The pop star, who was supposed to represent Britain at the singing contest in 2009, reveals that she was actually ‘very excited’ about the chance but she ‘felt like it wasn’t [her] route into the music industry.’
AceShowbiz –Rita Ora has no regrets about turning down the chance to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. The “I Will Never Let You Down” hitmaker insisted that it wasn’t the right “path” for her.
The 31-year-old pop star was an aspiring singer without a record deal when she was offered the chance to represent the U.K. at the annual competition back in 2009. 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, Rita explained, “This was before I had even been offered a record deal.” She added, “It was an opportunity. It came up to audition in front of [composer] 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,” Rita elaborated. “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.”
Rita explained more, “I wanted to write songs and it didn’t fit me.” The “Anywhere” songstress added, “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 “Let You Love Me” 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,” Elena told host Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina. “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 U.K. singles chart.
The U.K. 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.
Source: Read Full Article