"Houdini" | ||||
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Single by Dua Lipa | ||||
from the album Radical Optimism | ||||
Written | November 2022 – January 2023 [a] | |||
Released | 9 November 2023 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:06 | |||
Label | Warner | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Dua Lipa singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
"Houdini" | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Houdini" on YouTube |
"Houdini" is a song by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa. It was released on 9 November 2023 through Warner Records,as the lead single from Lipa's third studio album, Radical Optimism (2024). The song was produced by Danny L Harle and Kevin Parker. Lipa co-wrote the song with Harle,Parker,Caroline Ailin and Tobias Jesso Jr.
"Houdini" was met with generally positive reviews by music critics,who praised the sonic evolution from her previous album Future Nostalgia (2020). Commercially,the song peaked at number one in the Flanders and Wallonia regions of Belgium. It reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and the top 10 in various countries,including Canada,Australia,Ireland,Germany,Switzerland and France. In the United States,the song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Dance/Electronic Songs chart for 17 weeks. "Houdini" also peaked at number three on the Billboard Global 200.
The song and music video won multiple awards,including Top Dance/Electronic Song at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards,and Best Choreography at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.
In 2023,Lipa announced that her upcoming third studio album would be released sometime in 2024. She shared that she had embraced 1970s-era psychedelia by working with Tame Impala's Kevin Parker,a change from the disco sound of Future Nostalgia (2020). [5] [6] "Houdini" began as a demo produced by Parker sometime in or before November 2022. After hearing a snippet of the track,Lipa began writing the lyrics with Caroline Ailin before finalizing it with Parker in January 2023. [7] Ailin,Lipa,Parker,Danny L Harle,and Tobias Jesso Jr. all share writing credits on the song. [8]
In May 2023,Lipa released "Dance the Night" as the lead single from the soundtrack for Greta Gerwig's Barbie film,in which she also made her acting debut. The song peaked at number one in the UK and reached the top 10 in the US,Australia,Germany,France,Canada,and various other countries. After having deleted all of her Instagram posts in October 2023,Lipa posted a picture of herself with red hair captioned "miss me?". [9] On 27 October,she shared a close-up picture of a key between her teeth,accompanied by the phrase "catch me or I go". [10] In anticipation of the song,Lipa replaced the cover art of her previous albums with kaleidoscopic versions on streaming services. [11]
Lipa posted a teaser of the song on her social media on 31 October 2023,hinting at the song title in the post. [12] A rearranged combination of numbers would spell out the title "Houdini", [13] named after escape artist Harry Houdini. [14] [15] Fans of Lipa also drew parallels to English singer Kate Bush's 1982 song of the same name,who also references Houdini by presenting a key in her mouth on the cover of her album The Dreaming (1982). [16] The following day,she announced that the song would be released on 9 November 2023 and made it available for pre-order and pre-save via her website and various streaming services. [17]
Dua Lipa released a live recording of the song titled London Sessions for digital download and streaming on 12 January 2024. A music video of the live performance was released on YouTube the same day. [18]
She first performed the song on live television at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards on 4 February 2024,along with "Dance the Night" and her then-upcoming single,"Training Season". [19]
"Houdini" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Helen Brown from The Independent gave the song five out of five stars,mentioning that although "there's some daftness in the lyrics,(...) pop is no place for pedantry —especially not when it comes to a singer whose lockdown hit,'Levitating',saw her laughing in the face of gravity". [20] Rhian Daly from NME gave the song four out of five stars,writing that "while she might be switching up her sonic palette,there's one thing you can rely on Dua to be consistent with —giving us confidence-filled bops that help us unlock the best versions of ourselves,even if just for three minutes". [21]
Betsy Reed from The Guardian also gave the song four out of five stars,stating that "it's ferociously catchy without being bludgeoning,and does a more convincing job of combining her appreciation for vintage sonics with diamond-tooled pop songwriting than Future Nostalgia did. For Lipa,being a pop star clearly is still the main event,and 'Houdini' suggests no threat to her dominance". [22] Variety 's Jem Aswad declared the song a "banger" and "both a progression from and a continuation of Future Nostalgia",describing it as "more melodically nuanced" than her prior album's singles. [23] Similarly,Kaelen Bell of Exclaim! shared that the song retained Dua Lipa's disco-pop sensibilities yet was "sweatier and grimier than the neon-lit enormity of 'Levitating' and 'Don't Start Now.'" [24]
