Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism

[avamaxstan]

May 19, 2024 7:36:22 GMT -5 schnetzka said:

Obviously people are here for Dua since the album debuted at #2 on Billboard Top 200 but for some reason the songs aren't doing all that well. Would this put her into the category of an "album artist"? I've always preferred albums to singles anyway.

Lol calling Dua an album artist is quiiiite the reach. The album debuted respectably then promptly went into freefall. She's really been a singles artist for her career, but now the singles just aren't hitting.

[Choco]

Right now she's more of a... nothing artist? The singles aren't connecting and the album isn't either lol. She's never been quite into either territory full time either. Debut didn't peak super high but had legs and the hits carried it to a Platinum cert without ever doing better than #27 on the chart. Then Future Nostalgia had a lukewarm debut but amazing legs and I'd say that morphed her from more of a singles artist into doing well on both measures. Then this era didn't connect on either front.

The fact that she more or less went radio silent after opening week doesn't help. There are no hits to keep it charting and sales are never going to hold well on the 2024 market. People that wanted that vinyl already got it first week and that's how it works right now.

[owenlovesmusic]

I listened to this album the other day for the first time. Honestly, I was pretty underwhelmed when comparing it to Future Nostalgia. I do think Don't Start Now and Levitating with DaBaby will go down as two of the greatest pop songs of all time.

[Dammn Baby]

It's like she's in a body-switching movie with Sabrina Carpenter.

[avamaxstan]

Jun 1, 2024 16:20:01 GMT -5 Dammn Baby said:

It's like she's in a body-switching movie with Sabrina Carpenter.

On NYT’s Popcast last week they were analyzing what went wrong for her this era, and said the album is so polished and devoid of any quirks or messiness, which is what a pop song in todays market needs to blow up. They compared it to Espresso, which was clearly constructed with meme-ability in mind and to be snippet-friendly.

[wjr15]

Dua started her Radical Optimism Tour yesterday in Berlin and I saw that she left out ‘Dance The Night’ on the set list. That’s very odd considering it’s her biggest hit post-FN. And she’s only performs 5 songs from her new album, the 3 singles + These Walls + Happy For You.

[HEADOFTHEPACK]

Jun 1, 2024 19:01:52 GMT -5 avamaxstan said:

Jun 1, 2024 16:20:01 GMT -5 Dammn Baby said:

It's like she's in a body-switching movie with Sabrina Carpenter.

On NYT’s Popcast last week they were analyzing what went wrong for her this era, and said the album is so polished and devoid of any quirks or messiness, which is what a pop song in todays market needs to blow up. They compared it to Espresso, which was clearly constructed with meme-ability in mind and to be snippet-friendly.

I listened as well and the Espresso stuff sort of passed me by, but yeah - we’ve talked about it here too, it’s good there just isn’t a whole lot to it. Not many faults, but that doesn’t make it great, and it’s missing an uber smash or two that would make that a none issue. They mentioned the campaign being too long with no real story either, which created a vacuum, and the story became “Is Dua Flopping?” - definitely true ha.

[Juan Carlos]

Dua revealed that she shot a music video (for her next single) in Budapest.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8HABCwslLY

[wjr15]

I assume it’s gonna be ‘These Walls’ or ‘Happy For You’ since those are the only non-singles from Radical Optimism that she performs on tour. ‘These Walls’ is the best choice so I hope they go with that.

[divasummer]

I like “These Walls”, but my next favorite off this project is “Whatcha Doing”.
I really like “End Of An Era” as well.

[Enigma.]

This era has been a complete mess since March. Wonder who's in charge?

[PGriffin]

Jun 13, 2024 2:41:55 GMT -5 Enigma. said:

This era has been a complete mess since March. Wonder who's in charge?

Apparently her dad  . Maybe the team felt like she made it to the upper echelon of pop stardom and could coast on previous success?

[Juan Carlos]

She shot the music video for "Falling Forever" in Budapest.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8HNIGFMaET

From Refresher HU: (translated from Hungarian)

Last week, the singer visited Hungary, where she shot a music video for the song "Falling Forever".

Last Wednesday, June 5, Dua Lipa started her summer mini-tour in Berlin, within the framework of which she will perform songs from her latest album, Radical Optimism, in nine European cities.

In addition to the concerts, however, the singer tries to complete the feeling of radical optimism in other ways, and as can be seen from the gallery she recently shared on Instagram, she shot the video clip for one of the album's tracks in Budapest.

According to our insider information, the singer arrived in Budapest after last Wednesday's concert in Berlin, where she shot a video clip for the track "Falling Forever" at Korda Studio, and presumably stayed in the country until her performance in Croatia, i.e. Sunday.

[wjr15]

Oh wow, I wasn’t expecting that. This song grew on me a lot the more I listened to it, so hopefully the GP reacts the same.

[schnetzka]

If it does turn to be "Falling Forever" then I wonder why she didn't include it in her tour setlist.

[Choco]

Fans believe the show will get another setlist after the summer but I think it's mostly speculation.

She can honestly let "Pretty Please" go and add FF instead. "Dance The Night" she should add somewhere as well.

[Eqbk]

I am really loving this album. It's a fun, easy-to-get-through album, and perfect for the summer. That said, I get why it may not connect with the masses. First, the album as a whole didn't really meet the expectations of being psychedelic influenced. Second, this is the type of album I expect from a veteran that's been in the business for a while. This album (and really this era so far), feels like she's taking a victory lap and relishing in her accomplishments even though it's only her third album. It's a stark contrast to her previous album, where the music felt bigger and more ambitious. You could feel her need to up her game and better herself.

