Sometimes it’s nice to take a step back from all of the house parties, energized albums and singles, and instead enjoy a few minutes of relaxing, “feel-good” music. Rita Ora’s new single “Anywhere” will provide listeners with that easy-going vibe they’re looking for. The single was released on Oct. 27 in the U.S. and has charted at the No. 70 spot, and was released Oct. 20 in the U.K. and currently holds the No. 2 spot.
The single encompasses not only what it means to be young, free and full of dreams that will lead one “anywhere,” but it also hits home to Ora herself, as someone who sometimes wishes she could start over and travel somewhere where no one knows who she is. It’s the mainstream idea of a celebrity wanting to be “normal,” but her vocals and lyric choice make the song uniquely her own.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Ora explained, “I was in a routine, working every day, and found myself daydreaming about breaking out of the city and going on a road trip with my friends and never looking back,” the singer said in a statement. “This is pop at its sweetest, most persuasive form of escapism.”
Throughout the music video, Ora pretty much takes on what it means to be a young artist living in New York City. Dancing under the city lights, taking a train, a cab, a bus — any means of transportation to take you, “anywhere.” However, while listening to the actual lyrics of the song, it seems as though Ora is trying to tell the story of someone being trapped in a dream — almost like the dream is never-ending.
“Time flies by when the night is young/ Daylight shines on an unexposed location, location/ Bloodshot eyes lookin’ for the sun/ Paradise, we live it, and we call it a vacation, vacation/ You’re painting me a dream that I/ Wouldn’t belong in, wouldn’t belong in,” she sings in the opening verse of her song.
Ora continues on by singing how badly she wants to move away and go anywhere with the person whom the song is referencing. She craves so desperately to travel to a new location, where no one would know who they are. The soft EDM rhythm makes the song a definite pop tune, yet it’s not one you’ll find at a townhouse party. The song is more likely to heard on shuffle while walking to class — it will give you just the right amount of energy and inspiration to get through that 3:30 biology course.
“Anywhere” is a brief preview of what is to come in Ora’s forthcoming album, which is set to be released in 2018. According to Rolling Stone, Ora launched the Open Mic Project this past October, asking fans to submit personal stories of acceptance, inclusion and fear. Submissions will be accepted until Dec. 1. Ora will then co-create a song based off of pieces submitted to her and the single will be set to premiere before the 60th Grammy Awards on Jan. 28, 2018.
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