9781422270844

Breakthrough English singer and songwriter Dua Lipa tip-toed along the fringes of superstardom during the early years of her career, rolling out a series of moderately successful songs for her self-titled debut album. However, once “New Rules” was unveiled and hit the airwaves in the summer of 2017, her head-turning, life-changing work resonated all the way across the Atlantic Ocean, turning the 22-year-old emerging European star into a household name in big cities and small towns stretching from NewYork City to Los Angeles while also catapulting her onto the doorstep of global greatness. The 3-minute and 29-second masterpiece featured Lipa’s dynamic and distinct voice operating at its wide-ranging and glorious best. Music critics gushed, fans roared, and the music industry prepped to lay down the welcome mat for the arrival of its newest superstar. “New Rules” hurtled up music charts worldwide. It cracked the Top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it climbed as high as No. 6 while spending a notable 48 weeks on the list. North of the border, the song rocketed to No. 7 in Canada. It also found widespread acclaim overseas, becoming Lipa’s first No. 1 hit in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. By claiming that top spot on the UK list, Lipa became the first female solo artist to reach that prestigious spot since 15-time Grammy Award winner Adele did so with “Hello” in 2015. Her leap to the top slot on the Pop Songs Airplay Chart also had executives at Warner Brothers Records rejoicing, as it marked the first time one of their female singers had corralled that No. 1 spot since Madonna hit the jackpot with “Take a Bow” more than two decades ago. Time magazine also ranked it No. 1 on its Top Songs of 2017 list, ahead of rapper Cardi B’s “BodakYellow,” pop star Selena Gomez’s “Bad Liar,” and country singer Kelsea Ballerini’s “Legends.” Talented and Tenacious

Empowering and enlightening, the song centers on a popular topic in the music industry—breakups—but the track pulls in listeners in a way unique to Lipa. She sings heartfelt, commanding, sensible lyrics stressing control and self-care amid the pain and despair that accompanies relationships that have crumbled. The creative chorus is punctuated with a trio of rules to abide by in the wake of a relationship fracturing: don’t pick up the phone, don’t let him in, and don’t be his friend.

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Dua Lipa