Rita Ora recently released a video for her new song, “Praising You,” directed by her husband, Taika Waititi. She revealed in an interview that she and Waititi fought because she was late to the video’s filming.
Ora said she first tried to get Spike Jonze, but he wasn’t available, so she decided to go with Waititi. The couple eventually devised the video’s concept while “lying down and watching a movie.” The music video features Ora as a dancer who arrives late and performs for Fatboy Slim.
Read on to find out more.
Rita Ora And Taika Waititi Fought Because Of The Video
Rita Ora has finally released a new song, “Praising You,” with an accompanying video directed by her husband, Taika Waititi. The new single is a modern remake of “Praise You,” the 1999 classic from Fatboy Slim.
During a recent interview on Heart FM, Ora was asked how the working relationship between her and Waititi was. She explained that almost everyone warned her not to work with a loved one, but she was determined to try.
Ora said, per Daily Mail, “You know what, I respect him, I admire his creative contribution, and we came up with a fun, not serious video, a bit like the original, just like a random dance party, that’s what this it.”
The interviewers then asked further if she and her husband had any tension while filming. She responded, “The only thing we had a tiff about was me being late on set because my makeup wasn’t going right; he was like, ‘Hurry up, we’re losing light, we’re losing light’! I was like, ‘I’m sorry!'”
They Came Up With The Concept Together
During another conversation with Apple Music, Ora said she initially tried to get Spike Jonze, but he wasn’t available. She said, “Taika is good seconds. I mean, I’ll take Taika. I’ll take him. It’s so cool to be able to collaborate with the ones that you respect. I love Taika’s brain. Do you know what I mean? That’s what I fell in love with.”
The “For You” singer shared that she and Waititi were “hanging out watching a movie” when they came up with the concept for the video. She shared, “I said, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to do something like all that jazz and fame?’ And he said, ‘Look, I would love that.’ And then we came up with the whole idea, and boom. We shot it all on film in one day in downtown LA.”
The Video Features Rita Ora And Fatboy Slim
In the video for “Praising You,” Ora is a dancer who arrives at an audition late and rushes to get changed. Before leaving the changing room, the singer gives herself a pep speech in the bathroom mirror. She says, “You want fame? Fame costs. Right here is where you start paying in sweat. I’m a professional; this is what I was born to do.”
When she finally gets on the floor, Ora’s character tries to motivate her fellow dancers by saying, “Now focus; we have come a long way to get here.” They all perform their dance routine for Fatboy Slim himself, who’s first unimpressed before being won over by their talent and upbeat performance.
Rita Ora Says Age Has Changed Her Mindset
During her conversation with Apple Music, Ora also said she’s become calmer and entered a better headspace since she entered her 30s. The actress said, “I call them the messy 20s because I sometimes think, with those mistakes, we wouldn’t be who we are today.”
The “Let You Love Me” singer said she’s finally at a point where she’s content and comfortable. Ora spoke about wanting to share these feelings with her fans. She noted, “I want people to feel safe hearing my music. I want people to feel free.”
Ora added, “I want to try spreading that sense of certainty. Do you know what I mean? Especially now more than ever. It feels good to have something to write about. It just started as a little diary, and it’s turned into this love story for my fans and anyone that wants to feel a bit of that.”
