Review: Dua Lipa - ‘Future Nostalgia’
DUA LIPA
FUTURE NOSTALGIA
Inspired by Disco and legends of Pop’s past. Dua Lipa has combined retro grooves with forward-thinking and progressive lyricism to craft an absolute masterpiece.
★★★★★
Dua Lipa’s self-titled debut saw the young popstar rise through the ranks. Swiftly becoming a fully-fledged headliner and arena-sized act. To move forward, she’s taken a glance over her shoulder and found inspiration in Pop’s golden decades. These nostalgic sounds are layered with progressive themes and lyrics to create one of the greatest Pop albums in recent history. A modern classic.
In the midst of global uncertainty and turmoil sometimes the best medicine is just a slice of pure joy. Future Nostalgia provides that in bucket loads, it's a party from start to finish. The singles; ‘Don’t Stop Now’ (a disco-infused club banger), ‘Physical’ (a modern reinterpretation of 80s spandex workouts) and ‘Break My Heart’ (a foot-stomping, INXS sampling, luscious ode to funk) shine bright.
It's no exaggeration that the album is all killer and zero filler. Whether it's the silky smooth, modern gleam of ‘Cool’, the slow-jam pleads of ‘Pretty Please’ or the White Town sampling, 90’s vogue of ‘Love Again’. One thing is constant, and that's the album's commitment to being simply pure pop perfection. Oh, and not to mention Dua’s incredible velvety vocals.
That’s not to say there isn’t a deeper meaning behind these Pop gems. Dua is an undisputed female icon and in a similar vein to Lizzo and Gaga she’s turning the dated idea of a conventional female pop star on its head. With ‘Future Nostalgia’ she’s not afraid to question the patriarchal bias and sexism rife in both ‘the industry’ and society as a whole. She quickly establishes herself as ‘a female alpha’ on the title track. Meanwhile, she brings female sexuality and desire to the forefront with the unapologetic ‘Good in Bed’ as she sings of getting ‘good pipe in the moonlight’.
The most impactful moment, however, is the absolutely divine ‘Boys Will Be Boys’. Notable for its impactful social-commentary. Dua talks through a walk home with ‘your keys between your knuckles when there's boys around’, which will sadly be relatable for far too many women. The song features some incredibly powerful and timely lyricism that showcases the evolution Dua has made as an artist over the past five years. My only complaint with the song is that it’s just not long enough, an extended outro or added verse would have truly turned it into an epic and potential operatic finale for the record. If you think about it though, wanting more of a good thing, is not a complaint at all.
‘Future Nostalgia’ as a concept was absolutely ingenious, Dua has paid homage to some of the genre’s past greats such as Prince, Madonna, and Chic whilst skyrocketing their sound into an exciting new decade. With just two records, Dua Lipa has established herself as a Pop royalty. Not just one of the greatest pop stars of her own generation, but of all time. ‘Future Nostalgia’ is living proof and I can’t wait to hit the dancefloor with her in 2021.