Love Again (Dua Lipa song)

Chelcee Grimes (pictured) co-wrote "Love Again" and contributes backing vocals.

"Love Again" was written by Lipa and her longtime collaborators Clarence Coffee Jr., Chelcee Grimes, and Stephen Kozmeniuk.[1] They began working on the song while Lipa was going through a rough patch with a breakup. She had been in a relationship with someone who had been "dishonest" to her and realized it was no longer "healthy" for her. During the relationship, Lipa didn't recognize herself and felt as though she had lost her "power", as she usually sees herself as a "strong" woman. The collaborators had been working together in the studio for a couple days, but they hadn't written anything they liked. Lipa was running late to that studio that day, while Kozmeniuk came in early determined to make something cool. With her second studio album Future Nostalgia, Lipa wanted to create "old-styled" music with a modern twist, being inspired by artists that she grew up listening to. Having known that, Kozmeniuk played with some analog synths and came up with a rudimentary chord progression. He then added a guitar riff on top and a drum break throughout the song. Acoustic guitars were then added.[2]

Clarence Coffee Jr. sang the riff of "My Woman" (1932) by Al Bowlly (pictured left) which resulted in elements of the song included in "Love Again" and the crediting of the song's writers that include Bing Crosby (pictured right).

When Lipa arrived at the studio, Grimes and Coffee were playing the guitar and singing "Hotdamn, you got me in love again". Lipa quickly rejected the line and changed it to "Goddamn, you got me in love again". She began expressing her feelings about the relationship to the writers, and Coffee suggested writing about that.[2] They decided to begin the song with a concept of manifesting positive energy into ones life and realizing some things "need to end."[3][4] Lipa thought that if she wrote about this, she might feel better. They started writing "Love Again" on a guitar and the song was originally in a non-standard song structure, which Lipa was fine with. Lipa thought that the version "felt good".[2] Following the session, Kozmeniuk was reading a Studio 54 book and he was picturing the work of Donna Summer where she had build with a lot of drums before and string part and then the song. Inspired by this, he got his neighbor, Drew Jurecka, to play the violin and strings. Kozmeniuk quickly sent the string version to Lipa, which she expressed her admiration for how "dramatic" it was. However, all the collaborators agreed that the song was still missing something. Later, two beats were added to the middle eight to build for a string part before "exploding" with the chorus. One night while they were all in a studio, Coffee began singing the riff of Al Bowlly's 1932 track "My Woman" overtop of what they had. Lipa thought the riff was from Star Wars, while Grimes thought it was eerie and spooky. Lipa then suggested that they should incorporate it into "Love Again". Kozmeniuk spent a lot of time doing so with several different pitch corrections as "Love Again" and "My Woman" were in different keys.[2] Due to this, Bing Crosby, Max Wartell and Irving Wallman were credited as writers.[1]

Lipa's vocals were recorded at RAK Studios in London. She went to the studio with her vocal producer Lorna Blackwood. Blackwood told Lipa to sing the sad parts of the song with a smile. Lipa recorded the ad libs last which she was nervous for thinking she would go off pitch. However, the nerves went away as the booth is like a school bathroom with great acoustics where anything sounds great. Coffee and Grimes questioned Lipa on including the line "I'll sink my teeth in disbelief" but Lipa fought really hard for it. She described it as a visual line where you can almost taste how good something is, like the rush of adrenaline when she is about to get on stage.[2] The line was originally "don't wake me up if it's a dream".[5] Lipa described "Love Again" as "dance crying" as it is a dance song with the juxtaposition of both happy and sad feelings. As the song was written in parts instead of a complete track, there were several different versions of it. At one point Lipa suggested making the current middle eight the chorus, but quickly went demo version. After the song was finished, the collaborators spent a lot of time getting the structure right and playing with the arrangements, right up until the final mix.[2] Lipa described "Love Again" as her favourite song on Future Nostalgia.[6]

"Love Again" is a dance-pop, disco and electro song with a classic sound.[7][8][9][10] The song's melodramatic 21st-century nu-disco production matches its lyrics,[11][12] and includes "gloopy" violins,[13] orchestral sounds,[7][10] acoustic guitars,[14] as well as disco beats and synths.[15][16] "Swooning", "stirring", and "buzzing" 1970s disco strings are also included, which add an emotional edge to the lyrics.[8][11][17][18] Acoustic guitar strums are included in the "echoing" bridge, before a repetitive hook and a "thudding" beat drop.[10][19][20] Elements of "My Woman" (1932) by Al Bowlly are featured in the intro and woven in and out throughout the song.[1][21] These elements include its strings, horn, and trumpet, the latter of which was made popular by its sample in White Town's 1997 song "Your Woman".[22][23][24] Horse Meat Disco's 1980s-style percussion and synth-heavy[25][26] remix of the song introduces simple melodies, funk-laced instrumentals, and "strutting" beats with a "squelchy, retro charm;" although, the "My Woman" elements are no longer heard.[27][28][29]

Lipa uses her lower register "husky" vocals that encapsulate an undeniable sense of urgency, as if she is mimicking the rush of falling in love with hints of tension ever so often.[19][20] Lyrically, "Love Again" explores themes of heartbreak and personal growth with proclamations of rediscovered love.[8][30] Lipa expresses her powerlessness in a new relationship, and explains how terrifying it can be.[13][31] The context sees her navigating her feelings and being unexpectedly swept off her feet by a new partner following a messy split with a previous lover.[10][15][32] Lipa knows how a new love could end, but is faithful and open to what the future might bring.[9][15][21] Lipa additionally described it as one manifesting good things into their lives when things aren't going their way.[33] The song quotes the chorus melody of "Don't Cha" (2005) by The Pussycat Dolls.[34]

