"Radioactive" is a song by English singer Rita Ora from her debut studio album, Ora (2012). The song was written and produced by Greg Kurstin and Sia Furler. It was released as the fourth single from the album for digital download and streaming by Columbia and Roc Nation in the United States on 27 August 2012. A rhythmic upbeat neo-disco, pop and urban song, it received mixed to positive responses from music critics, who mostly applauded the music, sound and Ora's vocal delivery. The song reached the top 30 in Australia, the Flemish region of Belgium, Ireland, Scotland and the United Kingdom. It received a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in the UK and a gold certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) in Australia. A futuristic and science fiction-inspired music video for "Radioactive" premiered on 10 December 2012, depicting her as a robotic femme fatale in a post-apocalyptic landscape. The video was well received by critics, with praise concentrated on Ora's appearance and fashion.
Background and composition
"Radioactive" was written and produced by American producer Greg Kurstin and Australian singer Sia Furler. Columbia and Roc Nation distributed it as the fourth single of Ora's debut studio album Ora for digital download and streaming in the United States on 27 August 2012. Several remixes, which were done by Baggi Begovic, Lucien Foort, the Flexican, Waze & Odyssey and Zed Bias, accompanied the single's release as part of an extended play (EP) in Ireland and the United Kingdom on 8 February 2013. Musically, "Radioactive" is a rhythmic upbeat neo-disco, pop and urban song with a house production, starting with a 30-second opener and finishing with an electro sound.
Reception
Upon release, "Radioactive" received mixed to positive responses from music critics. Entertainment Focus' Carys Jones praised Ora's vocal delivery and the song's music, writing that "[it] sounds like Rita Ora, Jennifer Lopez, [Rihanna] and Nicki Minaj have all put their magic ingredients of creating a hit together into one big pot and served up a great big helping of urban-pop magic." Sam Lansky from Idolator viewed the song as the "standout" from Ora and highlighted its "pounding" production and "soaring" chorus. Amy Everett for Red similarly branded the song as a "standout" from the album and described it as a "dance anthem" with a "strong catchy" chorus. Julianne Escobedo Shepherd of Spin labeled the song as a "great [...] house bow" saying that "[it] winches nicely with Ora's [...] vocals." Robert Copsey from Digital Spy complimented the song's "euphoric" synths and "thumping" electro bass and explained that "Ora tak[es] on the role of [a] club diva." Alex Macpherson for Fact commented that Ora "attempt[ed] to cop the second-hand swag of every big name she can think of, [including] Lady Gaga's machinic hedonism on ['the song']." Lucy Jones of NME further commented, "Oh Wizadora, Kia-Ora, Understudy Rihanna, etc. 'We Found Love' this is not."
As Ora's sixth charting single in the UK, "Radioactive" debuted at number 60 on the UK Singles Chart issue dated 26 January 2013 and reached its peak at number 18 two weeks later. In 2022, it received a silver certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for selling 200,000 units in the UK. The song also reached number 12 on the Scottish Singles Chart and number 30 on the Irish Singles Chart. In Australia, it peaked at number 23 on the ARIA Singles Chart and also received a gold certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for selling more than 35,000 units. Elsewhere, the song reached number 20 in the Flemish region of Belgium and number 27 on the Billboard Global Dance Songs ranking.