Soul Survivor

Album: Phoenix (2018)
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Songfacts®:

  • It's been seven long years fighting for your attention
    Manipulated by fear and misdirection
    Wrapped in your ugly chains, swore you'd rise me to heaven
    Brought me nothing but pain, was that your intention?


    In 2008, Rita Ora signed with Roc Nation record label and released her debut album, Ora. However, in December 2015, the singer started legal proceedings against the label, claiming they failed to support her career and seeking release from her contract. She eventually came to an agreement with Roc Nation, parted ways with them and signed a contract with Atlantic Records. This song tells the story of her label woes.
  • In the song's chorus Ora sings of being a "soul survivor" who "started with nothing" and has "nothing to lose." Asked by The Guardian if she really feels like she had nothing to lose? The singer replied: "Yes, I lost a lot of confidence in myself. I thought: 'What am I going to do?'"
  • The female empowerment anthem was initially called "Sole Survivor," Ora felt it was much easier to relate to "Soul Survivor" so she renamed it with that title.
  • "Soul Survivor" soundtracked the first-ever Super Bowl ad for Bumble, a dating app in which female users make the first contact with matched male users. The commercial stars tennis champ Serena Williams, whose push for women to take charge is coupled with footage of her on the court.

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