How to Be Lonely

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

"How to Be Lonely"
Single by Rita Ora
Released	13 March 2020 (2020-03-13)
Genre	Pop^[1]
Length	2:55
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Lewis Capaldi Peter Rycroft Thomas Mann
Producer(s)	aboutagirl^[2]
Rita Ora singles chronology
"Ritual" (2019) "How to Be Lonely" (2020) "Big" (2021)

Composition

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

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".^[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

In the music video, 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] "How to Be Lonely" – 2:55 Digital download / streaming - Live from London^[11] "How to Be Lonely" (Live from London) – 2:56 Digital download / streaming - MÖWE Remix^[11] "How to Be Lonely" (MÖWE Remix) – 2:54 Digital download / streaming - aboutagirl Remix^[11] "How to Be Lonely" (aboutagirl Remix) – 3:23

Digital download / streaming - LARI LUKE Remix^[11] "How to Be Lonely" (LARI LUKE Remix) – 3:21 Digital download / streaming - Sam Feldt Remix^[11] "How to Be Lonely" (Sam Feldt Remix) – 3:11 Digital download / streaming - Bomba Estéreo Remix Remix^[11] "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
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

Country	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	13 March 2020	Digital download streaming	Original single	Atlantic Records Warner Music ^[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

1. 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. 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. "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.
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.