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 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic back in 2020. Without a doubt, Dua Lipa created, in my opinion, one of the most decade-defining pop albums of the 21st century. This record was riddled with nostalgia and familiar sounds that defined popular culture of the past decades. Future Nostalgia, Lipa’s sophomore album, consisted of some of the most addictive synths and disco-influenced sounds, making the general listener feel as if they were a movie character from the 80’s. Especially at the height of the pandemic, the public was eager to listen to music that moved the soul away from the current state of the world.

Lipa’s lead single off her successful Future Nostalgia, Don't Start Now, was definitely an earworm 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. Following the success of her lead single, she continued with other smash singles, entering the charts at various peak positions.

But of all the singles from her iconic disco-influenced era, there was one 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 left one room, you were met with it again from a different source. Levitating became one of the biggest hits not only of 2021, but in the history of modern music. Dua Lipa delivered what is, in my opinion, one of the best pop eras and albums of all time.

What about Future Nostalgia captivated so many? In the early years of the 2020s, a disco and synth revival could be seen in the work of many artists. Artists such as The Weeknd and Doja Cat were at the forefront of this revival of nostalgic sounds and beats. Dua Lipa happened to release her lead single before the disco revival became overused, as claimed by many. But above all, she paired this album with iconic performances and career-defining moments. She created her own category within the revival of past sounds.

I’d say she put her own futuristic take on nostalgia. Her songs sounded familiar, but also felt unheard of. It was like déjà vu, but you couldn’t quite tell whether you were listening to the past or the future. It felt like music created in the ’80s, but designed to exist in the 2020s.

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

Music Rewind: Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia

En Route