Ordinary People (Clay Walker song)

"Ordinary People is a song written by Ed Hill and Craig Wiseman, and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker. It was released in May 1998 as the first single from his Greatest Hits compilation album.

"Ordinary People"
Single by Clay Walker
from the album Greatest Hits
B-side"Next Step Is Love"
ReleasedMay 5, 1998[1]
Recorded1998
GenreCountry
Length3:49
LabelGiant
Songwriter(s)Ed Hill, Craig Wiseman
Producer(s)James Stroud
Clay Walker singles chronology
"Then What?"
(1998)
"Ordinary People"
(1998)
"You're Beginning to Get to Me"
(1998)

The song is Walker's sixteenth single release, as well as his sixteenth Top forty hit on the Billboard country singles charts. However, it was his lowest charting single at the time of its release as well as his first single to miss the top twenty.

Content edit

The song describes how "ordinary people have extraordinary love." The narrator compares ordinary people to famous people.

Critical reception edit

Larry Flick of Billboard gave the song a positive rating "Cynics might be quick too dismiss the lyrics as being to syrupy. However, it's a sentiment that country music's core audience can relate to. Walker teams with James Stroud for production that is understated, while Walker turns in a plaintive, heartfelt performance."[2]

Chart positions edit

"Ordinary People" is Walker's sixteenth Top 40 single on the Billboard country singles charts. The song spent nineteen weeks on the charts, peaking at number 35 on the chart week of July 4.[3] It also peaked at number 22 on the RPM Country Tracks charts in Canada.

Charts edit

Chart (1998) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[4] 22
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[5] 20
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[6] 35

References edit

  1. ^ Clay Walker - Ordinary People. Archived 2013-01-19 at archive.today
  2. ^ Larry Flick, Billboard Magazine, May 2, 1998, Billboard Magazine
  3. ^ "Hot Country Songs listing for "Ordinary People"". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
  4. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 3637." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. July 27, 1998. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  5. ^ "Clay Walker Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  6. ^ "Clay Walker Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.