"Love Again" was released through Warner Records in various countries on 27 March 2020 as the eighth track on Lipa's second studio album Future Nostalgia.[35] A lyric video for it was released on 9 April 2020.[36] She performed the song for the first time on 30 March 2020 in a virtual performance for Amazon Music UK.[37] On 29 May 2020, she performed it in a charity livestream for the COVID-19 pandemic.[38] Lipa performed it during her NPR Tiny Desk Concert, released 4 December 2020.[39] Lipa described the performance as a "special" rendition of the song, and the concert was filmed in London instead of Washington, D.C. where the concerts normally take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[40] She was accompanied by four backup singers, a bassist, a guitarist, and a drum machine.[41] The song was the subject of a Song Exploder volume 2 episode on Netflix, released on 15 December 2020.[42][43][44] A remix of "Love Again" by Horse Meat Disco is apart on Lipa and The Blessed Madonna's 28 August 2020-released, DJ Mix-crafted remix album Club Future Nostalgia,[45] while the original version of the remix was released for digital download and streaming on 11 September 2020.[46]

Elly Watson of DIY praised the use of the "My Woman" elements, calling them "goosebump-inducing,"[47] while musicOMH's Nick Smith stated they has a "slapping effect." Smith went on to call the song a "highlight" and compared it to Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005).[48] Writing for Stereogum, Chris DeVille thought the song was reminiscent of Vicki Sue Robinson's "Turn the Beat Around"(1976),[34] while Jeffrey Davies' review for Spectrum Culture saw him compare it to "I Feel Love" (1977) by Donna Summer.[9] The Independent's Helen Brown thought that the song has Lipa's best use of a sample with the "My Woman" elements. She also named it Lipa's "most romantic song" to date,[17] while David Levesley's GQ review saw him calling the song her "most powerfully pro-love song to date."[49]

Jonathan Wright of God Is in the TV commended the "excellent" use of the "My Woman" elements, as well as complimenting the string arrangement and middle eight.[50] In her review for The Guardian, Laura Snapes complimented Lipa for being awestruck in the song.[51] Slant Magazine ranked "Love Again" as 2020's 25th best song,[52] and writer Sal Cinquemani praised it for demonstrating "Lipa's knack for wringing pathos from everyday dating woes and pouring it into sublime dance-pop." He additionally viewed the song as "euphoric" and a "dizzying dance-floor filler."[7] Writing for Crack Magazine, Michael Cragg thought that the song is a "sky-scraping ballad" that transforms into a "sophisticated, dancefloor-ready bop."[13] From her review in Billboard, Bianca Gracie saw that the use of strings add a "jolt of nostalgia," while the lyrics see Lipa in an "out-of-body love experience." Overall, she named it Future Nostalgia's sixth best track and one of the album's sultrier moments.[18]

Mike Nied of Idolator commended Lipa's "dulcet" vocals, stating they work well for this song. He continued by noting its contrast to her single "Don't Start Now" (2019) as well as viewing "Love Again" as a vulnerable moment.[15] For Business Insider, Callie Ahlgrim thought that Lipa's vocals "shine" on the track, while also calling it "cinematic."[20] In a negative review from PopMatters, Nick Malone stated that the hook doesn't "pop" the way it needs to, Lipa's vocals are "non-committal," and the "My Woman" elements do not make it "soar."[19] In a separate review for the same magazine, Evan Sawdey commended the "clever" use of the "My Woman" elements, stating it makes the song "stand out."[53] In April 2020, Christopher Rosa of Glamour ranked it as Lipa's sixth best song, viewing it as the album's most "overtly disco" track and "grandiose ode to falling in love against your better wishes."[12]

Upon Future Nostalgia's release, "Love Again" became a relatively successful album track across Europe. The song reached number 43 in Lithuania,[54] 107 in Portugal,[55] 86 in Romania,[56] 69 in Slovakia,[57] and 90 in Spain.[58] It additionally entered at number 61 on both the UK Singles Downloads Chart and UK Audio Streaming Chart.[59][60] In the United Kingdom, "Love Again" was the most downloaded album track from Future Nostalgia.[61]

• Digital download / streaming – Horse Meat Disco Remix[46]

1. "Love Again" (Horse Meat Disco Remix) – 5:31

Credits adapted from Tidal and the liner notes of Future Nostalgia.[1][62]

Recording

• Lead vocals recorded at RAK Studios (London, United Kingdom)
• Mixed at Studio 55 (Los Angeles, California)
• Mastered at Sterling Sound (Edgewater, New Jersey)

Personnel

• Dua Lipa – vocals
• Koz – production, bass, drums, guitar, synthesizer
• Stuart Price – additional production, bass guitar, keyboards
• Clarence Coffee Jr. – backing vocals
• Chelcee Grimes – backing vocals
• Alma Goodman – backing vocals
• Vanessa Luciano – backing vocals
• Drew Jurecka – bass violin, string arrangement, string recording engineering, viola, violin
• Ash Soan – Tom Toms drums
• Matt Snell – engineering
• Lorna Blackwood – programming, vocal production
• Cameron Gower Poole – vocal engineer
• Matty Green – mixing
• Chris Gehringer – mastering

• Your Woman

• Audio on YouTube
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
• Horse Meat Disco Remix on YouTube