Don't Start Now (Dua Lipa song)

"Don't Start Now" is a song by English singer Dua Lipa from her second studio album, Future Nostalgia (2020). Lipa wrote the track with Caroline Ailin, Emily Warren, and its producer Ian Kirkpatrick. The song was released for digital download and streaming by Warner Records on 31 October 2019 as the lead single from the album. "Don't Start Now" is a nu-disco song with a percolating funk bassline, inspired by music by the Bee Gees, Daft Punk and Two Door Cinema Club. It has numerous 1980s and disco tropes in its production, including handclaps, a crowd noise, cowbell, synth bursts and accented strings. Its lyrics find Lipa celebrating her independence and instructing a former lover to forget about their past relationship.

The track received positive reviews upon its release; many reviewers noted significant growth in Lipa's sound and vocals. Critics also favoured its 1980s and disco elements for standing out among pop releases at the time. At the upcoming 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, "Don't Start Now" is nominated in three categories—Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance—marking Lipa's first nod in all three. The song peaked at number two on both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100, surpassing 2017's "New Rules" to become her highest-charting single in the US. It spent a total of 20 weeks in the top 10 on the US Hot 100 chart. In the UK, it registered the fourth-longest top 10 stay on the chart, and broke a record for the most weeks spent in the top 10 without reaching number one. Internationally, the song charted in the top 10 on charts in 40 countries, including number-one peaks in seven countries. The single is certified Multiplatinum in 12 countries, including Triple Diamond in Brazil.

The music video for "Don't Start Now" was directed by Nabil Elderkin, and features point-of-view and high-angle shots of Lipa dancing at a crowded nightclub and masquerade ball. To promote the single, Lipa performed it on many television programmes and awards shows, including the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards, the 2019 American Music Awards and the 2019 Mnet Asian Music Awards. Numerous remixes have accompanied the song, including ones by Dom Dolla, Kungs and Regard. An extended version of the song was released: titled "Live in LA", it featured a 19-piece band and was accompanied by a music video directed by Daniel Carberry.

Writing and production
Dua Lipa wrote "Don't Start Now" with the same team who wrote her 2017 single "New Rules": Caroline Ailin, Emily Warren and Ian Kirkpatrick. The song came about after the A&R head at Lipa's record label, Joe Kentish, challenged Kirkpatrick in late 2018 to recreate the success of "New Rules". The first writing session took place after Warren invited Ailin and Kirkpatrick to her home in Wyoming to attend a disco night at a local dive bar. The next morning they decided to write a disco song as "it's the most fun to dance to." Kirkpatrick also worked with producer J Kash, inviting several writers to help find a sound for the track, which became a back-and-forth between 1980s and disco music. They contemplated emulating music by Madonna, and created more than 10 reference tracks for Lipa to sample and choose from. The song was eventually written with Lipa in January 2019.

The cowbell used on the track was present on the first demo and inspired by music by Two Door Cinema Club. Kirkpatrick based it on Lipa's phrasing in the chorus. According to him, the strings are a combination of Kontakt Session Strings, "some weird Nexus 1970s string patch", and live strings. Although the bassline of "Don't Start Now" sounds live, Kirkpatrick created it with MIDI. It was influenced by similar basslines used by the Bee Gees and Daft Punk that he had listened to in his youth. Kirkpatrick used a Scarbee MM-Bass plug-in for the leading bass sound and played it on a keyboard before modifying it. He wanted to eschew disco for a more 1990s sound in the pre-chorus by adding sub-bass combined with thumb bass guitar and slaps in the drop from Trilian.

