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:
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]

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

CountryDateFormatVersionLabel
Various13 March 2020Original single
10 April 2020Live from London
17 April 2020MÖWE Remix
24 April 2020aboutagirl Remix
LARI LUKE Remix
Sam Feldt Remix
1 May 2020Bomba Estéreo Remix Remix

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]