News | Entertainment
25 Apr 2024 23:42
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Rita Ora has no regrets about turning down the chance to compete in the 'Eurovision Song Contest' - insisting it wasn't the right "path" for her

    The pop star, 31, was an aspiring singer without a record deal when she was offered the chance to represent the UK at the annual competition back in 2009 and although she was initially "very excited" about the opportunity, she ultimately felt it wasn't the route to chart stardom she was looking for


    Speaking on the 'Coupledom with Idris and Sabrina Elba' podcast alongside her sister and manager Elena, she explained: "This was before I had even been offered a record deal.

    "It was an opportunity. It came up to audition in front of Andrew Lloyd Webber and I did it, and I got it.

    "I was very excited, but I also felt like it wasn't my time and that wasn't my route into the music industry. I know I was so young to make that decision, but something told me that it wasn't my path, so I didn't do it and said no.

    "I wanted to write songs and it didn't fit me. That was a decision we made together (with her sister and manager Elena) probably one of the first big decisions."

    Elena became Rita's manager just because the 'I Will Never Let You Down' hitmaker kept asking for her opinion and advice, and she thinks they make a great partnership.

    When asked how the sisters ended up working together, Elena said: "Rita would just ask for my opinion and then she started every day.

    "As creative as we are, it is impossible to do everything ... it really makes sense when she is negotiating numbers and I don't even have a clue what is happening - that is what a good team is, it's protecting you".

    After turning down 'Eurovision', Rita landed a record deal with Roc Nation and went on to released her first single with DJ Fresh, 'Hot Right Now', in 2012.

    Her debut album, 'Ora, was released later that year and hit number one on the UK singles chart.

    The UK was represented at 'Eurovision' 2009 by Jade Ewen who came fifth with the song 'It's My Time' and went on to become a member of 'Sugababes'.

    Rita and Elena appear on 'Sibling Revelry', the second episode of the second series of 'Coupledom with Idris and Sabrina Elba'. It is available to download now exclusively at http://www.audible.co.uk/Coupledom2.

    © 2024 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     25 Apr: Céline Dion has no idea when she will be able to get back to touring
     25 Apr: The original 'Blair Witch Project' cast are furiously demanding more cash from the ongoing horror franchise
     25 Apr: Tom Brady faces being mocked over his divorce from Gisele Bündchen and her new relationship as he's signed up to be brutally roasted in a Netflix special
     25 Apr: Tiffany Haddish secretly taunts her trolls from a fake X account
     25 Apr: Justin Bieber has said he will see rapper Chris King "in paradise" after the singer was shot dead
     25 Apr: Halle Bailey is so deep in the grip of "severe" postpartum depression she feels like she's drowning and suffers dissociation from her body
     25 Apr: Céline Dion feared it was her "fault" she had been afflicted with Stiff Person Syndrome when she was first diagnosed with the rare condition
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Miami Heat's caused a boilover in the first round of the NBA playoffs...beating the top ranked Celtics 111 to 101 in Boston to level their Eastern Conference series one-all More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Cheaper citrus fruit may be on the way for shoppers More...



     Today's News

    Basketball:
    The Oklahoma City Thunder are heading for a big win over the New Orleans Pelicans in Game 2 of their first round NBA play-off series 21:57

    Motoring:
    MetService has warned of snow on a number of South Island high passes overnight and into tomorrow 21:17

    International:
    Joe Biden has signed legislation banning TikTok, so what happens now? 19:37

    Environment:
    A vegetation fire near Dunedin remains contained, with one helicopter still battling the blaze 18:57

    Rugby League:
    A valiant Warriors comeback has fallen short...beaten 27-24 by the former bottom-of-the-table Gold Coast in their Anzac Day NRL encounter at Mt Smart 18:37

    Environment:
    The Rangitata rail bridge has reopened following a two week closure 18:07

    Motoring:
    A Waikato road will be closed for some time while a power pole is fixed 17:27

    Basketball:
    2021 NBL Championship winner Mitch McCarron is joining the Breakers on a two-year deal 17:17

    Cricket:
    The under-strength Black Caps aren't overly concerned about the result of their T20 series in Pakistan 16:17

    Rugby League:
    Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson has called on the Warriors to execute more accurately on attack 15:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd