Rita Ora's new song 'Girls' is a slam-dunk summer bop, but is its bisexual statement authentic?
Is Rita Ora on track already to claim the song of summer 2018? Based on the response to her latest single, “Girls,” which dropped Friday, things just may be looking in that direction.
Ora’s teamed up with Cardi B, Bebe Rexha, and Charli XCX for “Girls,” a song that can be interpreted as either a straight-out bisexual announcement or just a squad anthem about partying (there are numerous shoutouts to marijuana and alcohol).
However, with lyrics such as “I’m open-minded, I’m 50-50,” “She getting down with me, yeah,” “Tonight I don’t want a dog, I want a kitten,” and a chorus of “I just wanna kiss girls, girls, girls,” it’s hard not to lean toward the former.
Whatever the degree of seriousness is as a legitimate LGBTQ statement, fans seem to be delighted with the catchy jam, as well as the undeniably lighthearted titillation. All the elements add up to make the perfect summertime party / cruising / road trip / girls’ night out tune.
I am so here for this collab and am so excited to have a lesbian summer pop anthem! come through ladies! #girls @RitaOra @iamcardib @charli_xcx @BebeRexha pic.twitter.com/jlLSEK0B46
— Nick (@sincerelyshook) May 11, 2018
just dropped by to say @RitaOra's new single "GIRLS" ft. cardi b, bebe rexha and charli xcx is such a bop and issa mood bye
— keisha // ia bc finals week is coming (@snowsblizzard) May 11, 2018
Lesbian and Bisexual anthem Girls by Charli XCX, Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha, and Cardi B came out today. It’s a great day to be alive.
— its brandon bitch (@xlightcap) May 11, 2018
Song of the summer hands down! They definitely killed it! #GIRLSGIRLSGIRLS pic.twitter.com/KKe6yVaTfx
— James (@J_K_Wilson) May 11, 2018
#Girls by @RitaOra @iamcardib @charli_xcx and @BebeRexha is gonna be my Summer/Ibiza anthem ??
— Chay'Alexandra (@chayalexandra) May 11, 2018
Can we pls just appreciate @RitaOra new song Girls! My wig is snatched! I've been checking your instagram every day since she sung it at Radio 1. Literally cannot wait for the album babe. Ly so much! And thank you for releasing my get me through my GCSEs track #GirlsGirlsGirls
— Harry (@Justharry___) May 10, 2018
What I imagine the "Girls" music video will be like:#GIRLSGIRLSGIRLS pic.twitter.com/5PQNBxtZz8
— DJ-K (Kenji) #ENOUGH? (@Deejay_K88) May 11, 2018
Nothing like dancing and crying in my kitchen first thing in the morning to my new bi anthem #GIRLSGIRLSGIRLS
— Nic ???? (@DJMamaNic) May 11, 2018
The song, however, is coming under some criticism for misappropriating a true bisexual or lesbian statement. Ora noted that the song was inspired by Katy Perry’s 2008 hit “I Kissed a Girl,” which received fire for what some saw as piggybacking onto gay culture for attention (Perry has stated recently that she acknowledges the stereotypes she promoted with the song and would rewrite the lyrics today if she had the opportunity).
Hi yes Rita Ora’s PR people please call me so we can discuss what year it is and how I Kissed a Girl was a catchy but homophobic bop that we’d do well to stop emulating. pic.twitter.com/hK1LsmnWR1
— Madison Malone Kircher (@4evrmalone) May 11, 2018
girls writing songs about kissing girls who don’t kiss girls… maybe leave it to the girls who actually do? ?♀?
— Shannon Beveridge (@nowthisisliving) May 11, 2018
I don’t know how I feel about four straight (???) girls capitalizing off of sexualizing kissing women. #GIRLSGIRLSGIRLS
— yasmyn (@yasmyn55315923) May 11, 2018
A post shared by H A Y L E Y K I Y O K O (@hayleykiyoko) on May 11, 2018 at 12:42pm PDT
“Girls” is the fourth single from Ora’s sophomore album, which she put out after a two-year hiatus. This isn’t the first time that Charli XCX has worked with Ora — the two previously teamed up on Ora’s 2014 track “Doing It.” Cardi B released her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, earlier this month.
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