Released in early 1993, “Ordinary World” served as a resuscitory jolt to Duran Duran‘s flagging career, with the ballad reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Modern Rock chart. The English group’s last successful single had been “All She Wants Is,” which topped out at #22 in 1989, only four years earlier, though it may as well have been four decades.

The success of “Ordinary World” introduced Duran Duran to a new generation, and though a multi-format hit, the song allowed the band to ride the rise of alternative music on radio and TV. Alongside relative newcomers like Nirvana and Jane’s Addiction, the nascent genre generously — and somewhat curiously — made room for new material from UK synthpop heroes of the 1980s, including Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys, and New Order.

Duran Duran’s return to the spotlight was short-lived. Next single “Come Undone” also charted in the top 10, but it was followed by a precipitous drop-off that would continue well into the next decade. However, nearly twenty years on, “Ordinary World” has become, without question, one of the music world’s rare “new classics.” In 1993, the song’s message of moving forward from great personal loss took firm hold in our collective pop culture and never let go, an honor Duran Duran must no doubt be proud of, whatever the highs, lows, and in-betweens they’ve since experienced.

Looking for a song to cover earlier this month, Cassettes Won’t Listen, the one-man band from Brooklyn’s Jason Drake, turned to his fans for suggestions. And thus, thanks to Twitter, we’ve got this new recording of “Ordinary World.” It’s not an extraordinary rework, but a quite wonderful homage to the still gorgeous original. Cassettes might not listen, but Drake most certainly did:

“Ordinary World” is the second in a trilogy of songs Simon Le Bon wrote in memory of his childhood friend David Miles, who died while Duran Duran was recording 1988’s Big Thing. The other two are “Do You Believe In Shame?” (from Big Thing) and “Out Of My Mind” from 1997’s Medazzaland.

Purchase Cassettes Won’t Listen – “Ordinary World” (Duran Duran cover) via iTunes.