How to Be Lonely explained

How to Be Lonely
Type:	single
Cover:	Rita Ora - How to Be Lonely.png
Artist:	Rita Ora
Genre:	Pop
Label:	Atlantic
Producer:	aboutagirl^[1]
Prev Title:	Ritual
Prev Year:	2019
Next Title:	Big
Next Year:	2021

"How to Be Lonely" is a song by British singer Rita Ora, released as a single through Atlantic Records UK on 13 March 2020.

Composition

"How to Be Lonely" is a mid-tempo ballad that deals with themes about "battling insecurity".^{[2] [3]}

Critical reception

Mike Wass of Idolator wrote that the song is a "nice way to kick off an era" that "does showcase the 'Anywhere' singer's powerful pipes and growth as an artist".^[2] Rob Copsey of the Official Charts Company wrote that the song features "opening guitar strums[,] Coldplay-sized chantalong chorus [and] catchy finger snaps, punchy electronic beats and some killer adlibs", concluding that Ora's "take on ugly crying powerhouse pop is masterfully done".^[4]

Music video

In the music video, directed by Dave Meyers, Ora is in an empty room alone and then alone with a lot of people.^[5] An arrow hits her.^[6] In the next scene, she is walking in a room filled with eggshells. Then, she is dancing with a skeleton and a bear hugs her. After that, she falls into the sky.^[7] Then she smashes a wall with a baseball bat.^[8] A UFO lands.^[9]

Live performances

Ora performed the song live at BBC's Sport Relief 2020 telethon on 13 March.^[10]

Track listings

Digital download / streaming^[11]

1. "How to Be Lonely" – 2:55

Digital download / streaming - Live from London^[11]

1. "How to Be Lonely" (Live from London) – 2:56

Digital download / streaming - MÖWE Remix^[11]

1. "How to Be Lonely" (MÖWE Remix) – 2:54

Digital download / streaming - aboutagirl Remix^[11]

1. "How to Be Lonely" (aboutagirl Remix) – 3:23

Digital download / streaming - LARI LUKE Remix^[11]

1. "How to Be Lonely" (LARI LUKE Remix) – 3:21

Digital download / streaming - Sam Feldt Remix^[11]

1. "How to Be Lonely" (Sam Feldt Remix) – 3:11

Digital download / streaming - Bomba Estéreo Remix Remix^[11]

1. "How to Be Lonely" (Bomba Estéreo Remix) – 2:50

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[12]

• Rita Ora - vocals
• Lostboy – producer
• Tom Mann - producer, background vocals, bass, drums, guitar, keyboard, programming, synthesizer, vocal production, writer
• aboutagirl - producer
• Siba - additional producer
• Amanda Merdzan - assistant engineer

• Matt Wolach - assistant mix engineer
• Michael Freeman - assistant mix engineer
• Lewis Capaldi - songwriter, background vocals, guitar
• Mark "Spike" Stent - mastering, mixing
• Stuart Hawkes - mastering
• Cameron Gower Pool - vocal production
• Peter Rycroft - writer

Charts

Chart (2020)	Peak position
Australia Airplay (Radiomonitor)^[13]	32
Croatia (HRT)^[14]	17
France (SNEP Sales Chart)^[15]	142
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)^[16]	19

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Version	Label
Various	13 March 2020		Original single
	10 April 2020		Live from London
	17 April 2020		MÖWE Remix
	24 April 2020		aboutagirl Remix
			LARI LUKE Remix
			Sam Feldt Remix
	1 May 2020		Bomba Estéreo Remix Remix

• Ora is signed to Atlantic Records UK who distribute her music in the UK, Warner Records handle releases elsewhere in the world^[11] except several Asian countries licensed by Sony Music Entertainment Asia.^[17]

Notes and References

1. Web site: aboutagirl release their new track 'SnOoZe'.. May 2020.
2. Web site: Rita Ora Returns With New Single "How To Be Lonely". Idolator. Wass. Mike. 13 March 2020. 13 March 2020.
3. Web site: Lewis Capaldi gave Rita Ora new single 'How To Be Lonely' because he was "shite" at singing it. NME. Daly. Rhian. 9 March 2020. 13 March 2020.
4. Web site: Rita Ora is learning to love herself on new Lewis Capaldi-penned single How To Be Lonely: First listen review. Official Charts Company. Copsey. Rob. 11 March 2020. 13 March 2020.
5. Web site: Zemler. Emily. 2020-03-13. Rita Ora Learns to Love Herself on 'How to Be Lonely'. 2021-12-18. Rolling Stone. en-US.
6. Web site: Alston. Trey. Galactic Shootouts, Skeletal Seduction: What's Going On In Rita Ora's 'How To Be Lonely' Video?. https://web.archive.org/web/20200327230503/http://www.mtv.com/news/3161498/rita-ora-how-to-be-lonely-video/. dead. March 27, 2020. 2021-12-18. MTV News. en.
7. Web site: 2020-03-26. Rita Ora- How To Be Lonely (Trailer) Video. 2021-12-18. YouListener. en-US.
8. Web site: There’s something about Rita. 2021-12-18. The Face. en-gb.
9. Web site: So Much Just … Happens in Rita Ora’s ‘How to Be Lonely’ Video. 2021-12-18. Vulture.
10. Web site: Rita Ora and Pussycat Dolls lead Sport Relief 2020 musical line-up. Evening Standard. Fenwick. George. 11 March 2020. 13 March 2020.
11. Web site: Dutchcharts.nl – Rita Ora – How To Be Lonely. MegaCharts. Dutch. 18 April 2020.
12. Web site: Try the TIDAL Web Player.
13. Web site: HOT 100 Issue 1286. The Music Network. 20 August 2020.
14. Web site: Croatia ARC TOP 100. HRT. 24 April 2020. hr.
15. Web site: Rita Ora – How To Be Lonely. PureMédias.
16. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 23 March 2020. 21 March 2020.
17. [Music streaming|Streaming]