Don't Start Now

Dua Lipa's "Don't Start Now" marked a bold pivot toward disco-infused pop, setting the tone for her 2020 album Future Nostalgia. Released on Halloween 2019 as the lead single, the track was co-written by Lipa with Caroline Ailin, Emily Warren, and producer Ian Kirkpatrick. Its funky bassline and handclap-driven groove drew inspiration from the Bee Gees, Daft Punk, and Two Door Cinema Club, while cowbells and synth bursts added a modern sheen. The song's lyrics find Lipa celebrating her independence, telling a former lover to move on.

Critics hailed it as a sonic leap forward, with many praising how its 1980s and disco flavors stood out amid pop's urban-dominated landscape. At the 63rd Grammy Awards, the song earned nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance. Commercially, it peaked at number two on both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Lipa's highest-charting single in America. In the UK, it logged one of the longest top-10 runs of the year.

The music video, directed by Nabil Elderkin and shot in Brooklyn, uses point-of-view and high-angle shots to capture Lipa dancing through a crowded nightclub and masquerade ball. The track is often credited with sparking a disco revival in 2020, a year when downtempo, urban pop had dominated the airwaves. Lipa promoted it across major stages, including the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards, the American Music Awards, and the Mnet Asian Music Awards. Several remixes followed, notably a live version with a 19-piece band and an accompanying video directed by Daniel Carberry.[edit]