Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia has become a world of its own. The already iconic disco/pop record has resonated with millions this year as we all create our own imaginary dancefloors. Since its release, it’s been twisted and distorted with plenty offering their own takes on Lipa’s anthem. From DaBaby’s fresh verse on the Levitating remix to Hayley Williams’ brooding cover of Don’t Start Now, here are our favourite remixes, mash-ups and covers from the Future Nostalgia era.
Don’t Start Now (Live In LA)
Don’t Start Now is a pop classic so we’ll take any chance to hear it for longer. The ‘Live in LA’ version stretched it out to a near-6-minute epic, complete with sweeping strings and giddy percussion. When Lipa comes in around the 2-minute mark, the euphoria is already peaking.
Levitating (Feat. DaBaby)
Levitating has been a fan favourite since Future Nostalgia dropped and it’s had a few reincarnations. The latest recruits rapper-of-the-moment DaBaby and he absolutely nails it. We never thought we’d hear Baby go disco but it turns out he’s pretty slick on the dancefloor. His verse is full of quotables like, “Catch up, go put some cheese on it, get out and get your bread up.”
Levitating (The Blessed Madonna Remix Feat. Madonna & Missy Elliott)
When we heard Madonna was jumping on Levitating many thought she’d simply be adding a verse. The Blessed Madonna remix turned out to be a total renovation though, taking it from sugary disco into a dark, pulsating club moment. Madonna and Missy both fly, adding more life to the song that just keeps giving.
Hayley Williams - Don’t Start Now (Cover)
A dark and brooding version of Don’t Start Now doesn’t immediately capture your attention but Hayley Williams - Queen of playing with our emotions - managed to pull it off. Her cover of the song is a melancholic re-do that taps at the heart hard. These vocals are absolutely off the chart.
Declan McKenna - Hallucinate (Cover)
Declan McKenna brings indie-rock angst to Hallucinate in his Live Lounge cover. We didn’t know a world in which Hallucinate wasn’t danceable but it turns out it translates as a sing-along moment. McKenna makes it his own in one of the most ambitious Future Nostalgia recreations yet.
Azure Ryder - Don’t Start Now (Cover)
Like Williams’ Australia’s very own Azure Rider took Don’t Start Now dark for Like A Version but she went even deeper. Over atmospheric guitars, she crafted the witchiest version of Don’t Start Now we’ve heard yet.
Dua Lipa x Britney Spears - Physical x Toxic Mash-Up
Now for some bootleg action. Lipa is quickly becoming the popstar of our generation and it turns out she melds effortlessly with the popstar of another generation. Physical links up perfectly with Toxic, so much so that we actually need to hear Britney and Dua do this live. We can live in hope.
Dua Lipa x Madonna - Don’t Start Now x Hung Up Mash-Up
Future Nostalgia is a nod to Madonna’s Confessions On A Dancefloor. Lipa worked with Stuart Price, who crafted Confessions with Madonna, on the record and the pair share glimmering, disco vibes. Here, Don’t Start Now meets Madge’s Hung Up and it’s, as the YouTube comments will tell you, “gay heaven”.
Boys Will Be Boys (Zach Witness Remix)
Lipa leaned even further into the dancefloor with Club Future Nostalgia. We were expecting to dance but what we weren’t expecting was Future Nostalgia’s sole-ballad becoming the most energetic of the dance set. Zach Witness goes in on this remix that makes Boys Will Be Boys sound like the cousin of Beyonce’s Girls (Run The World).
Physical (Mark Ronson Remix Feat. Gwen Stefani)
Mark Ronson worked with Lipa on Electricity so we always knew their reunion was going to be good. His Physical remix takes the tempo down and turns it into a simmering ‘80s moment. Gwen’s colourful vocals are just the cherry on top.
Break My Heart (Moodymann Remix)
Future Nostalgia is rounded out by this soul-induced Moodymann remix of Break My Heart. It’s the only song that The Blessed Madonnna included in her mix in full and for good reason. This is the sort of remix that deserves the time to build. It slowly layers up into a groovy, intoxicating moment that breathes new life into the pop classic.
Hallucinate (Paul Woodford Remix)
Of course Hallucinate was going to bang with an even harder beat behind it. Paul Woodford took this one straight into the AM with a giddy, glorious remix that deserves to be played out in dancefloors across the world. Those dancefloors don’t exist right now but this is at the top of our list to play as soon as we’re back on them.
