Don't Start Now (Dua Lipa song)



"Don't Start Now" is a song by English singer Dua Lipa, from her upcoming second studio album. The song was written by Lipa, Caroline Ailin, Emily Warren and its producer Ian Kirkpatrick. It was released on 31 October 2019 through Warner Records on digital platforms. It was released to contemporary hit radio the following day in the United Kingdom, and impacted the same format in the United States on 5 November.

"Don't Start Now" is a nu-disco song, with the singer addressing an ex-lover about moving on from a relationship in its lyrics. It has received positive reviews from music critics, with many complimenting the disco influences and Lipa's vocals. "Don't Start Now" became Lipa's fourth Irish number one after debuting atop of the chart. It also became her seventh top 10 entry on the UK Singles Chart and third top 40 entry on the US Billboard Hot 100.

An accompanying music video for the song premiered through Lipa's official YouTube channel on 1 November. It was directed by Nabil and depicts the singer passing through both a basement club and a masked ball. Lipa has performed "Don't Start Now" on The Graham Norton Show and at the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards.

Background and composition
"Don't Start Now" was written by Lipa, Caroline Ailin, Emily Warren and its producer Ian Kirkpatrick. In October 2019, Lipa removed all of her social media posts in preparation for the release of "Don't Start Now". The song was then announced on 22 October 2019. In a statement, Lipa discussed the meaning behind the release, commenting:

"Don't Start Now" runs for three minutes and three seconds, and has been described by music critics as a disco song. The production features Lipa's "low-ish register [gliding] across [...] synths and electro-violin stabs", as well as the use of a "hollow, cowbell-like percussion". Lyrically, "Don't Start Now" addresses an ex-lover about moving on from a relationship, with Lipa singing on the pre-chorus: "If you don’t wanna see me dancing with somebody / If you wanna believe that anything could stop me".

Critical reception
Pitchfork's editor Matthew Strauss wrote that the "French bloghouse" production suited Lipa and praised the singer for eschewing vocal modulation, saying "her voice sounds stronger than ever". Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone believed the song took Lipa's sound to "a higher level" and that she "finally finds her pop footing," regarding it as "the peak of pop catharsis," and among 2019's "most glamorous new tunes" and "strongest bass lines." Paste's Rachita Vasandani commented, "It's funky and fun...—what else do we need?"

In his review for Clash, Robin Murray viewed the track as "a super-infectious disco burner", noting "a Chic flavour to the songwriting, given a chrome-plated 2019 overhaul." DIY's reviewer deemed it "an empowerment bop" and "funkier number than her former fare, replete with the kind of bass line Mark Ronson would be proud of." Jon Caramanica of The New York Times found the song "effective but not overambitious", arguing that Lipa sells its "kiss-off sentiment with rhythm but not punch."

Commercial performance
It debuted at number one in Ireland and number two in the United Kingdom, while debuting within the top ten in Australia, Estonia, Israel, New Zealand and Switzerland. "Don't Start Now" also became the singer's third top 40 entry on the US Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 30 and becoming the highest new entry of the week. It held its top spot in Ireland and remained at number two on the UK Singles Chart for a second consecutive week. In Australia it rose from number eight to six in its second week on the chart.

Music video
The music video premiered on 1 November and was teased by a trailer upon the release of the song. It was directed by Nabil. The video takes place in two different settings: a basement club and a masked ball. The singer is seen passing through both while dancing and singing. A lyric video was uploaded to her official YouTube channel on 15 November.

Live performances
Lipa performed "Don't Start Now" for the first time on The Graham Norton Show on 1 November 2019. On 3 November 2019, the singer performed the song at the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards. On 15 November 2019, Lipa performed the song alongside a full set from her debut album at The Pointe in Dubai. On November 16, the singer performed the song alongside a full set from her debut album in Mumbai as part of the OnePlus Music Festival.

Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.


 * Dua Lipa – vocals, songwriting
 * Caroline Ailin – songwriting, vocal production
 * Ian Kirkpatrick – production, songwriting, engineering, programming, vocal production
 * Emily Warren – songwriting
 * Elijah Marrett-Hitch – mix engineering
 * Drew Jurecka – bass violin, string arranging, recording engineering, viola, violin
 * Chris Gehringer – mastering
 * Josh Gudwin – mixing