Dua Lipa. Known for her big studio productions, and even bigger stadium shows worldwide. But 21 million fans’ jaws just about hit the floor when they heard 20-year-old Dua’s raw soul power singing in a tiny German pub. Singing “Be the One” in the intimate venue, with no big studio production, gave an insight into just what Dua is capable of when she strips things right back. Fans said this live version blew the studio cut out of the water, and The Music Man has to agree there!
Dua really locks into a powerful, soulful vibe on the track, while the hypnotic groove of the band provides the perfect counterpoint. The English hitmaker sang “Be the One” for German TV show Inas Nacht, and you can see from the reaction of the Inas Nacht hosts that they are witnessing something really special here. With such chemistry on display here, it’s no surprise that the performance became a viral hit, with 21.4 million viewers tuning in on YouTube.
Dua made her Inas Nacht appearance on July 7, 2016. Fans were loving the vibes of the performance and added comments such as “Are you kidding me? Four musicians in a pub and it sounds even way better than on the record? Wow” and “Finally a ‘live’ performance that’s not manipulated post recording. Great to finally hear Dua’s true voice.”
One of The Music Man’s all-time favorite Dua Lipa performances is another stripped-back number, “Do I Wanna Know?” The English star performed the Arctic Monkeys breakup anthem in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, with just a sole piano part for accompaniment. As a huge Arctic Monkeys fan, I have to say she did a stellar job on this cover. This intimate arrangement and the feeling she sang it with really made it so raw and intense, bringing out the lyrics perfectly.
Dua issued “Be the One” on October 30, 2015, as the second single from her debut self-titled studio album. The song became her breakout hit and hit three times Platinum in the UK and Gold in the US.
The Music Man readers might be interested to hear that despite the success of the song, Dua almost initially knocked it back at first. “Be the One” was penned by Lucy Taylor, Nick Gale, and Jack Tarrant, and chronicled Taylor’s relationship at the time.
The trio offered the song to Dua. She loved the song but was reluctant to record it at first. Dua was seeking to establish herself as a singer-songwriter with her forthcoming debut album and wasn’t sure about including a song that she didn’t write. After a push from her management, Dua subsequently included it on her debut album. It was one of only two included songs on the album that she didn’t co-write, with the other being her megahit “New Rules.”