Writing for Clash ,Robin Murray said that the song is "Dua Lipa doing what she does best —a gleaming,sun-drenched pop star who yearns to dominate huge spaces." [25] Writing for Pitchfork ,Shaad D'Souza mentioned that the song "doesn't reinvent the wheel:Lipa taunts a man into proving he deserves her attention,squarely in the brazen,invulnerable Future Nostalgia mode. But production from Kevin Parker and Danny L Harle provides some of the drive and loony spark that was missing from Lipa's club tracks thus far". [26]
Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
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NME | The 50 Best Songs of 2023 | 31 | [27] |
Rolling Stone | The 100 Best Songs of 2023 | 36 | |
USA Today | Best Songs of 2023 | — |
The music video for "Houdini" was directed by Manu Cossu and released alongside the song. It is set in a dance studio,where a redheaded Lipa performs a choreography with a group of redheaded male dancers. [29] [30] According to Vogue ,the video appears to be a reference to the video for "Hung Up" (2005) by Madonna. [31] The music video won Best Choreography at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. [32]
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These credits are adapted from YouTube. [8]
Weekly charts | Monthly charts
Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA) [151] | 2× Platinum | 140,000‡ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [152] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
Belgium (BEA) [153] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [154] | 3× Platinum | 240,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [155] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [156] | Diamond | 333,333‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [157] | Platinum | 100,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [158] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV) [159] | 3× Platinum | 150,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP) [160] | Platinum | 10,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [161] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [162] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [163] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label | Ref. |
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Various | 9 November 2023 | Original | Warner | ||
France | 10 November 2023 | Radio airplay | |||
Italy | |||||
United Kingdom | 13 November 2023 | ||||
United States | Hot adult contemporary radio | ||||
14 November 2023 | Contemporary hit radio | ||||
Various | 1 December 2023 |
| Extended edit | ||
22 December 2023 | Adam Port mix | ||||
Europe | 29 December 2023 |
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United Kingdom | |||||
Various | 12 January 2024 |
| London sessions | ||
19 January 2024 | Danny L Harle 'slowride' mix | ||||
United States | 2 February 2024 |
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"Be the One" is a song recorded by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa for her eponymous debut studio album (2017). The song was written by Lucy Taylor, Jack Tarrant and Digital Farm Animals, with the latter of the three also handling the production. They wrote it about a relationship that Taylor was in and gave the song to Lipa, who was originally reluctant to record it due to the writing credits. It is a dream pop, Europop and synth-pop song with elements of gospel and power pop. Lyrically, it sees Lipa begging her boyfriend for a romantic redemption. The song received acclaim from music critics, with many hailing it as a standout on the album and praising the anthemic qualities in the production.
English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa has released three studio albums, two reissues, one remix album, one live album, five extended plays (EPs), thirty-six singles, ten promotional singles, two charity singles, and thirty-five music videos. After signing with Warner Bros. Records, she released her debut single "New Love" in 2015. The following year, she gained recognition through the singles "Hotter than Hell" and "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)". In 2017, Lipa released her self-titled debut studio album, which reached the top 10 charts in Australia, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The album's chart-topping hits "Be the One", "New Rules" and "IDGAF" propelled Lipa to international fame.
"No Lie" is a song by Jamaican rapper Sean Paul featuring British-Albanian singer Dua Lipa, from the former's first EP, Mad Love the Prequel (2018). The song was written by Paul, Andrew Jackson, Emily Warren, Sermstyle, and Pip Kembo. Production and co-production were handled by Sermstyle and Kembo, respectively. It was released through Island Records on 18 November 2016 as the lead single from the EP. The song was later included on Dua Lipa: Complete Edition (2018), the super deluxe reissue of Lipa's eponymous debut studio album.
"Scared to Be Lonely" is a song recorded by Dutch DJ Martin Garrix and English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa. It was written by Giorgio Tuinfort, Nathaniel Campany, Kyle Shearer, and Georgia Ku, while the production was handled by Tuinfort, Valley Girl, and Lorna Blackwood. The song was released for digital download and streaming as a standalone single on 27 January 2017 by Stmpd Rcrds and Epic Records, after being premiered by Garrix at the 2017 AVA Festival a month earlier. It was later included on Dua Lipa: Complete Edition (2018), the super deluxe reissue of Lipa's eponymous debut studio album.
