Rita Ora has included old family footage in her latest music video as a birthday tribute to her mum.
Rita Ora has included old family footage in her latest music video as a birthday tribute to her mum
The singer was born to psychiatrist Vera Bajraktari and her pub landlord dad Besnik Sahatçiu in the former Yugoslavia in 1990, and her new track ‘Shape of You’, featuring Keith Urban, comes with a promo filled with clips of the star in her youth which she created to mark her mother’s 60th.
She posted on X alongside a link to her new video: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM! We’ve been through everything together, you’ve always been such a beautiful inspiration in my life and in my music.
“I wanted to write a song about you for the longest time, so when ‘Shape of Me’ was written by me and the ‘You and I’ writing squad for my album and released I was finally able to share so much that I’ve been feeling about you.
“It really became clear how much love you’ve shown me and how much you've taught me over the years!!
“SO, what better way to say HBD then to share a new version of it with the AMAZING @KeithUrban.
“He helped me make it that much more special as this song is also showing appreciation to all the women in your life!
“So surprise mum this one is for you! Happy 60th!”
Rita also added the lyrics from the track to her post: “Yeah my mama got that heart, she said don't let go of the parts that keep you younger… .”
Rita’s co-writer on the track Keith was also her fellow mentor on ‘The Voice Australia’.
The tune also sees Rita sing: “She said, don’t you worry, babe, You’ve got my blood in your veins, I’ll be here to catch you, When your world is just about to break.”
Due to conflict in Yugoslavia, Vera and Besnik relocated the family from what is now Kosovo shortly after Rita's birth and moved to Notting Hill, London, where the singer’s dad went into the pub trade.
Rita would later use the pub as a platform to showcase her voice during open mic sessions, whilst her parents enrolled her into the Sylvia Young Theatre School to hone her performing talents.
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