As for "Falling Forever" possibly being the next single, it's certainly an interesting (and unexpected) choice. I do like the song but "These Walls" and "Watcha Doing" felt like more obvious choices. Perhaps it's because the first 3 singles were Kevin Parker produced and they are hoping for better results by pivoting to an Ian Kirkpatrick produced song. If it does become the next single, they might want to consider releasing a single edit that removes the jump scare intro (or maybe they're hoping it makes the song stand out, I honestly don't know what the thought process is behind this decision).

Imagine casually listening to radio or streaming and then all of a sudden: HOOW LOOOOOoooOOOOOOoooOOOOOng HOW LONG!!!!!

[Love Plastic Love]

If Falling Forever is the next single, the reasoning I can see is that they need a big change of pace from Houdini/Training Season. These Walls is the fan favorite, but fits in perfectly with those songs sonically. Falling Forever definitely stands out and is a bit jarring, which gets away from the feeling that a lot of the songs on the cd bleed together (last part is just my opinion-I know not everyone agrees).

[Envoirment]

I hope "Falling Forever" does well, happy it's a single.

I think ending the era with "Happy For You" in the autumn/winter would be great. Then release a deluxe edition with a new lead single in Q2-3 2025.

[spiritboy]

Some people hate this because it’s not as successful as FNz I think this is a great pop album and perfect for summer.

[Ivy Leegue™]

Unpopular opinion, but after a lot of time spent with this album, I prefer it to FN. The vibes are just more aligned with my personal taste. Also, while she probably overhyped the whole "psychedelic" thing, the influences are clear as day (#iykyk), particularly in Houdini, Training Day, and Whatcha Doing. She kept things tight here and did not include any filler like the last 2 songs on FN. I didn't like the title track of that album either.

[Juan Carlos]

Extended version (57:10) of the album out tomorrow.

[PGriffin]

extended versions? I'll take a listen, because the extended version of Kylie's Disco made me fall in love with it. It felt like those songs needed more time to grow and tie together the disco sound, so maybe RO extended will have similar results.

[Juan Carlos]

I've enjoyed the extended versions of "Houdini", "Training Season" and "Illusion" whenever they were released and I even opted to listened to them over the album (or single) versions. That said, I was expecting an extended version of the album to come out and I'm glad that this happened because I think this is the version that should be the main one. Kevin Parker and Danny L Harle shine perfectly all over the album with the production and the instruments, which Dua's vocals work well on them. My only complain might be "Anything for Love", which I don't think the verse should be repeated and they could have added some instrumental part instead. Aside of that, each song being more than 4 minutes is a win in my opinion and despite that there's not any extra lyrics like "Houdini" in the rest of them, it flaws well. I hope they release a physical version (both CD and vinyl) too.

[Night Senses]

Jun 24, 2024 11:32:21 GMT -5 Ivy Leegue™ said:

Unpopular opinion, but after a lot of time spent with this album, I prefer it to FN. The vibes are just more aligned with my personal taste. Also, while she probably overhyped the whole "psychedelic" thing, the influences are clear as day (#iykyk), particularly in Houdini, Training Day, and Whatcha Doing. She kept things tight here and did not include any filler like the last 2 songs on FN. I didn't like the title track of that album either.

We can be unpopular together. I was so disappointed on my first listen because Future Nostalgia was just THAT GIRL for me and I had an unconscious bias towards it that didn’t allow me to truly give Radical Optimism a chance. However, after separating the two and really diving into what this new album is sonically, lyrically and the thematically, it just feels more authentically orchestrated. It’s not hit after hit like Future Nostalgia, but the songs make a bigger impact on me from a personal standpoint. I connect more with Radical Optimism’s content, and that what pushes it over the edge.

Objectively, though, you can’t take Future Nostalgia’s flowers away. During the height of the pandemic and over a three year calendar period, she served an era of which the likes we haven’t seen since. That’s why it’s so disappointing to see her and her team drop the ball on promoting Radical Optimism when she was so creative and resourceful during a time when doors were literally closed to her. Now that they’re all open, what’s going on?

[andrebra]

Do the extended versions have any new lyrics/bridges or anything?

[Juan Carlos]

Jun 27, 2024 23:06:50 GMT -5 andrebra said:

Do the extended versions have any new lyrics/bridges or anything?

I guess part of my comment above mentions that.

Jun 27, 2024 20:34:23 GMT -5 Juan Carlos said:

My only complain might be "Anything for Love", which I don't think the verse should be repeated and they could have added some instrumental part instead. Aside of that, each song being more than 4 minutes is a win in my opinion and despite that there's not any extra lyrics like "Houdini" in the rest of them, it flaws well.

tl;dr: "Houdini" is the only which has new lyrics, while the verse in "Anything for Love" is on loop. Besides that, the production with some added instruments and vocals in all the 11 tracks is longer.

[Choco]

Some of these tracks needed the extra room to breathe. This should have been the album version from day one and the original short ones should have been just single/radio edits.

I'm hoping they move on now. Feels like there's no point. I love FF but it doesn't strike me as the type of song that could revive an entire campaign at this point. We're about to hit July and she's hardly making any noise.

[Juan Carlos]

Dua headlined Glastonbury tonight and her show was amazing. It could be seen how much she has grown in a stage and I'm very proud of her. The setlist was similar to the one she's doing in some European countries, with the exception that she performs "Falling Forever" for the very first time live and she brought Kevin Parker to perform "The Less I Know The Better", singing with him, and "Houdini".

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8xlgcutsg1

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8x0R4ytBBd

[#brayden]

I complain about songs being too short these days but she really said "here's longer versions of each song and also we added nothing" for the extended versions. I like the extended version of "Training Season" but almost everything else just feels like it's longer for the sake of being longer.