Lipa recorded most of her vocals with a Shure SM7 microphone. Kirkpatrick said he understood the song better after Lipa sang it and was told by Kentish that the bridge sounded like an "after-thought". He thus spent a further two weeks completing the track before sending stems to Josh Gudwin for mixing. To improve the bridge, Kirkpatrick added a "vocal chop", and extra drums inspired by "Can't Feel My Face" by The Weeknd. He recalled, "The first version of the drums didn't sound as fat. I was worried that the song would sound too disco, too classic. It needed something new, to make it the perfect mix of old and new." Kirkpatrick had a separate project for the chord progression before the drop to help him decide which combination of piano and synths to use. For this section, he went through 25 different sounds and incorporated them into four. His final rough mix included nearly 100 tracks. Kirkpatrick sent the final version to Lipa when she was attending Glastonbury Festival in June 2019.

Music and lyrics
"Don't Start Now" is a nu-disco song, with elements of dance-pop, disco-funk, electro-disco, Eurodance, French house, and Italo disco. The song is composed in time and the key of B minor, with a tempo of 124 beats per minute. Constructed in verse-chorus form, the verses have an Em–Bm–G–D–A chord progression, and the chorus follows a Bm–D–Em7–F♯m7–Gmaj7 sequence. Several 1980s and disco tropes are used in the production, which has a percolating funk bassline which interchanges with piano chords and the house beat. It also uses laser weapon sound effects and handclaps.

The song opens with a three-chord piano intro from the first part of the chorus and a fuzz sound of a spinning record. Lipa's vocals eschew modulation and build from a lower register to a natural use of melisma, spanning from A3 to D5. The track also builds with the addition of accented disco strings, and bursts of disco synths. It has a strong kick and bass pattern that uses the low-end sparingly. After every fourth measure, a fill is used; for example, in the snare-kick sequence that precedes the second verse. In the 1980s synth-pop chorus, the entire production drops out before it is backed by strings and uses a cowbell in the middle. A rhythm guitar loop is added in the second verse and a crowd noise in the second chorus. During the final chorus, chordal devices from the breakdown reappear for texture, and Lipa sings in call and response.

According to Lipa, the lyrics have a theme of empowerment and are about "moving on" from a past relationship and "not allowing anyone to get in the way of that". She celebrates her independence, and uses bullet point instructions to address a needy former lover directly. In his review for Stereogum, Peter Helman wrote that while "New Rules" dealt with the "immediate aftermath" of a breakup, "Don't Start Now" is "a sequel of sorts, proof that those new rules really do work". Music critic Maura Johnston interpreted it as "post-breakup rebirth". The track's bullet point lyricism was later used as an instructional meme for social distancing protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Don't show up, don't come out Don't start caring about me now Walk away, you know how Don't start caring about me now"

Release and promotion
Prior to the single's release, Lipa panicked, never having asked for feedback on the track. Her manager, Ben Mawson, was concerned that its disco sound was too different from music popular on American radio at the time. However, Mawson was assured by his radio promotion executive that it was "the kind of song that could change the radio". On 10 October 2019, Variety mentioned the single's release date in an article about Lipa's management but subsequently edited the release date to "soon".

Fans of Lipa leaked the song's title and lyrics on Twitter on 14 October 2019. Later that month, the singer cleared her social media accounts to announce the release of "Don't Start Now". She first shared two teaser videos on social media featuring snippets of the track on 22 and 23 October 2019. The song was made available to pre-save on Spotify on 25 October 2019, in conjunction with a competition to win signed polaroids of the singer. YouTube Music promoted the release on billboards in London and Times Square. The song was also promoted with its own lens filter on Snapchat.

"Don't Start Now" premiered on 31 October 2019 at 13:00 HST (23:00 UTC) as the lead single from Future Nostalgia. The Radio 1 Breakfast Show played the song exclusively to an eight-year-old fan of Lipa before its release. The song was serviced to contemporary hit radio formats the following day in Australia, Italy, and the United Kingdom, as well as the United States on 5 November. On 15 November 2019, a vertical video and lyric video for the track were released on Spotify and YouTube respectively. The song was later included as the second track on the album, released 27 March 2020.

