Album Title: Future Nostalgia
Artist: Dua Lipa
Record Company: Warner Records UK
Release Date: March 27, 2020
Genre: Pop, Dance-pop
Format: Music Album
Length: 11 tracks / 37 minutes, 13 seconds
Reading Level/Interest Level: N/A
Awards or Honors:
Grammy Award Winner: Best Pop Vocal Album (2021)
Brit Award Winner: British Album of the Year, British Female Solo Artist (2021)
Album Description
Future Nostalgia is an 11-song album inspired by music that Dua Lipa listened to growing up (Future Nostalgia, 2022). With nods to 80s music, disco, and dance-pop hits, the album features high-energy beats and vocals. A mix of a futuristic and retro aesthetic, each song combines genres to make the listener feel as though the song is both brand new and a classic hit. One of the major themes explored in this album is the joy and heartbreak of love, with many songs centering around relationships and the ups and downs of being in love. The other common theme seen throughout this album is strength, self-confidence, and the struggles of being a woman.
Artist Background
Dua Lipa is an English singer born in London. Her parents are Kosovar Albanians who were refugees from Serbian persecution in the 1990s. After returning to Kosovo at the age of 11, Dua eventually went back to London four years later to pursue her education. She secured a manager and record deal in 2015, and went on to release her first single, New Love, that same year. Her first album, which was self-titled, was released in 2017. Future Nostalgia is her second album (Biography.com editors, 2021).
Critical Evaluation
I loved everything about this album. I’m a big fan of 80s pop music, so this mix of 80s beats with 90s hip hop and dance tracks hit the perfect sweet spot for my musical taste. From a more objective point of view, there is a mix of genres happening in each song, but it’s done in a seamless way that incorporates sampling of different sounds, various instruments, and her vocal range. Her music is also extremely catchy, with many songs as featured sounds on TikTik. In terms of lyrics, she explores a lot of things that I think teens will be drawn to, such as the ups and downs of relationships and what it feels like to be in love and experience heartbreak. There was one song in particular that really stuck with me, Boys Will Be Boys, that speaks about the pressures on women to grow up quickly, the pains of dealing with sexual assault, fears of violence, societal expectations, and just the patriarchy in general. I think young women in particular will resonate with what she discusses in this song and feel empowered to stand up for themselves. For me, this whole album felt like a girl-power anthem that is sure to be beloved by fans for years to come.
Creative Use for a Library Program
Led by an enthusiastic teen volunteer, hold a dance-workout class at the library. Available virtually or in person, dress in your 80s or 90s best workout gear and get some exercise in, featuring Future Nostalgia.
Speed-Round Table Talk
Get ready to dance your heart out with this homage to 80s and 90s pop. The British pop-queen has done it again with an album made for dancing, singing in the car, and rocking out with friends. If you love Blondie, Gwen Stefani, Madonna, and Prince, you’re sure to love Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation
While there are no challenges to this item, there is one explicit song that parents will most likely find problematic. Good In Bed is a song that discusses sex and has one curse word, but since this is the only explicit song on the album I still have no issues recommending it to teens. If this got brought up as a challenge by a patron, I would say that listening preferences are between teens and their parents and it is not my place to censor an item because I think someone might find an issue with it.
Reason for Inclusion
I initially chose this album because of its six Grammy nominations, but once I listened to it I was sure it was a good choice. I work at a dance studio and so many of the songs are ones I hear every day but didn’t realize who the artist was. Lots of teens dance at the studio so I figured that Dua Lipa must be relatively popular with this age group to have so many of her songs played in class. I also wholeheartedly enjoyed this album, the music style, and the lyrics.
References
Aesthetic Vibes 89 [@Aesthetic_vibes_1989]. Dua Lipa [Image]. Pinterest. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/350928995976086111/
Araujo, S. (2021, March 21). "You wanna turn it up loud
Future Nostalgia is the name" [Image]. Tumblr. https://pijamakills.tumblr.com/post/646327105448181760/you-wanna-turn-it-up-loud-future-nostalgia-is-the
Biography.com editors. (2021, December 2). Dua Lipa. https://www.biography.com/musician/dua-lipa
Dua Lipa. (2020, March 6). Dua Lipa - let’s get physical work out (official video) [video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvVonQ7LUJ0&t=164s
Dua Lipa [@dualipa]. (2022, April 27). The UK so far…[Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc3xccXsmVh/
Future Nostalgia. (2022, May 7). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Future_Nostalgia&oldid=1086685242
Lipa, D. (2020). Future nostalgia [Album Cover]. Warner Records UK. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Future-Nostalgia-Dua-Lipa/dp/B083XVFM3F
Lozano, E. [@esterssish]. (2020, November 15). 'Future nostalgia' album tracks as vhs by me i've been all day doing this @DUALIPA love you which one [Image]. Twitter. https://mobile.twitter.com/Esterssish/status/1328067074418208774/photo/1
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