"IDGAF" is a song by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa from her eponymous debut studio album (2017). The song was written by Lipa, MNEK, Larzz Principato, Skyler Stonestreet, and Whiskey Water, with Koz handling the production. It was released for digital download and streaming on 12 January 2018 as the eighth and final single from the album. A pop song, Lipa uses a deadpan vocal delivery, backed by an electro palm-muted electric guitar riff and a militaristic drum line. Lyrically, the song is about an ex-boyfriend who intends to get back with the singer, who is uninterested.
"New Rules" is a song by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa from her eponymous debut studio album (2017). The song was written by Caroline Ailin, Emily Warren, and Ian Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick also handled the production and offered it to Lipa after it was rejected by multiple artists. The song was released through Warner Bros. Records for digital download and streaming on 7 July 2017 as the album's seventh single. It is an electropop and tropical house track with an EDM production that includes dance-pop beats and dancehall rhythms. The lyrics see Lipa giving herself a set of rules in order to get over a former boyfriend. Lipa stated that it was the breakup song that she wished she had when she was breaking up with someone.
"One Kiss" is a song by Scottish DJ and record producer Calvin Harris featuring English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa. The song was released for digital download and streaming as a standalone single, through Columbia Records and Sony Music on 6 April 2018. It was later included on Dua Lipa: Complete Edition (2018), the super deluxe reissue of Lipa's eponymous debut studio album, and on Harris' seventh studio album, 96 Months (2024). The song was written by Harris and Lipa alongside Canadian singer Jessie Reyez, with Harris solely handling the production. It is a garage house, dance-pop, eurodance, tropical house, deep House, diva house & funk House song with 1990s, electro house, eurodance, funky disco, funk house, psychedelic electropop, UK garage, UK funky and '90s-style house elements. Horns, organs, and a synth-line are featured within the song, as well as house beats. Lyrically, the song is about instantly falling in love with a romantical interest after a kiss.
"Kiss and Make Up" is a song by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa and South Korean girl group Blackpink from Dua Lipa: Complete Edition (2018), the reissue of the former's eponymous debut studio album. The song was written by Lipa, Chelcee Grimes, Yannick Rastogi, Zacharie Raymond, Mathieu Jomphe-Lepine, Marc Vincent, and Teddy Park, while production was handled by Banx & Ranx. It was released through Warner Bros. Records as the final promotional single from all editions of the album on 19 October 2018, alongside the reissue's release.
"Don't Start Now" is a song by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa. Lipa wrote the song 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 her second studio album, Future Nostalgia (2020). A nu-disco song, it features a funk bassline, inspired by music by the Bee Gees, Daft Punk and Two Door Cinema Club. Elements used in the production include handclaps, a crowd noise, cowbells, synth bursts and accented strings. Lyrically, Lipa celebrates her independence and instructs a former lover to forget about their past relationship.
Future Nostalgia is the second studio album by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa. It was released on 27 March 2020 by Warner Records. Lipa enlisted writers and producers including Jeff Bhasker, Ian Kirkpatrick, Stuart Price, the Monsters & Strangerz, and Koz to create a "nostalgic" pop and disco record containing influences from dance-pop and electronic music. The album was inspired by the music that Lipa enjoyed during her childhood.
"Physical" is a song by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa from her second studio album, Future Nostalgia (2020). Lipa wrote the song with Jason Evigan, Clarence Coffee Jr. and Sarah Hudson, taking inspiration from 1980s music and the 1983 film Flashdance. It was produced by Evigan and Koz, and stemmed from a Persian flute synth sample that was played by the former. An uptempo dance-pop, power pop and synth-pop song, the song features a chugging synth bassline, drums and various percussion instruments. Lipa uses a spoken word, belting and chanting vocal delivery. The lyrics describe the honeymoon phase of a relationship and the importance of trusting one's instincts.
"Levitating" is a song by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa from her second studio album, Future Nostalgia (2020). The song was written by Lipa, Clarence Coffee Jr., Sarah Hudson, and Koz, who produced the song with Stuart Price, and stemmed from a Roland VP-330 synthesizer sample played by Koz. The song is an electro-disco and nu-disco song with several disco tropes. It incorporates elements of dance-pop, pop-funk, power pop and space rock, as well as 1970s, 1980s and 1990s pop and R&B styles. The lyrics describe the idea of "levitating" when falling in love, with several outer space references.