Critical reception
"Don't Start Now" received highly positive reviews from music critics. In her review for Rolling Stone, Brittany Spanos called the song "the peak of pop catharsis"; she said it evolved Lipa's sound and that she "finally finds her pop footing". Nick Malone of PopMatters wrote that the track displayed significant growth in Lipa's sound and identity, and that she was "springing forth in full colour" with sharper and more distinguishable vocals. Conrad Duncan of Under the Radar said the "fantastically sleek" song played to Lipa's strengths. Los Angeles Times pop critic Mikael Wood felt Lipa's vocals had grown more soulful and suited the "delightfully rubbery" track's retro sound. Similarly, Pitchfork's Matthew Strauss thought that the "French bloghouse" production suited Lipa and appreciated that she eschewed heavy vocal modulation, writing that "her voice sounds stronger than ever".

Laura Snapes of The Guardian cited Lipa's vocals as the track's best feature, writing that she distinguished herself from her contemporaries with a classic style, rather than "the charts' predominant rap-influenced sound". Chris Willman of Variety felt it brought "a certain kind of deep groove and attitudinal buoyancy back onto the radio at a time we needed it most, which is anytime at all". Gigwise's Jordan Emery complimented its "satisfyingly catchy hooks and interesting ideas", and "slick bassline that just breathes effortlessness and joy". Jolie Lash of Spin viewed the bassline as "pop's best in recent memory" and called the song "an 'I Will Survive' for an era when we really need the reassurance". Writing for Exclaim!, Brad Garcia regarded "Don't Start Now" as a homage instead of an obvious attempt to replicate past success, while musicOMH's Nick Smith described the track as a "Moloko-esque nu-disco treasure".

In her review of Future Nostalgia for NME, Rhian Daly deemed the song "powerful pop perfection". The Daily Telegraph's music critic Neil McCormick regarded it as "a fantastic put-down of a needy ex". AllMusic's Neil Z. Yeung appreciated Lipa's "endless supply of confidence, charm, and cooler-than-you attitude", and called the track an "immediate earworm". Jon Freeman of Rolling Stone similarly wrote that it had instant appeal, with "hooks piled upon hooks" and "a recipe for club glory". Entertainment Weekly's Marc Snetiker described it as a "dance floor jawdropper". In The New York Times, Jon Caramanica said the track was "effective but not overambitious", arguing that Lipa sells its "kiss-off sentiment with rhythm but not punch".

Europe and Asia
In November 2019, "Don't Start Now" debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart with first-week sales of 49,334 units, making it Lipa's highest debut on the chart and seventh UK top 10 single. It spent three consecutive weeks at number two; "Dance Monkey" by Tones and I kept it from the top spot. "Don't Start Now" charted for 25 weeks in the top 10, the longest top 10 stay on the chart by a British female, and the fourth-longest overall. It also holds the record for the most weeks in the top 10 without reaching number one. In May 2020, the song was certified double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for track-equivalent sales of 1.2 million units.

"Don't Start Now" topped the Irish Singles Chart for two consecutive weeks; it became Lipa's fourth chart-topper in Ireland, following 2017's "New Rules", and 2018's "IDGAF" and "One Kiss". In Germany, the song peaked at number 10, making it Lipa's fourth top 10 single there. It was certified gold by Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) for track-equivalent sales of 200,000 units. On the French Singles Chart, "Don't Start Now" debuted at number 70 and in its 22nd week rose to number 12. It received a platinum certification from the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP), denoting track-equivalent sales of 200,000 units in France. In Asia, it became Lipa's third chart appearance on the Japan Hot 100, where it reached number 79, and her first top-twenty entry on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart, peaking at number eighteen for the week of 11 July 2020.

