Dua Lipa follows her disco-splashed hit single ‘Don’t Start Now’ with yet another infectious retro number ‘Physical’.

Whereas ‘Don’t Start Now’ invoked the euphoric, jivey beats of the disco era, ‘Physical’ is a slower, more sensual attempt at recreating the eighties. Seeing how Lipa has announced that her second studio album Future Nostalgia is set to explore how the memories of the past fuse together with the aspirations of the future, it is hardly surprising to see the British pop sensation experiment with synth-based groovy sounds that transport listeners back to the dancy-heavy momentum of the eighties. Lipa’s sound has been extensively praised for reintroducing pure pop goodness into the mainstream, with her raw, unique voice having become emblematic of girl power, self-love, and the you-only-live-once lifestyle.  

Dua Lipa’s first studio album, self-titled as Dua Lipa, went on to become one of the most successful debut albums by any female artist in the history of British music, with ‘New Rules’ becoming a household sensation in terms of its billion views on Youtube, its performance across global charts and its theme of female friendship that won over a million hearts across the world. Winning the prestigious award of ‘Best New Artist’ at the Grammys’ cemented her as one of the most charismatic, incredible artists on the rise, unprecedented since the likes of Adele ten years ago now. So Lipa’s first album was always going to be a tough act to follow yet Lipa has taken on the challenge winningly with her first two singles. 

‘Physical’ is moody and mysterious, with the loud synth machine adding an element of intrigue into the composition. Shades of Brit alternative rock can also be detected among the guitar work, whereas the chorus is just a blast of energy in which Lipa is pleading to the crowd, getting them up on their feet, demanding to dance the night away. Her voice is as dynamic and compelling as expected, being the perfect vehicle for such a dance anthem. Speaking on the single in question, Dua Lipa has said;

It's fun, you can dance to it, It's definitely my craziest of high energy songs.” 

  Singer-songwriter 

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.