Dua Lipa’s disco-pop anthem from her Future Nostalgia album that became one of the longest-running hits on the Billboard Hot 100, spending 77 weeks on the chart and becoming the defining song of 2021’s pandemic pop renaissance.
The Disco Revival
“Levitating” perfectly captured the escapist disco energy that defined Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia era. The DaBaby remix, released in October 2020, propelled the song to new heights, though the original version remained popular on TikTok where it soundtracked millions of dance videos.
The song’s infectious bassline and “You want me, I want you, baby” hook made it irresistible for content creators. Dance challenges proliferated across TikTok, with the #LevitatingChallenge generating billions of views.
Chart Longevity
“Levitating” peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 (blocked from #1 by Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License”) but became one of the longest-running hits in chart history, spending 77 weeks on the Hot 100. It was the #1 song of 2021 on Billboard’s year-end chart despite never reaching #1 weekly.
Cultural Impact
The song represented how upbeat, danceable pop music helped people cope with pandemic lockdowns. Its retro disco sound influenced a wave of 2020s pop production, and it established Dua Lipa as a major global pop force.
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