Australia, Brazil and North America
In Australia, "Don't Start Now" entered the ARIA Singles Chart at number eight; it was Lipa's fifth single to reach the top 10 on the chart. In its sixth week, the song climbed to number two, tying with "New Rules" as her highest-charting single in Australia. "Don't Start Now" spent 10 non-consecutive weeks at number two, placing it in joint-second with "Moves like Jagger" by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera for most weeks spent at number two without reaching number one. The song charted for 29 consecutive weeks in the top 10, the third-longest top 10 stay in the chart's history. It was certified four-times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for track-equivalent sales of 280,000 units. In Brazil, the track topped the weekly streaming singles chart and received a triple diamond certification from Pro-Música Brasil, denoting sales of 480,000 units.

"Don't Start Now" debuted at number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with a first-week tally of 14,000 downloads sold, 13.2 million streams and 10.2 million radio impressions. In its 19th week on the chart, the song rose to number two, held off the top spot by Roddy Ricch's "The Box". It is Lipa's highest-charting single in the US, and her second to reach the top 10 after "New Rules". In August 2020, the track received a triple platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for track-equivalent sales of three million units. In Canada, it peaked at number three on the Canadian Hot 100 and was certified double platinum by Music Canada (MC) for track-equivalent sales of 160,000 units.

Background
The music video for "Don't Start Now" was filmed on 14 October 2019 in Brooklyn. It was directed by Nabil Elderkin, who had previously worked with Lipa during her 2019 campaign for Yves Saint Laurent's Libre fragrance. Elderkin found inspiration for the treatment by skating around London while listening to the song. He used darker lighting and moods in a balance he felt complimented "Don't Start Now". Various concepts and edits were explored before Lipa and her management signed off on the final cut. Lipa decided at the last minute to use the final scene at the start of the video. The music video premiered on YouTube on 1 November 2019 at 06:00 PT (13:00 UTC).

Synopsis and reception
The video opens with a point-of-view shot of Lipa leaving a nightclub and throwing the camera onto the pavement. The clip blacks out briefly before rewinding to a scene from five hours earlier. In it, Lipa enters a pub and removes her orange Raf Simons jacket to perform on stage in a yellow Versace bra top and Marni jeans. The video then cuts to a crowded nightclub where Lipa dances under a disco ball and spotlight. In the next scene, she dances at a 19th century-themed masquerade ball, and notices eyes on paintings coming to life. She then runs down a staircase to return to the nightclub. Lipa is later shown washing her face in the nightclub's bathroom and strutting in its hallway. The video ends with a cumulative montage of the evening's events.

Amy Francombe of The Face said Elderkin's signature directing style "shines through" in the neon colour schemes and high-angle shots. Brendan Wetmore of Paper described the video as "something straight out of the POV TikTok genre and put onto Vevo". In her review for Vogue, Rachel Hahn called it "a fine showcase for Lipa's expert post-breakup style". Nylon's Allison Stubblebine compared the crowded nightclub scene to one in Harry Styles' music video for "Lights Up". The music video has received over 420 million views on YouTube. The visual was nominated for Best Music Video at the 2020 Urban Music Awards and Best Direction at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.

Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Promonews.

Production companies

 * Operator Media – production company
 * Rock Paper Scissors – editing company
 * Company 3 – grading company

Personnel

 * Nabil – director
 * Eric Brown – producer
 * Kathleen Heffernan – executive producer
 * Leah Younesi – executive producer
 * Lawrence Sher – director of photography
 * David Isern – steadicam
 * Greg Addison – gaffer
 * Dave Araki – key grip
 * Alex DiGerlando – production designer
 * Brenda Ray – sound mix
 * Alex Clark – choreographer
 * Damion Clayton – editor
 * Jill Bogdanowicz – colourist
 * Max Coltt – VFX
 * Samantha Lau – make-up artist
 * Anna Cofone – hair
 * Lorenzo Posocco – stylist
 * Michelle Tang – make-up cast
 * Thom Gonzalis – hair
 * Cherish Cullsion – wardrobe stylist
 * Rob Jackson – first assistant director
 * Duncan Sutherland – second assistant director
 * Kathy Hofmann – production manager
 * Brooke Lydon – production coordinator

