Rita Ora has teamed up with her former The Voice Australia co-star, Keith Urban. As a devoted supporter of the country artist who is well-versed in his pop crossover collabs, I knew this song was going to be an infectious hit. The two artists have incredibly unique voices that, when blend together, create a harmonic soundscape that audiences fall in love with. “Shape Of Me” was originally featured as a track on Ora’s 2023 album, You & I. As a surprise for her mother’s birthday, whom the song is about, the singer decided to release a new version with the Australian artist. The sweet track is not only a homage to her mother and how she shaped Ora into the woman she is today but is also dedicated to all the women in her life that inspire her. Ora brought in Urban because not only is he a close friend and talented artist, but he is also surrounded by strong women, such as his wife and daughters, and has used his platform to advocate for women empowerment. Throughout the song, the lyrics highlight the singers’ appreciation for all of the women that who have positively shaped and impacted them. In the chorus, Ora quotes her mother’s encouraging words, as if she is saying them herself. Singing these uplifting lyrics creates the effect that Ora is singing directly to her listener, allowing them to feel the same levels of encouragement. When she wrote this track, it was the singer’s hope that her audience would be able to resonate with the message and play the song back to every woman that has changed their life. It is an emotional sentiment that sticks with the listener, bringing tears to their eyes. With Urban’s addition, the song becomes even more emotional and draws in listeners from a new genre and generation. “Shape of Me” is a beautiful song that is perfect for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and any other day dedicated to the admiration of women.
“Shape of You” contains a very dynamic and unique production, blending multiple genres, from pop and electronica to rock and soul. The instrumentation played on repeat in my mind, compelling me to continuously replay the track, as I could not get enough of the infectious melody. Compared to the original release, the soundscape is nearly identical. However, one unique aspect about Keith Urban’s music is his impressive guitar skills. He is almost known more for this talent than his singing—mesmerizing audiences at live performances and even giving away guitars to audience members. So, it comes as no surprise that when Ora reached out to him with the idea for the collaboration, Urban’s first question was, “can I play guitar too?” and he absolutely nailed it. The electrifying guitar solo is heard in the outro, closing out the track with an unforgettable piece of himself. It leaves the song with Urban’s legendary mark, while staying true to Ora’s iconic pop sound. The two artists are a cohesive match, in both vocals and production style, leaving fans desiring more collaborations between the pair.
Rita Ora is one of the UK’s most successful modern pop singer-songwriters. Her debut album, Ora, was released in 2012. This album topped the UK charts and included two #1 UK singles. She has also dabbled in acting, taking on projects such as Fast & Furious 6, the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, and Southpaw. On July 14, 2023, Ora released her 12-track album, You & I, with each song co-written by the singer. This is her first album under her partnership with BMG, which provides her ownership over all her future master recordings and allows her a new level of artistic freedom that she has never experienced before. This makes her new era of music even more meaningful and intimate than her previous releases. Keith Urban is a country music icon, hailing from Australia. He has four Grammy Awards, fifteen Academy of Country Music Awards, thirteen CMA awards, and six Aria Awards. He earned a nomination at the 70th Golden Globe Awards and the 18th Critics’ Choice Awards for the Best Original Song categories for his song “For You”, written for the film Act of Valor. The artist debuted in 1991 with his self-titled album and has become one of country music most adored artists. He has 12 studio albums, including one with his previous band, The Ranch. He has collaborated with a diverse group of artists from all types of genres, including personal favorites such as Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Lindsay Ell, and Jillian Jaqueline. Follow both artists on social media to keep up-to-date with new releases and announcements!
Written By Karlee Skipper
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