LISTEN: Tems drops soulful cover of John Legend’s ‘Ordinary People’

Tems, Nigerian singer and songwriter, has put out a soulful cover of ‘Ordinary People’, a hit song by John Legend.

The cover, which was released on Friday, is among a collection of freedom-inspired covers and original songs by Apple Music to commemorate this year’s edition of the Juneteenth.

Juneteenth is an annual holiday which celebrates the end of slavery in the United States as far back as June 19, 1865.

Legend released the project in 2004 as the second track off ‘Get Lifted’, his debut album.

In the song’s cover, Tems croons about the strong bond existing between two people of no distinct status, who are deeply in love and are determined to sustain their affection for one another.

“We’re just ordinary people. We don’t know which way to go ’cause we’re ordinary people. Maybe we should take it slow,” she sings.

Commenting on the significance of Juneteenth, the 25-year-old songstress stressed the need for more awareness about the annual event.

As a special for Juneteenth, @AppleMusic asked me to do a cover of the iconic song “Ordinary people” by @johnlegend. I rarely do covers, so this one was definitely an honour.
Here’s Ordinary people🕊https://t.co/jyCkhsbhVf

— TEMS (@temsbaby) June 4, 2021

“I’m sure it has always been a huge moment, but living in Nigeria, I felt like there was an added awareness last year with all the things that went on in the world,” she said.

“Freedom is important both as individuals and also as a people; learning there was a day that marked the freedom of Black people in the US shows how far we’ve come and also points to the work still to be done.”

On doing the cover for ‘Ordinary People’, Tems said the song “speaks to me through its simplicity yet also its potency. The message cuts really clear because of it.”

Listen to Tems’ cover for ‘Ordinary People’ below: