Music Rewind: Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia

Nostalgia is a feeling known to many, as it creeps up in the presence of music or an old photograph. Many yearned for a sense of nostalgia in the height of the Covid-19 pandemic back in 2020. With no doubt, Dua Lipa created, in my opinion, one of the most decade and pop defining albums of the 21st century, that evoked these feelings of nostalgia of the past. Future Nostalgia, Lipa’s sophomore album, consisted of some of the most addictive synths and disco influenced sounds, that made the general listener feel as if they were some movie character of the 80’s. Especially in the height of the pandemic, the general public was eager to listen to music that moved the soul away from the current state of the world. 

Pictured: Dua Lipa After her 2021 Grammy Performance

Lipa’s lead single off her successful Future Nostalgia, Don’t Star Now, was definitely an ear worm that captivated the general public. Soaring to the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, Don’t Start Now became one of 2020’s biggest hits. Followed by the success of her lead single, she followed up with other smash singles, entering the charts at various peak positions. 

But of all the singles of her iconic disco influenced era, there was one single in particular that had every listener levitating at some point in time. Levitating’s success was unmatched by any single released by Lipa during this era. In my opinion, the success of this single solidified her as the Princess of Modern Disco. This song was inescapable, because as you escaped one room, you were met with the song again from a different source. Levitating became one of the biggest hits of not only 2021, but in the history of modern music. Dua Lipa delivered to be, in my opinion, one of the best pop eras and albums of all time.

What about Future Nostalgia captivated many? In the early years of the 2020’s decade, the disco and synths revival was seen in the work and music of many artists. Artists such as The Weeknd and Doja Cat were on the forefront of this revival of nostalgic sounds and beats. Dua Lipa happened to put out her lead single at a time before the disco revival became overused, as claimed by many. But above all, Dua Lipa accompanied this album, with iconic performances and career defining moments. She created her own category within the revival of the sounds of the past. I’d say she put her own futuristic take on nostalgia. Her songs sounded familiar, but also seemed unheard of. It felt like deja vu in a way, but one couldn’t put their hands as to whether they were listening to the past or the future. It felt like a song created in the 80’s, that was meant to feel like it was created in the 2020s decade. 

All I know is that this record worked, broke records, and resulted in Lipa receiving a Grammy Award for it. Lipa was able to bring a sense of nostalgia to many who feared the future at the time of this record's release. Five years later, we all now are nostalgic of the era and record that brought us comfort and it feels like a distant memory of the past? Or the future?