Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” Tops Charts—But He’s Still His Own Harshest Critic
Alex Warren Has a No. 1 Hit With “Ordinary” — So Why Is He Still Doubting Himself?
While most summer chart-toppers sound like they were made for pool parties, Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” is anything but typical. With brooding vocals and vivid Christian imagery — “Shatter me with your touch / Oh Lord, return me to dust” — the ballad is a haunting meditation on desire, pain, and redemption. And against all odds, it’s also a chart-crushing pop phenomenon.As of this week, “Ordinary” has spent six consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing hits like Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” and Drake’s “What Did I Miss?”, the latter of whom acknowledged Warren’s dominance on Instagram: “I’m taking that soon, don’t worry.”
The single has also racked up over 720 million Spotify streams, firmly planting Warren among 2025’s breakout music stars — even if he’s still figuring out how to feel about it.
From Hype House to Heartache
Warren’s journey to the top is as unlikely as his music’s dark tone. He first gained fame as a founding member of Hype House, the viral TikTok collective that ruled early pandemic-era content from a Los Angeles mansion. Known then for lighthearted antics and bite-sized videos, Warren is now creating music laced with emotional depth and cinematic production — more early Sam Smith and Imagine Dragons than viral dance pop.But behind the rise lies personal pain. His father died when he was nine, and he’s been candid about a traumatic upbringing with a single mother he describes as an abusive alcoholic. “Ordinary” doesn’t just connect because of its catchy melody — it feels real, raw, and reflective of a past that Warren is still processing.
Debut Album and Major Collaborations
Warren’s full-length debut, You’ll Be Alright, Kid, drops this Friday, and he’s bringing big names along for the ride. The LP features collaborations with Blackpink’s Rosé and country star Jelly Roll, who recently brought Warren out during his Stagecoach set to perform “Ordinary” and premiere their new duet, “Bloodline.”Living now in Nashville, not far from Jelly Roll and fellow genre-blender Teddy Swims, Warren finds himself surrounded by a new kind of creative energy. He recalls recently FaceTiming Swims about a lighthearted dilemma: “I got off tour and immediately was like, ‘Oh, I want to buy a go-kart.’ Teddy goes, ‘You a—hole. I’m trying to buy a go-kart right now too.’ Apparently, I bought the last go-kart in Tennessee.”
The No. 1 Song From a Self-Proclaimed “No. 1 Hater”
Despite his recent success, Warren admits he still wrestles with self-doubt. “I’ve always been my biggest critic,” he says. “Even with a song at No. 1, I can find 10 reasons why it shouldn’t be.” That internal battle might just be the fuel behind his art — and the very thing that keeps his music grounded, even as his career soars.As You’ll Be Alright, Kid prepares to drop and “Ordinary” continues its reign, Warren’s moment is undeniably here. The question now is whether he can learn to believe what millions already know: that he's no longer just a viral star — he’s a full-fledged artist with staying power.