Live performances
Lipa gave her first live performance of "Don't Start Now" on 1 November 2019 on The Graham Norton Show. On 3 November 2019, she performed the song at the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards. She wore a black leotard and was surrounded by a float of 40 dancers in yellow bodysuits during the performance, which was directed by Es Devlin; it was acclaimed in the media. BBC News reporter Mark Savage said, "Fans who'd previously made fun of her stage presence were won over by the dance moves and staging." Zoya Raza-Sheikh of Clash wrote, "All it took was a few minutes for the singer to – yet again – prove a questioning audience wrong." Evan Sawdey of PopMatters praised Lipa for "nailing tight choreography and delivering a striking stage presence heretofore unseen". Lipa's other renditions also featured floats of dancers and used the same dance routine, but were modified slightly to resonate on various stages.

Lipa performed "Don't Start Now" on The Radio 2 Breakfast Show with Zoe Ball on 6 November 2019. On 10 November, she performed the song on the ninth season finale of The Voice of Germany with contestant Freschta Akbarzada. Lipa performed it in a concert at The Pointe in Dubai on 15 November and at the OnePlus Music Festival the following day in Mumbai. At her 2019 American Music Awards performance on 24 November 2019, she wore a red bodysuit and was backed by a float of 24 dancers in silver costumes during the 1970s-inspired rendition, which featured a giant disco ball and cube-shaped side tables as props. The performance ended with a festival of silver, cushion-shaped balloons falling from the ceiling. In Australia, Lipa performed the track at the 2019 ARIA Music Awards on 27 November 2019, and on the breakfast television programme Sunrise the following day.

In Japan, Lipa performed "Don't Start Now" in an all-black Versace outfit at the 2019 Mnet Asian Music Awards on 4 December 2019; South Korean singer Hwasa of Mamamoo opened for her, performing "New Rules". On 17 December 2019, she performed the song on the 17th US season finale of The Voice surrounded by roller skaters in a showgirl-inspired set. Lipa performed the track on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with a string section on 19 December 2019, and on Good Morning America the following day. On 31 December 2019, she performed "Don't Start Now" in a chequerboard miniskirt on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. On 9 January 2020, Lipa performed the song in white pyjamas on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. During the performance, purple and blue lights were projected on stage, creating silhouettes of Lipa and her dancers against a white backdrop. The song was included in her setlists at the Sanremo Music Festival 2020 on 7 February, and the 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on 29 February.

She gave a virtual performance of "Don't Start Now" for The Late Late Show with James Corden on 30 March 2020, while in self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her band, backing singers and dancers also performed from their respective homes via Zoom in a changing split-screen. On 22 April 2020, she performed the song virtually on Big Brother Brasil 20. Lipa performed "Don't Start Now" in a 24-hour charity livestream for COVID-19 relief on 22 May. On 17 September of the year, the singer performed the song for a second time on The Late Late Show with James Corden, this time as a parody version with "New Rules", titled "New Rules For COVID Dating", where Corden sang backing vocals. Lipa wore an Alexandre Vauthier disco dress, covered in gold studs, as well as sheer black tights and black platforms, with two gold hair clips. For some parts of the performance, she also wore a sparkly face mask that matches the dress. Lipa performed the song as the closing track on her Studio 2054 livestream concert setlist, which took place on 27 November 2020. She also performed it in her 4 December 2020-released NPR Tiny Desk Concert.

Lipa performed an acoustic version of the song at the 2020 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball on 10 December 2020, where she also performed "Levitating" (2020) and a cover of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" with a few of her fans for Capital One's Holiday Jam. On 19 December 2020, she performed the song on Saturday Night Live where she also performed "Levitating" and appeared in a World War II-themed skit. For the performance, she wore a vintage Azzedine Alaïa belted leopard-print top with black leggings and a gold chain necklace with a diamond; she performed with backup dancers and a band on a stage that mimicked a club with its lights.

