Cassandra Fong
In celebration of the fifth anniversary of Future Nostalgia (2020), Dua Lipa released a remix of her hit single ‘Physical’ featuring singer-songwriter Troye Sivan – a reimagining that deserves a closer look in this ‘Physical’ remix review.
Troye Sivan’s Style
The remix includes a new verse from Sivan, blending his melodic style with the beat to create a grand yet intimate anthem.
His signature melodic sensibility, create a dance-ready anthem that simultaneously feels both grand and personal.
“Sivan’s remix brings the lyrics into a more intimate space”
Sivan’s decision to harmonize with Lipa’s original vocal lines, particularly in the chorus, adds a new texture to the song.
His ethereal harmonies blend seamlessly with Lipa’s stronger vocals, enhancing the song’s depth while still maintaining the song’s catchy, anthemic qualities.
Vocal Layering in ‘Physical’ Remix
The vocal layering is more intricate in the remix, with Sivan’s softer tones contrasting beautifully with the driving, upfront vocals of Lipa.
The result is a more dynamic, nuanced sound that invites the listener to experience the track in a new way.
The lyrics of ‘Physical’ are inherently about physical attraction and the excitement of desire, but Sivan’s remix adds an emotional layer that wasn’t as prominent in the original.
“‘Physical’ leans heavily into 1980s-inspired synth-pop”
While Dua Lipa’s solo version of the song felt like a bold declaration, Sivan’s remix brings the lyrics into a more intimate space.
The second verse, in particular, feels like a quiet invitation to experience something more personal and vulnerable.
One of the song’s most striking features is its bold and layered production.
Review of ‘Physical’ Remix
It’s impossible to ignore the way ‘Physical’ leans heavily into 1980s-inspired synth-pop, but with a polished, modern twist.
The song opens with a sparse synth motif, before building up to full instrumentation and explosive hooks, and the remix thankfully keeps this sonic delight.
While its heavy reliance on synth-pop evokes memories of artists like Olivia Newton-John, it never feels stuck in the past.
“It’s a reimagining that opens up new possibilities for the song”
The modern production techniques, from the sidechain compression to the complex vocal layering, make the song feel fresh, current, and relevant.
But the remix’s success lies in its ability to reimagine a song that was already filled with infectious energy while maintaining the essence of what made the original great.
The synths now sweep across the track, creating a sense of fluidity and continuity that contrasts with the more aggressive, punctuated stabs of the original.
This change in texture adds depth, turning the remix from a straightforward dance anthem into something more contemplative and expansive, while in the lyrics themselves, Sivan’s verse deepens the narrative of the song.
The lines “We’re verging on the edge of spiritual / You’re deeper than you thought, it’s a miracle” hint at a heightened sense of connection and intimacy.
Sivan’s remix of ‘Physical’ is more than just a fresh spin—it’s a reimagining that opens up new possibilities for the song, and in doing so, it solidifies the track’s place as one of the defining pop anthems of the year.
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Featured image courtesy of Magnus Lunay on Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes have been made to this image..
