Ordinary Girl (Alison Moyet song)


"Ordinary Girl" is a song by English singer Alison Moyet, released in 1987 as the third single from her second studio album Raindancing. It was written by Moyet, Jess Bailey and Rick Driscoll, and produced by Jimmy Iovine.
Despite the Top 10 success of the first two singles from Raindancing, "Ordinary Girl" failed to enter the UK Top 40, reaching No. 43. It remained within the Top 100 for four weeks.
A music video was filmed to promote the single. Moyet performed the song on ITV's short lived music show The Roxy, as well as the French & Saunders Show. She also performed the song on "Pop Goes New Year 1987" aboard HMS Royal. She performed two other songs on the ship, "Is This Love?" and "Blow Wind Blow", both from the same album.
The single's B-side is "Palm Of Your Hand ", which was exclusive to the single. It was written and produced by Dan Hartman.

Critical reception

Upon release, Ian Cranna of Smash Hits described it as an "excellent and unusual song", and praised its lyrics, but added: "Pity the pushy synthetic music doesn't really match up to the idea or the typically wonderful singing." In a review of Raindancing, Chris Heath of Smash Hits highlighted the song as one of the two best songs on the album, alongside "Stay". He also described "Ordinary Girl" as "sprightly". Vincent O'Keeffe of The Kerryman wrote: "The idea and music work and blend in perfectly together." In a retrospective review of the album, Darren Howard of Gay Times felt that the song, along with "Is This Love?", "show Alison at her best".

Formats

;7" Single
  1. "Ordinary Girl" - 3:26
  2. "Palm Of Your Hand " - 3:53
;12" Single
  1. "Ordinary Girl " - 5:34
  2. "Ordinary Girl " - 3:26
  3. "Palm Of Your Hand " - 3:53
;12" Single
  1. "Ordinary Girl " - 6:28
  2. "Ordinary Girl " - 3:26
  3. "Palm Of Your Hand " - 3:53

    Chart performance

Personnel