Moyet was born to a French father and English mother. She grew up in Basildon, where she attended school. After leaving school at 16, she worked as a shop worker and a piano tuner. She was involved in a number of punk rock, pub rock and blues bands in the South East Essex area during the late 1970s and early 1980s, including The Vandals and the Screamin' Ab Dabs, The Vicars, The Vandals (UK 1978) and The Little Roosters.
Her mainstream pop career began in 1982 when she formed the electro-pop duo Yazoo with former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke. The duo had several hits, including "Situation", "Only You", "Don't Go" and recorded two albums, "Upstairs At Eric's" and "You And Me Both". The group was notable for melding Clarke's trademark electronic sounds with Moyet's warm, soulful voice.
In 1983 Moyet and Clarke decided to disband Yazoo. While Clarke went on to form Erasure, Moyet signed to CBS (in part because it had been Janis Joplin's label), and began her solo career.
In 1984 she released her debut album "Alf" (titled after her punk-era nickname). Alf included contributions by popular producers/songwriters Swain and Jolley, as well as a song, "Invisible", written by Motown legend Lamont Dozier. The record was a hit in Britain, reaching number one in the album charts. Alf spawned 3 hit singles, "Love Resurrection", "Invisible" and "All Cried Out". In the US, "Invisible" was a Top 40 hit (something Yazoo had never achieved).
In 1985 Moyet performed at the historic Live Aid concert, alongside Paul Young. She also released a single not featured on "Alf", a cover of the standard "That Ole Devil Called Love." The single went to #2 on the UK singles chart. (At present, it remains Moyet's highest-charting UK single.)
In 1986 Moyet had another big UK hit with the single "Is This Love?," followed in 1987 by the album Raindancing. Raindancing spawned further hit singles, including a cover of Floy Joy's "Weak In The Presence of Beauty" and "Ordinary Girl". In 1987, she scored another cover hit with "Love Letters"; the video for the song featured comedy duo French & Saunders.
Following a period of personal and career evaluation Hoodoo was released in 1991. Hoodoo, which took several steps away from the glossy pop sheen of Raindancing and was a far earthier and more personal album. Compared to her earlier releases, Hoodoo received little label support and only minimal promotion. The album sold respectably in Britain, and was nominated for a Grammy for the single "It Won't Be Long." However, the release of Hoodoo marked the beginning of what was to become a long fight for Moyet to secure complete control of her artistic direction. Like many similar artists of Moyet's calibre (including Aimee Mann and the late Kirsty MacColl), Moyet was reluctant to record a radio-friendly "pop" album simply for the sake of creating chart hits.
Moyet's next album Essex (1994) was also a source of controversy for her; in order for the album to be released, her label (now Sony) insisted that certain Essex tracks be re-recorded and re-produced, and that there be additional material remixed to create a more 'commercial' package. The video for the single "Whispering Your Name" again featured Dawn French.
Following the release of Essex, Sony released a greatest-hits compilation of Moyet's work the following year. Singles entered the UK charts at number one. Following incredible CD success and a UK tour, Singles was re-issued as a double CD set which included "No Overdubs", a bonus live CD. Upon re-issue Singles again charted, this time in the top 20.
Due to prolonged litigation with Sony, Moyet did not record or release a new studio album for over eight years after the release of Essex. During this time, however, Moyet recorded vocals for Tricky, Sylk-130, Ocean Colour Scene, The Lightning Seeds and King Britt, and was featured on the British leg of the Lilith Fair tour. 2001 saw the release of The Essential Alison Moyet CD.
In August 2002, after years of holding out and refusing to compromise, Moyet was finally released from her Sony contract. Moyet signed to Sanctuary Records and released her first studio album in eight years, Hometime, an album which Sony had refused to release. Hometime was produced by the Insects, who had also produced works by Goldfrapp and Massive Attack. The release of the CD launched Moyet into the top five best-selling female UK artists of 2002 and resulted in a Brit nomination for Best Female Vocal as well as a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize.
Moyet's following CD, Voice, an eclectic collection of covers, was released on 6 September 2004 and entered the UK charts at number seven. The album was later re-issued with a bonus track, "Alfie." A companion DVD, One Blue Voice, was released in 2006.
After signing with the W14 Music label in late 2006, Moyet released the all-original The Turn in October 2007. As of this writing (15 Sept 2008), Moyet will be touring North America for the first time in 14 years after the huge success of the Yazoo Reconnected Tour of 2008.
www.alisonmoyet.com/
Ordinary Girl
Alison Moyet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It is the only way for everyone concerned
She said.
And I could only ask her why
But she just smiled and told me
One day I would learn.
This will all make sense tomorrow.
Don't be sorry
That everything we shared will fade away.
There's so much more to see in each new day.
They'd never understand
I'm not an ordinary girl.
She took nothing but her clothes.
