British singer, songwriter and model Dua Lipa is known for her powerful voice and diverse music styles. She rose to fame in 2017 with her self-titled debut album, released on August 22, 1995 in London. Hit songs such as Be the One and New Rules showcased her distinctive voice and catchy pop sound.
With her unique melodies and impressive vocals, Dua Lipa has taken over the music world. No matter where you are, whether you’re in a crowded club, dancing in your living room or hanging out with friends, her music makes you feel like you’re floating on the dance floor. As the pop sensation celebrates 29 years, here’s a list of Dua Lipa’s best songs, each with its own unique appeal that will get you grooving on the dance floor.
1. Don’t start now
The catchy disco-pop hit catapulted Dua Lipa to the pinnacle of pop royalty with Don’t Start Now. A groovy bassline and powerful vocals combine to create a danceable song that reflects grief and perseverance. The song exemplifies Dua Lipa’s ability to combine passion and extreme energy, making it a departure from her Grammy-winning Future Nostalgia phase.
2. Flying
While Dua has never been one to fully embrace social media (although we love her Instagram grid of holiday photos), Levitating got a huge boost as TikTok took over during the pandemic. Although it peaked at No. 5 in the UK, it reached No. 2 in the US and became her biggest single overseas.
3. Cold Heart
Dua’s third No. 1 single bridged the gap between pop’s past and future, as the era of Future Nostalgia came to an end. Cold Heart was a joyous celebration, incorporating many hits from Elton John’s career (Rocket Man, Kiss the Bridge, Sacrifice, Where’s the Shura?). However, let’s not forget that Dua didn’t perform with Elton at Glastonbury. It’s still sad.
4. Physical
Dua Lipa’s ‘Physical’ is strong, bold and modern, paying homage to the 1980s while keeping it current. With a catchy chorus, the dance-pop and synth-pop track is one of the most popular singles from her album Future Nostalgia. Due to the song’s catchy melody and fast tempo, listeners are encouraged to embrace their inner strength and overcome inhibitions, resulting in it becoming increasingly popular.
5. Hallucinations
Dua Lipa’s vibrant pop single Hallucinate from Future Nostalgia features funky basslines, groovy beats and her distinctive sensual vocals. The lyrics which evoke a strong, almost hallucinogenic yearning add to the song’s enduring appeal.
6. Don’t start now
It’s a great way to kick off a new album era. Don’t Start Now’s restrained, stylish trailer shook the foundations of pop in the weeks leading up to the album’s release. The album was confident and impressive, and it took Dua’s debut album cycle to a whole new level (in terms of visuals and sound).
Dua’s Don’t Start Now was a pivotal moment in her rise to pop stardom, but perhaps its greatest legacy was helping to usher in a full-blown disco revival alongside tracks from The Weeknd (Blinding Lights) and Doja Cat (Say So).
7. A kiss
Like any major pop star, Dua used the momentum of her first big hit to create an even bigger second hit, and for that, she chose the best producer possible.
What makes a song of the summer? Could it be a retro production that takes you back to Ibiza? Does its main star have a sweet, mellow voice? Do you want a chorus that stays in your head for days? One Kiss used all of these to its advantage (best part of the song? The way the chorus just gets louder and louder until you have a stroke by the end of it) and it used everything to its advantage.
Their second UK Number 1 single (and Calvin’s ninth!) is their most successful single to date in the Official Charts, claiming a total of 3.4 million chart units, including 376 million audio and video streams (the most of any Dua song) and over 279,000 downloads.
8. New Rules
The timing was right for New Rules. While Dua had garnered serious hype (getting nominated for a Brits Critics’ Choice Award and making the BBC’s Sound of…2016 longlist), it hadn’t yet translated into crossover success. Sean Paul collabs No Lie and Be the One had cracked the Top 10, but when her self-titled debut album arrived, it was all about New Rules.
It also came with a classic music video (Dua and her girlfriends are trapped in a torture chamber, following the rules until they’re no longer enforced), and New Rules became the first number one song by a British woman in two years because Dua seized the moment and the momentum. As a result, she began a new phase of her career. Even though it’s her most-streamed song and video to date (47 million video streams), it still pales in comparison.
10. Break My Heart
Break My Heart is a disco-infused pop song in which Dua ponders whether she will regret leaving her current relationship. The song’s lively sound and easy-going lyrics helped make it a huge commercial success.
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