Music Friday: Dua Lipa Is Feeling ‘Diamond Rich’ in Her ’80s-Inspired Hit, ‘Physical’

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you outstanding songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, red-hot recording artist Dua Lipa channels the synth-pop sound of the 1980s with her 2020 international dance hit, "Physical."

In this song inspired by Olivia Newton-John's 1981 classic of the same name, Lipa uses a gem metaphor to describe the extraordinary feeling of being head-over-heels in love.

She sings, "Common love isn't for us / We created something phenomenal / Don't you agree? / Don't you agree? / You got me feeling diamond rich / Nothing on this planet compares to it / Don't you agree? / Don't you agree?"

Lipa told Billboard magazine that the song she wrote with Jason Evigan, Clarence Coffee Jr. and Sarah Hudson is very '80s inspired.

"It's quite Flashdance-y," she said, referencing the 1983 cult classic. "It's fun, you can dance to it. It's definitely my craziest of high energy songs."

The retro vibe of "Physical" instantly connected with the Brit's international fan base. The song charted in 48 countries, including #1 spots in Croatia, Israel, Lebanon, Poland and Slovakia. The song went platinum in the US, Canada and the UK.

"Physical" earned the critical acclaim of music critics, as well. They called it "this decade's perfect workout song," "a perfect pop song" and "an instant classic." It was also nominated for International Song of the Year at the 2020 NRJ Music Awards and Song of the Year at the 2021 Brit Awards.

Now 26, the London-born model-turned-singer was musically influenced by her father, who was the frontman of the Kosovan rock band, Oda.

At Fitzjohn's Primary School in London, Lipa wasn't disheartened when the teacher heading the school choir told her "she could not sing." Instead, the nine-year-old took weekend singing lessons at the Sylvia Young Theatre School.

As a high-schooler, she uploaded to YouTube videos of herself covering the songs of Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera.

Lipa became a model, which led to a role as the "singer" in and ad for The X Factor music competition show in 2013. A year later, she would ink a deal with Warner Bros. Records.

Please check out the audio track of Lipa performing "Physical." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

"Physical"
Written by Dua Lipa, Jason Evigan, Clarence Coffee Jr. and Sarah Hudson. Performed by Dua Lipa.

Common love isn't for us
We created something phenomenal
Don't you agree?
Don't you agree?
You got me feeling diamond rich
Nothing on this planet compares to it
Don't you agree?
Don't you agree?

Who needs to go to sleep, when I got you next to me?

All night I'll riot with you
I know you got my back and you know I got you
So come on, come on, come on
Let's get physical
Lights out, follow the noise
Baby keep on dancing like you ain't got a choice
So come on, come on, come on
Let's get physical

Adrenaline keeps on rushing in
Love the simulation we're dreaming in
Don't you agree?
Don't you agree?
I don't wanna live another life
Cuz this one's pretty nice
Living it up

Who needs to go to sleep, when I got you next to me?

All night I'll riot with you
I know you got my back and you know I got you
So come on, come on, come on
Let's get physical
Lights out, follow the noise
Baby keep on dancing like you ain't got a choice
So come on, come on, come on
Let's get physical

Hold on just a little tighter
Come on
Hold on, tell me if you're ready
Come on
Baby keep on dancing
Let's get physical
Hold on just a little tighter
Come on
Hold on, tell me if you're ready
Come on
Baby keep on dancing
Let's get physical

All night I'll riot with you
I know you got my back and you know I got you
So come on, come on, come on
Let's get physical
Lights out, follow the noise
Baby keep on dancing like you ain't got a choice
So come on, come on, come on
Let's get physical

Let's get physical
(Physical)
Let's get physical
Come on, physical

Credit: Image by Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.