Ordinary Life

“Ordinary Life” by The Weeknd is a deep dive into the artist's psyche, exploring the conflict between his hedonistic, fame-fueled lifestyle and a latent desire for redemption. The song paints a picture of a life that is anything but ordinary, filled with risky behavior, casual sex, and a general sense of recklessness. The Weeknd seems to be simultaneously reveling in and lamenting his choices, acknowledging the destructive path he's on while also feeling powerless to change it. There's a recurring theme of trading salvation for earthly pleasures, encapsulated in the line, 'If I could, I'd trade it all, trade it for a halo.' However, this desire is immediately undercut by a sense of hopelessness, as he states it's 'too late for me.' The song suggests that the extraordinary life of a celebrity comes at a spiritual cost, and that fame can be a corrupting force. The repetition of 'This ain't ordinary life' serves as a mantra, both justifying his actions and highlighting his alienation from a normal existence.

The song chronicles a life of exhilarating excess and the inner turmoil that accompanies it. The narrative opens with a visceral depiction of a dangerous romantic encounter while driving, immediately setting a tone of reckless indulgence. This high-stakes lifestyle is further glamorized through references to cultural icons of rebellion and early death, such as James Dean, suggesting a conscious choice to live fast and die young. There's a palpable sense of conflict between the allure of this extraordinary existence and a yearning for something more, a 'halo' that represents a purity that feels unattainable. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a world where the lines between heaven and hell are blurred. It juxtaposes the sacred with the profane, mentioning both angels in monasteries and the devil in close proximity, symbolizing an internal battle between good and evil. The setting shifts to the infamous Mulholland Drive, a place associated with the dark side of Hollywood, contrasting it with the mythical Valhalla, a paradise for heroes. This further emphasizes the feeling of being damned and destined for a tragic end. The protagonist is fully aware of the self-destructive path they are on, acknowledging that their choices have led them to a point of no return. The repeated assertion that 'this ain't ordinary life' serves as both a defiant anthem and a somber admission of being trapped in a gilded cage. It's a life paid for by fame and success, yet it comes at the cost of one's soul. The song is a candid confession of the emptiness that can lie beneath a glamorous facade, a poignant reflection on the price of fame and the search for redemption in a world of temptation.

“Ordinary Life” is a track from The Weeknd's third studio album, Starboy, which was released on November 25, 2016. The album was a major commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The song was co-written by The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) along with a team of acclaimed songwriters including Max Martin, Peter Svensson, Savan Kotecha, Ali Payami, Ahmad Balshe (Belly), Martin McKinney (Doc McKinney), and Henry Russell Walter (Cirkut). Doc McKinney and Cirkut also handled the production of the track. The creation of the song was likely influenced by The Weeknd's experiences with fame and the often-decadent lifestyle associated with it, a recurring theme in his work. The album Starboy as a whole was inspired by artists like David Bowie and Prince, and aimed to create a cohesive narrative.

The song follows a relatively conventional structure for a pop/R&B track, with verses, a pre-chorus, a chorus, and a bridge. The rhythm is driven by a steady, mid-tempo beat that creates a hypnotic and somewhat somber groove. The lyrical rhythm often plays with syncopation, with The Weeknd's vocal phrasing sometimes falling slightly ahead of or behind the beat, adding to the song's sense of unease. The rhyme scheme in the verses is not strictly formal, but there is a consistent use of end rhymes to create a sense of flow and cohesion. For example, in the first verse, 'tongue' rhymes with 'bump' and 'come,' and 'done' rhymes with 'young.' This creates a sense of forward momentum leading into the pre-chorus and chorus. The repetition of the titular phrase in the chorus acts as a rhythmic and lyrical anchor for the song. The bridge introduces a shift in the song's dynamics, with a slower tempo and more atmospheric instrumentation, before building back up to the final chorus.

“Ordinary Life” employs a variety of stylistic techniques to create its dark and atmospheric mood. The Weeknd's vocal delivery is a key element, shifting between his signature smooth falsetto and a more grounded, rhythmic cadence, which adds to the song's dynamic texture. The production, handled by Doc McKinney and Cirkut, features a cinematic soundscape with a prominent bassline, creating a sense of unease and tension. Lyrically, the song utilizes vivid and often shocking imagery to convey its themes of hedonism and self-destruction, such as the explicit opening lines. The use of cultural allusions to figures like James Dean and David Carradine, and locations like Mulholland Drive, adds layers of meaning and situates the song within a broader narrative of tragic celebrity. The repetition of the phrase 'This ain't ordinary life' acts as a powerful refrain that reinforces the song's central message. The juxtaposition of religious and sacrilegious imagery (e.g., 'halo' vs. 'devil on my lap') is a recurring literary device that underscores the song's thematic conflict.

“Ordinary Life” is a standout track from The Weeknd's critically and commercially successful album, Starboy. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, and all 18 of its tracks, including “Ordinary Life,” charted on the Billboard Hot 100. While not released as a single, the song has been praised by fans and critics for its dark, introspective lyrics and its cinematic production. The song's themes of the dark side of fame and the emptiness of a hedonistic lifestyle are central to The Weeknd's artistic persona and have resonated with a wide audience. The song's cultural impact is also evident in its use of allusions to pop culture figures like James Dean and David Carradine, and its exploration of the often-tragic narrative of celebrity life. “Ordinary Life” is a significant track within The Weeknd's discography, showcasing his ability to blend pop sensibilities with darker, more complex lyrical themes.

“Ordinary Life” is rich with symbolism and metaphors that illustrate the song's central themes of sin, redemption, and the perils of fame.

• Halo: The 'halo' represents a desire for purity, innocence, and salvation, which The Weeknd feels is unattainable due to his lifestyle.
• Valhalla and Mulholland Drive: He contrasts the mythical Norse heaven 'Valhalla,' a place for the righteous, with 'Mulholland's where all the damned will be kept,' a reference to the infamous and dangerous Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles, which symbolizes his own perceived damnation and the dark side of Hollywood.
• Devil and Cross: The imagery of having the 'devil on my lap and a cross on my neck' is a direct representation of the internal conflict between temptation and faith, the profane and the sacred.
• James Dean and David Carradine: By referencing James Dean, an icon of youthful rebellion who died young, and David Carradine, whose death was associated with autoerotic asphyxiation, The Weeknd embraces a self-destructive and hedonistic persona, linking extreme pleasure with death.
• LaFerraris and Monasteries: The contrast between his 'soul burning in LaFerraris' and 'angels singing in monasteries' further highlights the dichotomy between his materialistic, fast-paced life and a yearning for spiritual peace.

The most prominent recurring phrase in “Ordinary Life” is the title itself, 'This ain't ordinary life,' which is repeated throughout the chorus. This repetition serves as the song's central thesis, a constant reminder of the protagonist's detachment from a normal existence and a justification for his extreme lifestyle. Another recurring motif is the idea of a trade-off between fame and salvation, most explicitly stated in the pre-chorus with the lines, 'If I could, I'd trade it all, trade it for a halo.' This highlights the internal conflict at the heart of the song. The imagery of heaven and hell, and the juxtaposition of the sacred and the profane, is a recurring thematic motif throughout the track, seen in references to 'Valhalla,' 'Mulholland Drive,' the 'devil,' and the 'cross.' The idea of dying young as a consequence of a fast-paced life is also a recurring theme, with references to James Dean and the act of driving recklessly.