearly here coming from Barry. Probably the finished recording has added dubs by the musicians who worked on the album One.[1]

Barry Gibb performed this song in the 2013 Mythology Tour accompanied by his son Stephen Gibb and Maurice's daughter Samantha "Sammy" Gibb. He still used the backing vocal effect from the last part of the original record.

Music video

The music video for the song was filmed in Los Angeles, California and received heavy airplay from 1989 to 1990. It shows the Bee Gees and their backing band consisting of Alan Kendall (guitar), with guests Nathan East (bass), and Alex Acuña (drums) in a dark studio performing the song, intersped with scenes of everyday life and an archival footage of the 1929 Wall Street Crash.

Personnel
Bee Gees
Additional musicians

Chart performance
Chart (1989) Peak
position
Austria 19
Belgium 22
France 49
Germany 8
Switzerland 9
The Netherlands 23
United Kingdom[2] 54

References
  1. "Gibb Songs : 1988". Columbia.edu. Retrieved 2014-04-07.
  2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 51. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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