Music Review: Rita Ora "Radioactive"

Rita Ora

Radioactive

Album: Ora

Year: 2013

          The club absorbs Rita Ora in its energy in the flummoxed  “Radioactive.”

            An acidic synth opens the single, setting a sunless tone.  Part of the chorus opens the single. The beat hangs in the air. Ora, drenched in sweat, raises her hands She reaches for her crush’s fingers and entwines her hands in his. A tingle runs through her arm. For a brief moment, they are one person, changed by their encounter.  (“Palms to the sky/We unite/I feelin it, I feelin it, feel feelin it/We rise tonight.”)

             The beat screeches, stalling the verse, attempting to save itself through self-destruction.

             Earlier in the evening, she walked past his table, making her presence known. With his chiseled jaw and soft features, he’s a handsome man. He nods to her and she grins. He says something to his friends and gets up from his seat. He says hello to her and she laughs, telling him she’s been waiting all night for him to stop by. (“I'm checking you out in your sweet desire/I'm coming over to make you mine/It's a crime boy, you're so fine/I'm checkin you out, boy, it's a green light/I'm glad you came over, it was about time/It feels right, boy you're so fine.”)

       In the chorus, the explosion of notes sets off her body. The rhythm fuses to her cells, the bass throbbing within her. (“This club's radioactive/Drop the ball, let me feel the beat/This club's radioactive/Drop the ball, let me feel the beat/Palms to the sky/Unite/I feelin it, I feelin it, feel feel it/We rise tonight/Palms to the sky/We unite/I feelin it, I feelin it, feel feel it/We rise tonight.”)

      Smoke fills the club and she breathes it in, not knowing if it might be her last. The beat is the only sound she hears. Her eyes rest on her crush, his hand on hers. She wonders if he will survive. (“Moving on me as the world ends/This nuclear heat is a beautiful air/You might live to tell.”)

          The chorus is sung again.

            In the bridge, it is him she chooses to spend her what may be her last hours. (“Palms to the sky/You and I/Palms to the sky/You and I/Palms to the sky/You and/We rise tonight.”)

          Part of the chorus is sung again. (“Palms to the sky/Unite, I feel it, I feel it, feel feel it/We rise tonight/Palms to the sky/We unite, I feel it, I feel it, feel feel it/We rise tonight.”)

       Ora says they will become new people again after tonight. (“We unite, you and I will rise tonight/We unite, you and I will rise tonight/We unite, you and I will rise tonight.”)

       Ora’s diva vocals shove and elbows its way to the center. Her desperation to have full control of the dance floor is apparent.  The extravagance of her blustery voice, alongside cryptic sci-fi lyrics, is outright campy. However, no one is told that the joke is on her and she looks ridiculous, trying to be deep.

        The low budget “Radioactive” has an interesting sci-fi gimmick left to the background.