Music Review: Future Nostalgia
In her sophomore album, ‘Future Nostalgia’ continues to do what Dua Lipa does best. Not only is she the honest voice guiding us through the ups and downs of relationships, attraction and love, but somehow manages to do so in a way that gets you dancing, smiling and even forgetting why you relate to her songs in the first place.
In what could be described as the sequel to 2017’s ‘New Rules’, ‘Don’t Start Now’ was released as the first single from this album. This provided an insight into the ‘80s disco sound that can be expected from the remainder of the record. The song peaked at #2 on Billboard’s Top 100, becoming her first entry in the list’s Top 3. Although it contains messages that reinforce the importance of moving on from a past partner and how to be content with this transition, it is the attitude that the starlet promotes that should be embraced.
Lipa’s success continued with the release of ‘Physical’, a track that takes inspiration from Olivia Newton-John’s song of the same name. Accompanied by a sexy exercise video (resembling the aerobics DVD that your parents probably would’ve owned in the ‘80s), it could convince anyone to join the workout.
This disco-pop influence saturates the album, and even uses samples from various decades of the genre. With the addition of techno music, the sound that is created truly reflects the album’s name: an ode to the past, mixed with a modern twist. Through catchy hooks and funky rhythms, the soundtracks show how fun and exciting it can be to jump to a new chapter in your life as heard in ‘Love Again’, or the nerves one feels when allowing yourself to potentially be hurt in ‘Break My Heart’.
The songstress even has the power to turn a confronting ballad about male privilege into a symphonic tune, through ‘Boys Will Be Boys’. She describes the struggles girls have to deal with growing up, in hopes of starting a conversation about female empowerment. Since it is the album’s concluding song, it leaves listeners with an important message to think about. It is moving to see the pop-artist use her platform to discuss issues that women battle in their daily lives, whilst allowing the British artist to go beyond her usual topics of love and heartbreak.
Although only her second album, it is clear that Queen Dua Lipa is a voice the music industry needs. She has earned a seat in the court of pop royalty, with ‘Future Nostalgia’ proving that she is deserving of a crown.
Rating: 4/5