This Dua Lipa Song Was the Most Popular Radio Hit of 2021
Dua Lipa is levitating — especially when it comes to the charts. For most of 2021, this song remained a radio hit, even earning millions of streams on music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
Dua Lipa released her chart-topping album ‘Future Nostalgia’ in 2020
From her self-titled album to Future Nostalgia, Lipa became a staple artist in the pop music scene. She released chart-topping hits like “Don’t Stop Now” and “New Rules.” She also released an official YouTube music video for her 2020 release, “Levitating.”
As one of the most popular songs on the album, “Levitating” remained on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for most of 2021. (Both the original version and the version featuring DaBaby earned streams.)
“‘Levitating’ just doing its thing on the Billboard chart is absolutely surreal,” Lipa said during an interview with Billboard’s Pop Shop Podcast. “I mean, that song has really taken a whole life of its own, and it’s been my baby for so long, and to have it out in the world, and for people’s response to be the way that it is, it’s just absolutely mind-blowing to me. So I’m really really really grateful for it all.
Dua Lipa’s ‘Levitating’ became one of the most streamed songs of 2021
Initially released in 2020 in conjunction with Future Nostalgia, “Levitating” earned praise (and streaming numbers) long after its debut. “Levitating” became the most played radio song of 2021, with almost 3 billion audience impressions.
According to Billboard, Lipa’s “Levitating” was the United States’ most-streamed song of 2021, “with 804.71 million on-demand audio and video streamed combined. It’s also the top-streamed song in terms of audio-only on-demand streams (626.56 million).”
One “Levitating” version featured rap artist DaBaby, although the musician recently came under fire for homophobic remarks. As a result, music listeners turned to the version of Lipa’s song without the added cameo. “Levitating” currently has over 410 million Spotify plays, still trailing behind “Don’t Stop Now,” which has 1.7 billion Spotify plays.
The second most heard radio song of 2021 was The Weeknd and Ariana Grande’s collaboration titled “Save Your Tears,” with about 2.4 billion audience impressions.
Dua Lipa’s ‘Future Nostalgia’ earned the Grammy Award for ‘Best Pop Vocal Album’
Additionally, Lipa earned recognition at several award ceremonies. Future Nostalgia was awarded the 2021 Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album, with Lipa even performing hits from the record at the award ceremony. (She previously the 2019 Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Dance Recording.)
Most recently, Lipa released “Cold Heart” with legendary artist Elton John, adding to her impressive list of collaborations. (The “Cool” singer previously worked with BLACKPINK, Miley Cyrus, and Calvin Harris.)
Although there’s no word regarding when, or if, Lipa will release another album, this artist embarks on her Future Nostalgia tour in 2022, featuring opening acts Megan Thee Stallion and Caroline Polachek on select dates.
