International pop star Rita Ora has gifted us with a texturally rich, emotionally gripping track with her latest release “You & I.” Brought to life by her signature, powerful delivery and a glimmering backdrop of production genius, this track is everything you could want and more from a pop ballad. Trailed by her impressive, diverse, and long-standing career, this song not only holds up but enhances the versatility of her style.
A distorted, echoing set of drum hits invites us into the song. A few synth chords provide tonality as Rita Ora begins the verse: “I used to listen to the love songs on repeat / Tryna figure out how they would work for me / I just wanted to dance with somebody / Somebody who loved me.” The words are equally poetic and relatable, immersing the listener in an imaginative atmosphere. Not to mention, her vocal performance is clear, emotive, and overall spot-on. As we gently float toward the chorus, other instrumentation builds suspense (i.e. piano and strings). By the time we actually reach it, percussion fades and washy, dreamy synth textures take over. Rita Ora belts each word with conviction and warm rasp. The bubbling synths have a 1980s, retro sort of feel, and sans drums, they do a fantastic job of propelling the momentum forward. Once the drums eventually rejoin, the song only gets more anthemic and uplifting.
Be sure to give this song a listen! You’ll be blown away by the raw, emotional gravity of every facet. Plus, you’ll have the perfect love song to add to your summer playlist.
Written by Alyce Lindberg