Taking more would just remind her of her past
She said.
I thought I'd never laugh again
On the day I said goodbye to my best friend.
Don't you worry
This will all make sense tomorrow. . . .
Don't you worry
This will all make sense tomorrow.
Don't be sorry
That everything we shared will fade away.
There's so much more to see in each new day.
And now I understand
She's just an ordinary girl.
She's just an ordinary girl.
The lyrics to Alison Moyet's "Ordinary Girl" tell the story of a woman who leaves on a Sunday afternoon, taking only her clothes and leaving behind everything else. When questioned about her departure, she simply states that it is the only way for everyone concerned and that one day the singer will learn why. The departing woman tells the singer not to worry, as everything will make sense tomorrow, and that there is so much more to see in each new day. She assures the singer that she is "not an ordinary girl," but the reason for this remains unclear until the end of the song.
As the song unfolds, we learn that the woman who left was struggling to move beyond her past, and that leaving everything behind was her way of making a fresh start. She didn't take anything with her that would remind her of her past, and she didn't want to be held back by anything or anyone. She knew that the journey ahead would not be easy, but she was determined to see it through. In the end, the singer comes to a realization: that the woman was not extraordinary, but rather just an ordinary girl trying to make her way in the world.
The lyrics of "Ordinary Girl" are a poignant reminder that we are all struggling to make our way through life, and that while some of us may appear to be extraordinary, in reality, we are all just ordinary people doing the best we can. The song encourages us to embrace each new day with hope and optimism, knowing that there is always more to see and more to learn. It reminds us that while the journey may be difficult, the destination is worth the effort.
Line by Line Meaning
She left on a Sunday afternoon.
She left during a quiet, peaceful time, showing that her departure was carefully planned and considered.
It is the only way for everyone concerned
She said.
She explained that leaving was the best decision for everyone involved in the situation.
And I could only ask her why
But she just smiled and told me
One day I would learn.
She did not want to explain the reasons for her departure and instead encouraged the singer to trust that they will understand in the future.
Don't you worry
This will all make sense tomorrow.
Don't be sorry
That everything we shared will fade away.
There's so much more to see in each new day.
They'd never understand
I'm not an ordinary girl.
The artist reassures themselves that they should not feel guilty or regretful about the situation and that there is always more to discover in life. They also feel unique and misunderstood by others.
She took nothing but her clothes.
Taking more would just remind her of her past
She said.
By leaving with only the clothes on her back, she emphasizes her desire to start anew and not look back on her past.
I thought I'd never laugh again
On the day I said goodbye to my best friend.
The singer reflects on the intense emotions they felt during the goodbye and the fear that they would never experience happiness again.
And now I understand
She's just an ordinary girl.
She's just an ordinary girl.
In hindsight, the singer realizes that the person who left was not as mysterious or unique as they initially thought and was a regular person like everyone else.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ALISON MOYET, JESS BAILEY, RICK DRISCOLL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dawnwyatt4802
My baby daughter died. She had Edwards Syndrome, it was a miracle that she was born alive with the defects inside her tiny body. She had a powerful energy that I've never experienced from any other human being. A quiet, ethereal presence. She left a profound mark on everyone that followed her story to the end. She was so special. Not an ordinary girl. But I'm so, so heartbroken. These lyrics seem to fit so well 💖 (click to expand)
"And I could only ask her why
And she just smiled and told me one day I would learn.
Don't you worry, this will all make sense to tomorrow
Don't be sorry, that everything we've shared will fade away
There's so much much more to see in each new day
They'll never understand
I'm not an ordinary girl"
@FATBOY692011
Saw her a few years ago. Still has that richness in her voice. She could sing the contents of the Yellow Pages and make it sound interesting. I was a spotty faced lad when she made it into the charts. I loved her then and I still love her now. How beautiful is she too? One amazing singer 😍😍
@mepalosa
Best female voice of the 80‘s
@johnconway8070
Best female vocalist of the 1980's, 1990's, 2000's, 2010's...............and forever! :-)
@call_me_stan5887
very characteristic for sure
@monicalillis3294
And Annie and Kate 😉
@CarmelDeery
One of them. !!
@TheMarathonomahos
That voice is unforgettable. I still remember my mother buying Alf and being stunned by those powerful vocals. And I was only 16. Maybe the most versatile female vocalist I've heard.
@oliverhermanns3102
For me this is the best song by Alison Moyet. I love her voice and I love the fact that this song is uplifiting and melancholic at the same time. Many years ago I had something with a beautiful sexy girl at a party and when I left I drove home and the first song that came up randomly on my iPod was this one. Although the lyrics don't match my situation this song always reminds me of that time.
@jameshiggins.openworld
Such a powerful and soulful voice and a beautiful looking lady
@johndiamond5824
Lovely Alison Moyet, QUALITY voice