Extraordinary (Liz Phair song)

"Extraordinary" is a song by American singer-songwriter Liz Phair from her self-titled fourth studio album (2003). It was released to radio as the second single from the album on March 1, 2004, by Capitol Records. The song was written by Phair and the production team the Matrix, which consists of Lauren Christy, Scott Spock, and Graham Edwards. Production on the song was solely helmed by the Matrix. According to Phair, the song is about wanting others to see you for who you are.

"Extraordinary"
Single by Liz Phair
from the album Liz Phair
ReleasedMarch 1, 2004 (2004-03-01)
StudioDecoy (Studio City)
GenrePop rock
Length3:24
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)The Matrix
Liz Phair singles chronology
"Why Can't I?"
(2003)		 "Extraordinary"
(2004)		 "Everything to Me"
(2005)
Music video
"Extraordinary" on YouTube

Background

"Extraordinary" was written by Phair and the production team the Matrix. The song was inspired by feelings Phair experienced of wanting to be seen for who she really is. Phair explained: "I feel like in my life I've always struggled against being kind of the girl-next-door to people, and always wanting people to see me as maybe having more depth."[1]

Phair described the song as an updated version of "6'1"", a song from Exile in Guyville.[2]

Use in media

The song was featured in the 2004 film Raising Helen.[3] It was also featured during the opening credits for the season finale of Charmed's fifth season, titled "Oh My Goddess!"[4], as a special preview ten months before its official release. The song was included on the teen pop compilation Got Hits! 2 as well.[5] The song was included on the soundtrack for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.[6]

Music video

Two music videos for the song were released. The first features black-and-white footage of Phair singing the song.[7] After the song was featured in the 2004 film Raising Helen,[3] a second music video was made, featuring clones of Phair in front of various backdrops.

Critical reception

The song garnered mixed reviews from music critics, who were dissatisfied with her attempt to go mainstream. Slate's Mim Udovitch said that Phair sounds "bogus,"[8] while PopMatters called the song "sickeningly effervescent."[9] Some critics were more complimentary towards the song, however. Chuck Klosterman, writing for Spin, praised the song's "authenticity,"[10] while AllMusic noted that it was one of its parent album's highlights.[11] Michael Paoletta of Billboard called the song "ultra-catchy" and "oh-so-buoyant".[12]

Commercial performance

Though the song failed to recreate the chart success of past hits "Supernova" and "Why Can't I?" it still managed to chart. It reached number 111 in the US, spending a total of 5 weeks on the "Bubbling Under Hot 100" chart.[13] It also charted on the Mainstream Top 40 chart[14] and the Adult Top 40 chart, on which it spent six months.[15]

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from the Liz Phair album liner notes.[16]

Charts
Peak chart positions of "Extraordinary"
Chart (2003–2004) Peak
position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[17] 11
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[18] 14
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[19] 28

Release history
Region Date Formats(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States March 1, 2004 (2004-03-01) Contemporary hit radio Capitol Records [20]

References
  1. "Liz Phair Wants Recognition for Being Cute and Deep". MTV News. August 28, 2003. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  2. Ganz, Caryn (November 2000). "Liz Phair". Spin. Vol. 19, no. 11. p. 36.
  3. Phares, Heather. "Original Soundtrack Raising Helen overview". Allmusic. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  4. "Liz Phair soundtrack credits". IMDb. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  5. Kellman, Andy. "Various Artists Got Hits, Vol. 2 overview". Allmusic. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  6. Jeffries, David. "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy soundtrack review". Allmusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  7. "Liz Phair - Extraordinary (alt version)". YouTube. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  8. Udovich, Mim (June 27, 2003). "What Is Liz Phair Thinking?". Slate. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  9. "PopMatters review". June 22, 2003.
  10. Klosterman, Chuck. "Liz Phair, 'Liz Phair' (Capitol)". Spin. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  11. Erlewine, Sterphen Thomas. ""Liz Phair" album overview". Allmusic. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  12. Billboard - January 24, 2004, page 32
  13. ""Extraordinary" Bubbling Under Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  14. ""Extraordinary" Mainstream Top 40 chart history". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  15. ""Extraordinary" Adult Top 40 chart history". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  16. Liz Phair (Liner notes). Liz Phair. Capitol Records. 2003. CDP 7243 5 22084 0 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. "Liz Phair Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  18. "Liz Phair Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  19. "Liz Phair Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  20. "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1544. February 27, 2004. p. 47.
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