Joy Williams recently played an intimate set at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, treating fans to a stirring rendition of Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World.”
Enveloped in a circle of light, Williams crooned her way through the classic hit, putting her own melancholy twist on the song. While the original song is more expansive and pop-influenced, Williams brings it down to a somber beat, with a simple piano accompaniment. The lyrics stand out in her cover version, her voice serving as the backbone to the performance.
Williams is known for her pure, emotive vocals, and they are especially evident in her cover of “Ordinary World.” The song’s simplicity works in her favor, giving her voice the freedom to express itself to its fullest extent.
This isn’t the first time she has performed a cover of this Duran Duran song. She recorded a studio version of it a few years ago, but it has only recently been unearthed. Williams did a studio version of the track back in 2010, but it wasn’t released officially until 2014 on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy.
Take a look at our full review of Joy Williams’ show at the El Rey Theatre right here, and get a list of the other songs she performed during her short set.
Williams has already had a busy year. She announced a new album Venus for release this June, and has unveiled sneak peek at her new songs from her post-Civil Wars career. She recently released a new song “Woman (Oh Mama),” along with a visually stunning music video to accompany the track.
As we await her latest release, take a look at a video from her recent performance at the El Rey Theatre, including her rendition of Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World” below:
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