How to Be Lonely

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"How to Be Lonely"
Single by Rita Ora
Released13 March 2020 (2020-03-13)
GenrePop[1]
Length2:55
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Rita Ora singles chronology
"Ritual"
(2019)
"How to Be Lonely"
(2020)
"Big"
(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[edit]

"How to Be Lonely" is a mid-tempo ballad that deals with themes about "battling insecurity".[3][4]

Critical reception[edit]

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".[3] 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".[1]

Music video[edit]

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[edit]

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

Track listings[edit]

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[12]

Charts[edit]

Chart (2020) Peak
position
Australia Airplay (Radiomonitor)[13] 32
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[14] 4
Croatia (HRT)[15] 17
France (SNEP Sales Chart)[16] 142
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 96
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[18] 40
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[19] 19
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[20] 33
Scotland (OCC)[21] 8
UK Singles (OCC)[22] 57

Release history[edit]

Country Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various 13 March 2020 Original single [a] [11]
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
  • ^[a] 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.[23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Copsey, Rob (11 March 2020). "Rita Ora is learning to love herself on new Lewis Capaldi-penned single How To Be Lonely: First listen review". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  2. ^ "aboutagirl release their new track 'SnOoZe'". May 2020.
  3. ^ a b Wass, Mike (13 March 2020). "Rita Ora Returns With New Single "How To Be Lonely"". Idolator. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  4. ^ Daly, Rhian (9 March 2020). "Lewis Capaldi gave Rita Ora new single 'How To Be Lonely' because he was "shite" at singing it". NME. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  5. ^ Zemler, Emily (2020-03-13). "Rita Ora Learns to Love Herself on 'How to Be Lonely'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  6. ^ Alston, Trey. "Galactic Shootouts, Skeletal Seduction: What's Going On In Rita Ora's 'How To Be Lonely' Video?". MTV News. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  7. ^ "Rita Ora- How To Be Lonely (Trailer) Video". YouListener. 2020-03-26. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  8. ^ "There's something about Rita". The Face. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  9. ^ "So Much Just … Happens in Rita Ora's 'How to Be Lonely' Video". Vulture. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  10. ^ Fenwick, George (11 March 2020). "Rita Ora and Pussycat Dolls lead Sport Relief 2020 musical line-up". Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Dutchcharts.nl – Rita Ora – How To Be Lonely". MegaCharts (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Try the TIDAL Web Player".
  13. ^ "HOT 100 Issue 1286". The Music Network. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Rita Ora – How to Be Lonely" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Croatia ARC TOP 100" (in Croatian). HRT. Retrieved 24 April 2020.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Rita Ora – How To Be Lonely". PureMédias.
  17. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Rita Ora". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 18, 2020" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  19. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  20. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  23. ^ Streaming"Rita Ora - Let You Love Me". Apple Music. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.