Rita Ora has released new EP ‘BANG’, but can she move on from her coronavirus controversy?
Rita Ora has had her fair share of controversy over the years, including public spats with Rob Kardashian and Iggy Azalea.
In 2020 as the COVID pandemic began to worsen, Rita Ora decided she wanted to help in any way she could, and chose to release coronavirus merchandise for charity.
At the beginning of the pandemic she told ExtraTV, that her mother is a key worker on the NHS frontlines, “It’s insane. You know, I think every day for her, it’s like ‘Okay, well, you know it’s a risk’ .. I get a bit fearful.”
However, Ora has recently received a massive amount of public backlash for her antics.
why is rita ora the subject of much controversy?
In November, she flew to Egypt to perform, and then refused to self-isolate after returning to the UK.
During the period she was supposed to self-isolate, Ora went as far as to throw a party for her 30th birthday at London restaurant Casa Cruz with around 30 guests.
It is understood that Ora paid the restaurant £5,000 to keep the party lowkey, including the turning off all CCTV cameras in a desperate attempt to keep the party under wraps.
She later apologised in a statement.
The singer said: “Upon my return to Britain, I should have followed government advice and isolated myself for the required period. As you know, I didn’t follow government advice and for that I apologised earlier this week. I apologise again, unreservedly.”
Ora has since come under more fire for flying to Australia from London to appear as a judge on The Voice Australia.
This has faced backlash, as Ora has quite clearly been ‘prioritised’ and is taking up hotel quarantine space over Australian residents who started strayed overseas waiting to come home.
Sydney Morning Heralds Bevan Shields tweeted: “So pop singer Rita Ora has been granted an exemption from Australia’s border closure and is now taking up scarce hotel quarantine spaces in Sydney.
“This would be the same Rita Ora who held an illegal birthday party at a London restaurant in late November…”
This one, technically isn’t Ritas fault, but its disappointing seeing a celebrity prioritised over the Australian citizens wanting to return home.
Following these recent scandals, the singer has also been the only judge to not be re-invited to appear on The Masked Singer spin off, The Masked Dancer.
Safe to say, she’s not in many’s good books!
what’s her new ep like?
Her new EP ‘Bang‘ was released on Friday February 12th 2021 and is made up of 4 tracks with features from David Guetta, Gunna and Khea.
The EP is filled with club songs, without a club to go to (unless you’re Ora in which case maybe you could slide them 5 grand and get a boogie on ????♀️).
Big (feat. Gunna) is an upbeat techno vibe track, that would probably make the cut for my “going out” playlist to get me in the mood for a night on the town.
However, the heavy autotune effect is noticeable, with Ora’s vocal almost unrecognisable. This is a shame because she does actually have a good singing voice.
Bang Bang showcases her vocal much better. It has less auto tune and is a real feel good summer anthem.
The beginning and the chorus sample that song that Crazy Frog covered – Axel F? If you listen to the beginning of Bang Bang then Axel F from about 7 seconds in, you’ll see what I mean.
Musically and lyrical it is probably my favourite off the album, and would be perfect for a few gins in the garden in the summer.
The EP as a whole is party and club vibes. I can appreciate the experimental sounds on Mood (Feat. Khea) – it’s got a bit of R&B to it and a verse from Khea towards the end.
Ora sings: “I switch it up so good I know you want it too // Stop frontin’, you’re in the mood.”
Its radio gold and has been garnering some traction on social media, so it could potentially could reach a decent number in the UK charts next week.
Overall, it’s not a terrible EP. Would I reach for it? Probably not, but if Big or Bang Bang came on when the clubs can reopen, then yeah I’d be on the dance floor…
The British public will ultimately decide whether she can escape the controversy and if her music can still succeed.
Have you heard Bang? Do you think Rita Ora can come back with the public after her controversies? Let us know @PieRadioUK
