A theme seems to be coming through in the music industry this year. Bands that haven’t put out an album in, oh let’s just say a decade, have suddenly arrived front and foremost with some of their best work. And most notably, The Prince of Darkness himself, has followed suit. You see, Scream was released in 2010, and that was the last the world heard of new music from the Oz Man. That is, until now…
Ozzy Osbourne is back! And boy was the wait worth it. This album has almost been constantly played since it came out. To the point that poor Simone even said I can listen to any other music as long as it wasn’t Ozzy. Seems like she is a not a believer yet…
Now, I have been mulling over this review for a while. For many, many reasons. I feel like no matter what I say, it won’t do this album, and by extension The Wizard of Oz, any justice.
Secondly, this album also has some of the most honest songs I have heard from Ozzy, or any band-slash-singer for that matter. He has essentially stripped back his career, and it gives this album a very somber retrospect feel. Even on the songs that the crazy side of Ozzy comes through.
I mean, how do you summarise a career like Ozzy’s? It’s nigh impossible, even for people who were there.
Thirdly, and certainly not lastly, this album seems to have struck a very personal chord with me. I can’t explain it, but I am going to try.
I was going to see Ozzy live last year before he got very sick. It’s part of my unfinished tale about seeing Slayer’s last gig, Anthrax in support and the very next night, seeing Judas Priest. With this album, it became very clear that I will never get to see Ozzy perform live. And you know what, I am ok with that. Hes flipping 71, he deserves a rest!
Rather than go song-by-song, I am going to focus on just one song. And who knows, maybe some of the subjects that we cover will spin out into their very own blog post…
With that in mind, let’s begin.
Ordinary Man – the title track and featuring none other than Sir Elton John! I know, I was shocked too. Now this song… this song has two parts in my mind, and it’s not Before-Elton and After-Elton.
On the one hand, Ozzy is expressing his personal fear (and maybe even Elton John has the same one), that when he finally does shuffle off this mortal coil, and the ho-ha is done, the lights are off and the world moves on, that he will be forgotten. He will be a footnote in history as just an ordinary man.
Nothing more.
And nothing less.
Don’t forget me as the colors fade
Ordinary Man
When the lights go down, it’s just an empty stage
And who doesn’t have that fear? The fear of being forgotten? Ozzy manages to touch on something so intrinsically human with this song, you don’t even need to be a rock star to understand it.
Yes, I’ve been a bad guy
Ordinary Man
Been higher than the blue sky
And the truth is I don’t wanna die an ordinary man
I’ve made momma cry
Don’t know why I’m still alive
Yes, the truth is I don’t wanna die an ordinary man
And on the other hand, this song highlights a personal fear I have had for a while.
I suppose I have had it for some time, but I could never explain the what or why. With one song, and it’s quite a simple song lyrically, I figured out what it is I worry about.
I worry I will die an ordinary man. Someone who went to work, 9 to 5, every day until 65. Lived a very middle class life. Had the white picket fence, the 2.3 kids and the 1.8 pets. And in doing so was, so, deathly, ordinary.
I fear I will be forgotten. That I am not accomplishing everything I could be. That I am letting my comfort zone rule my life and not take risks, or dares. I am scared that by playing it safe, I am nothing but an ordinary man.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
And so, on what sounds like Ozzy’s swan song album, he has left me with something. A way to express to those around me what I worry about. And maybe they’ll understand. Or maybe not.
And to Ozzy. The man. The myth. The legend.
The Godfather of Heavy Metal.
The Prince of Darkness.
Wizard of Oz.
There is no way you’ll ever be an ordinary man. Through your career, your ups and downs, your public failings and your highest moments, you have given more than one generation a voice. You have given the world far more than you took from it.
Mr Osbourne, you were in no danger of ever being an ordinary man. And you’ll never be forgotten.
