Radioactive (Rita Ora song)

In July 2012, it was announced that "Radioactive" would serve as the third single from Ora in the United States.[2] In November 2012, it was confirmed that "Radioactive" would serve as the fourth single from Ora in the United Kingdom.[3] The cover artwork for the song was revealed on 9 January 2013. It features Ora against a backdrop of colorful stars.[1] Sia Furler and Greg Kurstin wrote the song, while Greg Kurstin was the producer.

"Radioactive" received favorable reviews from music critics. According to a reviewer of Metro, "Radioactive is a dancefloor-ready track that is more about the beat than the lyrics or any deeper meaning behind them". An example is when she sings: "‘I’m checking you out in your sweet desire/I’m coming over to make you mine/It’s a crime boy, you’re so fine/I’m taking you out, boy, it’s a green light/I’m glad you came over, it was about time/It feels right, boy you’re so fine".[4]

Scott Kara from New Zealand Herald found it a highlight on the album and called it a "serenade" track.[5] Robert Corpsey from Digital Spy said he sees her in "Guetta-style dancefloor mode". He found the song a highlight on the album.[6] Jon O'Brien from Yahoo! Music called it a "gleaming neo-disco number".[7] Laurence Green from MusicOMH was very positive towards his statements of the song, calling it a "David Guetta-esque euro-techno" song and branded it "excellent".[8]

Entertainment Focus gave it an acclaimed review, awarding the song five stars out of five, saying "This is such a catchy track that will be sure to blow up the charts and we are sure that it will also be a massive smash in the club land too [...] This is the perfect song to stick on whilst getting ready for a big Friday night out. Well done Rita Ora, this is simply a fantastic song that will appeal to most that hear it and it makes us want to get our party shoes on!".[9] A reviewer from musiceyz.co.uk stated personally: "it’s my favourite song that Rita Ora has released and I have heard by her so far, there is just something about it that makes it so easy to listen to. The simplicity of it is what makes it so big".[10]

"Radioactive" was released in UK on 11 February 2013 as the fourth single from Ora. It reached No. 18 in the UK Singles Chart.[11] The track was serviced to Australian radio only four weeks after "Shine Ya Light", and has peaked at No. 73 on the "Australian Radio Airplay Chart".[12] It was released as the third single from Ora in the US on 26 February 2013 via digital download .[13]

The music video, directed by Syndrome,[14] premiered on YouTube on 10 December 2012, at a total length of four minutes and twenty-two seconds.[15] The music video features intense animation and graphics, along with futuristic fashion and robotics. There are several different scenarios in the video; the first one, Ora stands in a nuclear cloud and forms the word "Radioactive" whilst animated rings circle her; the next she is in a chair in a barren wasteland, which is made to look like it has been destroyed by a nuclear explosion, and there are two men in gasmaks holding torn flags; the next, we see Ora in a high-tech room, with animated figures of people being created and a rotating head of Ora with animatronic parts; and the last scene, Ora is riding through a tunnel on a motorbike. On 18 December 2012, a behind-the-scenes video was posted on her official VEVO page.[16]

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics