Dua Lipa Tribune Content Agency
Dua Lipa, most known for her hit songs “Levitating” and “Houdini,” is a mega-star on the rise. Her personal style, both musically and fashion-wise, take heavy inspiration from the psychedelic 70s, but with a genuine modern spin.
Her songs, like many other artists’, fall mostly all in the pop category, but something about them is so addictive that they stand out from the rest. But, how did Lipa get the fast-track to fame?
Lipa’s first big break was a song titled “New Rules,” which became an overnight sensation and continues to receive radio play. The track, released in 2017, would become Lipa’s claim to fame. A fame she was not prepared for in the slightest.
With the newfound global success of the track, Lipa was quickly booked to perform at countless festivals and award shows, including The BRIT Awards in 2018.
All of Lipa’s performances from 2017-2019 followed the same formula: an outfit scraped together from the Forever 21 sales rack, an unappealing bob, and the easiest choreography imaginable that she somehow still messed up everytime.
In fact, Lipa’s dancing and stage presence were so horrendous that a popular meme was born from a comment left on one of her performances: “Go girl, give us nothing!”
This lack of enthusiasm and apparent hatred towards being on stage would become Lipa’s trademark for the time being. Her dancing was ridiculed, and the amount of negative attention it brought prevented people from realizing there was potential hiding beneath those trendy pop beats.
On March 27, 2020, Lipa released her second album, “Future Nostalgia,” a risky move to make early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to restrictions related to the pandemic, Lipa did not tour with “Future Nostalgia” until 2022. While some might see that as a setback, those two extra years to prepare for tour completely changed Lipa’s career.
Additionally, the unique funky sounds of the album made for a feel-good listening experience that was much needed in the middle of a global crisis. Personally, listening to “Future Nostalgia” on repeat helped me get through some of the hardest times of the pandemic, and served as a reminder that one day we would all be singing and dancing together again.
In 2022, Lipa returned to the stage with a newfound look, both sonically and visually that set her apart from all the other pop girls on the rise. Her outfits were unique, her staging was impeccable, but most importantly, her dancing and stage presence were remarkable.
The entire tour was met with critical acclaim, and Lipa’s fan base grew tremendously.
Lipa’s experiences with facing harsh criticism serve as a lesson in how impactful it can be to listen to feedback about yourself. While some of the comments were not necessarily “constructive,” they still served as a way for her to know what to work on.
In our daily lives, and especially in our careers, it is inevitable that we will find things we excel in and things we struggle with. It is important to listen to our mentors and peers when they have constructive criticism to share about the things that we do.
No one is perfect, and a lot of people forget that. If Lipa had believed that she was perfect and not subject to criticism, she would have never perfected her craft and she would have never become the superstar and fashion icon she is today.
By tuning out criticism, we are subjecting ourselves to stay in our comfort zones and preventing ourselves from the potential of growing into something better. Without experiencing downfalls, there is no way for us to improve and become the best versions of ourselves.
Today, Lipa is thriving as a three time Grammy winner, the face of Versace, and a hit song featured on the “Barbie” (2023) soundtrack. It feels impossible to imagine that only six years ago, she was struggling to kick her leg up in the air on rhythm.
This tale of immense success after immense failure is a story that could, and should, be relatable to all. We cannot grow without going through uncomfortable moments. But when we look back from where we stand, we will see those painful moments as baby steps, rather than something to be ashamed of.
Just think about it: if people hadn’t left mean comments under Lipa’s old performances, we would have never gotten to see flawlessly open the 2024 Grammys, where girl, she gave us everything!
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