"Love Again" is a song by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa from her second studio album, Future Nostalgia (2020). The song was written by Lipa alongside Clarence Coffee Jr., Chelcee Grimes and its producer Koz. They wrote the song based on the concept of manifesting positive things into one's life and Lipa later described it as her favourite song on the album. It was sent for radio airplay in France on 11 March 2021 as the sixth and final single from Future Nostalgia before being released for digital download and streaming on 4 June globally. It is a classic-sounding dance-pop, disco and electropop song with a 21st-century nu-disco production that includes disco beats and 1970s-styled disco strings. The song samples "My Woman" by Al Bowlly with Lew Stone and His Monseigneur Band, using it for several aspects, thus Bing Crosby, Max Wartell and Irving Wallman are also credited as writers. The lyrics explore themes of heartbreak and personal growth, seeing Lipa falling in love again with a new lover following a rough split.
"Break My Heart" is a song by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa from her second studio album, Future Nostalgia (2020). The song was written by Lipa, Ali Tamposi, Stefan Johnson, Jordan K. Johnson, and Andrew Watt, while the production was handled by Watt alongside the Monsters & Strangerz. Due to a similarity to the guitar riff in INXS's 1987 song "Need You Tonight", band members Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence are also credited as writers, and the similarity is credited as an interpolation. The song was released for digital download and streaming through Warner Records as the third single from Future Nostalgia on 25 March 2020. It is a retro-futuristic dance-pop and disco-funk song with elements of house and 1980s music that is set to a Europop beat. A vulnerable song, it sees Lipa questioning whether a new love will leave her broken-hearted.
"Prisoner" is a song by American singer Miley Cyrus featuring English singer Dua Lipa. It was released on November 19, 2020, through RCA Records as the second single from Cyrus' seventh studio album Plastic Hearts (2020). It was also included on the re-issue of Lipa's second studio album Future Nostalgia: The Moonlight Edition (2021). It is a dance, dark-pop, disco-punk, disco-rock, glam rock and nu-disco song produced by Andrew Watt and the Monsters & Strangerz.
"Cold Heart (Pnau remix)" is a song by English singer and songwriter Elton John and English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa from the former's 32nd studio album, The Lockdown Sessions (2021). It was released on 13 August 2021 as the lead single from the album for digital download and streaming in various countries by EMI and Mercury. Created during the COVID-19 pandemic, the collaboration between the artists was a testament to their friendship, which was established in November 2020. The song is a medley of four songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, as well as Andrew Meecham, Dean Meredith, Nicholas Littlemore, Peter Mayes and Sam Littlemore, with the production completed by the latter three as part of the dance music group Pnau. Interpolating John's songs "Rocket Man" (1972), "Kiss the Bride" (1983), "Sacrifice" (1989) and "Where's the Shoorah?" (1976), the remix is an upbeat contemporary synth-pop, dance, dance-pop and pop song describing the decline of a relationship.
"Sweetest Pie" is a song by American rapper Megan Thee Stallion and English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa, released on March 11, 2022, through 1501 Certified and 300 Entertainment. The song serves as the lead single from Megan Thee Stallion's second studio album Traumazine.
"Dance the Night" is a song by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa from the soundtrack to the 2023 fantasy comedy film Barbie. Lipa co-wrote the song with songwriter Caroline Ailin and its producers Andrew Wyatt and Mark Ronson, with the Picard Brothers also contributing to production. Atlantic and Warner Records released the song as the soundtrack's lead single on 25 May 2023. A disco, disco-pop, and synth-pop song, it was inspired by a dance sequence in the film and is about always appearing perfect externally.
"Training Season" is a song by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa from her third studio album, Radical Optimism (2024). Lipa wrote it with Caroline Ailin, Danny L Harle, Tobias Jesso Jr., Martina Sorbara, Nicholas Gale, Shaun Frank, Steve Francis Richard Mastroianni, Yaakov Gruzman, and its producer, Kevin Parker. Warner Records released it as the album's second single on 15 February 2024. A disco-pop song with influences of Eurodisco, "Training Season" details Lipa's demands from romantic partners as she chides bad dates and underscores her self-worth.
"Illusion" is a song by English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa. It was released through Warner Records on 11 April 2024, as the third single from her third studio album, Radical Optimism (2024). A dance song containing psychedelic and French house influences, it was written by Lipa along with Caroline Ailin, Tobias Jesso Jr., and its producers Danny L Harle and Kevin Parker. "Illusion" topped the US Dance/Electronic Songs chart and reached the top ten in the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Croatia, Honduras, San Marino, Flanders, Turkey, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.