How Houdini lyrics ‘became a mantra’ for Dua Lipa, who turned his trick into a viral song

Dua Lipa released the first single Houdini from her third album, Radical Optimism, in November 2023 (Images: @dualipa/Instagram)

It’s been almost two years since Dua Lipa’s song Houdini went viral for its electrifying beats, topping the charts and staying on the Billboard for several weeks. The English-Albanian singer opened the 2024 Grammys dancing to the number that has now achieved iconic status.

Inspired by Houdini, the song was created alongside Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, Caroline Ailin, Danny L. Harle, and Tobias Jesso Jr. In a content series, Dua revealed how Catch Me or I Go became the basis of the story. She added, “This song is about the act of disappearing when something no longer serves you.” It’s reminiscent of the legacy left behind by Harry Houdini himself.

Who Was Harry Houdini?

Harry Houdini, born Erik Weisz in Hungary on March 24, 1874, was a magician who craved more than ordinary tricks and turned to performing daring feats, which included breaking free from handcuffs, jail cells, water-filled milk cans, and even coffins. His claim to fame was the Chinese Water Torture Cell, where he was chained and lowered headfirst into a water tank. With time running out, he escaped every time, leaving the audience spellbound. He came to be associated with escaping danger, expectations, and bad relationships — a perfect inspiration for Dua’s song.

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Dua Lipa Creates Houdini — a Viral Pop Song

Dua Lipa released the first single Houdini from her third album, Radical Optimism, in November 2023. The singer shared how the song brought the entire album together. She told Hits 1 LA, “We wrote two songs, one after the other, and Houdini was one of them… And I was like, 'Okay, I feel like now I know exactly what this album's gonna be and what it's gonna sound like.'"

In the content series by American Express, Dua revealed she was “fed up” with her dating life, and hence, the song turned into a “psychedelic club track” about ghosting, with a side of optimism.

She added, “...if I’m going to get up onstage and sing that song over and over again, it kind of becomes a mantra. I’ve got to be careful with what I’m saying, because then it starts to ring true.”

In interviews, she shared that the song was written like a personal diary, inspired by the feeling of knowing when to walk away. Houdini symbolised ghosting with grace — gauging the warning signs, listening to your instincts, and slipping away.

Impact of the Song

It took no time for the song to go wildly viral online. Fans even went to the extent of performing choreographed versions of the track at Houdini’s actual grave. A TikTok clip captioned, “RIP Harry, you would’ve loved Dua Lipa,” garnered over 2.7 million views. Dua, too, participated at LA’s Houdini Estate, where she danced to the song with fans, soaked in the spirit of the late magician. She shared with Audacy in an interview, "You're figuring out what you like, what you don't like, what you deserve... and then choosing when to stay and when to 'Houdini,' essentially.”

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Houdini-Inspired Songs by Other Artists

Houdini metaphors have been used across different genres and eras by several artists. Some of the popular names include Eminem, pop band Foster the People, and Kate Bush, among others. They have drawn upon emotions prominent in Houdini’s life, including anger, love, deception, and vulnerability.