"Being nostalgic for the future means that someone holds an optimistic view of what's to come."
Dua Lipa blessed us with Future Nostalgia, an album that captures your attention with its beautiful album cover and disco vibes. It’s outside beauty can be found even in the pop sound and catchy lyrics of songs such as ‘Love Again’ that gives me Abba’s vibes, ‘Don’t Start Now’, ‘Levitate’ and ‘Future Nostalgia’, the song that introduces you to the album.
You want a timeless song, I wanna change the game
Like modern architecture, John Lautner coming your way
I know you like this beat 'cause Jeff been doing the damn thing
You wanna turn it up loud, future nostalgia is the name- ‘Future nostalgia’
Reading the analysis of the album and it’s art work , it’s easy to find Dua’s inspirations. The cover artwork takes you back to the 50s - 60s where the Googie was popular and trends focused on cars. The album’s sound is influenced by the music Dua used to listen to when she was younger. The album features a song called ‘Boys will Be Boys’ that talks about today’s reality: being harassed by men on the street on a daily basis.
It's second nature to walk home before the sun goes down
And put your keys between your knuckles when there's boys around
Isn't it funny how we laugh it off to hide our fear
When there's nothin' funny here.
Dua Lipa shares her experience talking about the song:
“For me, the growing pains of what it’s like to be a girl, was walking home from school and putting keys through my knuckles … So much of the human experience for women revolves around men; how they make us feel, whether that is good or bad. Girls have to go through so much. You cover up yourself to avoid confrontation from men, avoid sexual harassment, people throwing words or catcalling. We change our ways to fit somebody else’s lifestyle. It’s really sad.”
This can be considered sadly the most relatable song off the album but it’s also the most powerful because Dua sheds a light on something us women and girls have to go through. Something that still brings shame and blame on the victims and doesn’t punish the predators.