Remixes and cover versions
"Don't Start Now" has been promoted with several remixes. A remix EP including remixes by Dom Dolla, Purple Disco Machine, Zach Witness, Kungs and Pink Panda was released on 10 January 2020, followed by a remix by Kosovar DJ Regard on 24 January. The Purple Disco Machine remix was categorised as disco, while the Kungs one reimagines the track as a club song. Dom Dolla found his remix difficult to create because the song is written in a major key, giving it a "super happy" vibe, and he intended to make it more "moody". The final result was a house track, with a "cruise-y" sound, which he thought worked well. A "Live in LA" remix was made available for digital download and streaming on 21 February 2020. It features Lipa performing with a 19-piece band, giving bubblegum pop and disco-dance vibes. It was proceeded by the release of a music video directed by Daniel Carberry on 10 January 2020, which includes dancers and rollerbladers in the background. The video was nominated for Best Live Video at the 2020 UK Music Video Awards.

A remix by Korean-American electronic producer Yaeji was included on the DJ Mix edition Lipa and The Blessed Madonna's remix album Club Future Nostalgia, released on 28 August 2020. Yaeji intended to have different sonics than the original, pulling out different emotions and moods, resulting in a darker and emotional take on the song. She found it difficult as "Don't Start Now" is her favourite song of Lipa's. The remix spans Baltimore club, house, minimal disco, pop, and trap genres. Its production includes a stop-start rhythm and deep bass, reminiscent of G-funk, and Yaeji uses her own vocals in the background, creating an ASMR-esque beat. The remix samples "Sing Sing" (1978) by Gaz and "Bring Down the Walls" (1985) by Fingers Inc. and Robert Owens, thus Thor Baldursson, Mats Björklund, and Jürgen Korduletsch are credited as composers. The unmixed version without the sample was released on 11 September 2020, along with a remix by Canadian DJ Kaytranada, both of which are included on the un-mixed edition of Club Future Nostalgia, released the same day. The Kaytranada remix is a deep house  and funky house track, described as "smooth, groovy, and understated." Driven by a heavy bass, the production includes an eerie keyboard loop, a four on the floor beat, a deep bassline, and jazzy hi-hats.

Several artists have covered "Don't Start Now". American singer Hayley Williams covered it for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge in February 2020, along with her song "Simmer". The cover was categorised as an R&B song with jazz elements; it retained the funk elements of the original but used sultry and raspy vocals, backed by drums. American band Echosmith performed an indie rock rendition of the track for a Billboard live at home concert, along with a cover of Coldplay's "Fix You". Australian rapper Illy performed a rap over the song that addresses social distancing, the Australian government's COVIDSafe app, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Spanish singer Rosalía performed the song in an Instagram Live karaoke session. For Spotify Singles, Ingrid Andress recorded the song, converting it into a country ballad with an upbeat production. American singer Kelly Clarkson performed the song as part of her "kellyoke" installments on her daytime talk show The Kelly Clarkson Show. Australian singer Azure Ryder covered the song for Triple J's Like A Version in September 2020.

Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal and the liner notes of Future Nostalgia.

Recording and management

 * Mastered at Sterling Sound (Edgewater, New Jersey)
 * Published by TAP Music Publishing Limited, Waterfall Music / BMG, Under Warranty Publishing / Where Da Kasz At (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI) and Buckley Tenenbaum Publishing (BMI)
 * All rights on behalf of itself and Buckley Tenenbaum Publishing
 * Administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Personnel

 * Dua Lipa – vocals
 * Ian Kirkpatrick – producer, engineer, programming, vocal production
 * Caroline Ailin – vocal production
 * Josh Gudwin – mixing
 * Elijah Marrett-Hitch – assistant mix engineer
 * Drew Jurecka – bass violin, string arrangement, string recording engineer, viola, violin
 * Chris Gehringer – mastering
 * Will Quinnell – mastering assistant