Dua Lipa - "Illusion"

[chickythelittlechicken]

Debuts at #100 on US iTunes

[Maximillian]

My first thought -- great MV. OK song.

This feels like one of those tracks that gets dropped in-between albums with a random DJ, does great on the dance floor, moves up the charts to #20 and fades away.

The chorus feels like a copy/cut of 100 other songs. The intro is fresh, and I really love her voice in that part. Her voice used the right way is pure joy.

I have reset my expectations on the album, and when I remove FN from my mind, this is all fine and good. I have enjoyed all 3 songs, even if they aren't *quite* as good as what I think she can deliver, and I enjoy them for what they are. I will certainly be bopping to this, but its not going to retain any "top" positions on my playlist.

Lastly, I think this didn't get a lead as it has some similarities to Dance the Night Away, and I could see where they really wanted to set off the era with a whole new vibe.

Ranking the 3:

Houdini
Illusion
Training Season

[HEADOFTHEPACK]

Prefer the other two songs but this is probably an easier sell. MV looks like Kylie's All The Lovers and Slow videos mashed together.

[chickythelittlechicken]

#73 US iTunes!

[†ealsünset]

I like the Busby Berkeley-style music video, but the chorus just isn't great.

[wjr15]

I like this. It’s a fun bop but feels kinda basic for Dua. As of now, I prefer both ‘Training Season’ and ‘Houdini’ over ‘Illusion’. I still enjoy this and I’ll have it on my playlists this summer but I don’t see it doing better than the two previous singles. Fingers crossed I’m wrong because I want Dua to get a smash hit from this album.

As for the music video, A+. Great visuals, great choreography, Dua looks hot af, and the video screams summer hit. Why couldn’t we get great videos like this for the first two singles?

[Gideon | 1/2 US Radio Updater]

Officially impacting US Pop radio now. Was serviced upon release this afternoon

[Glove Slap]

I don't like the verses. This may be my least favorite single from her in many years.

[SPRΞΞ]

didn't she say her album was gonna be raver music?

[Dylan :)]

It’s okay, but not for me. I can see it being huge in the UK and Ireland. I still think Houdini is the best song of the era and should have been pushed more. Someone pointed this out before but Training Season (which I enjoy), and now this, sound just that little bit too polished. The choruses in both are grating to me as the rhyming just feels perfect but forced kind of? I don’t know. Definitely dissapointed compared to the strength of FN, with sounds like the title track and Cool being better than anything she has released this era (Dance The Night being her best song since FN)

[getouttamyway]

The video looks so much like Kylie's Slow (with a little bit of All The Lovers thrown in).

This is such a slick and well-produced song, if it doesn't smash on radio then I don't know what will.

[🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾]

I really love this! It's a total earworm.

The music video is exquisite! Dua looks absolutely divine.

[Deleted]

It’s okay. Was expecting something else tbh

[spiritboy]

Easily the worst of the three songs released so far.

[Marooned@Midnight]

This is my least favorite of the three songs released. Really loved Training Season. Thought Houdini was ok. This is borderline annoying for me tbh. The “ooooo”’s are grating.

[Ling-Ling]

On repeated listens, the chorus becomes infuriating, lol. There's a very obvious place to end that "illuoOoOoOsion" to make it catchy and she stretches it too far and it deflates.

[Juan Carlos]

This is the latest flyer from Warner, which confirms that the adds date is this Tuesday.

[@DiegoMarcondes_]

She's delivering pop perfection again. I think I like the 3 released songs at the same intensity.
I'm watching on social media, some movement to hate everything Dua is releasing with no reason, it's like a trend at this moment. Ugh

[PGriffin]

Apr 12, 2024 2:17:06 GMT -5 getouttamyway said:

The video looks so much like Kylie's Slow (with a little bit of All The Lovers thrown in).

This is such a slick and well-produced song, if it doesn't smash on radio then I don't know what will.

I read somewhere that it was filmed at the same pool. It definitely give Kylie-lite.

[notgoodenglish]

love it.

[HEADOFTHEPACK]

Apr 11, 2024 19:18:40 GMT -5 HEADOFTHEPACK said:

Prefer the other two songs but this is probably an easier sell. MV looks like Kylie's All The Lovers and Slow videos mashed together.

So I still think it’s the weakest of the three but I’ve played it a couple times this morning and it’s hooky so I’ll give her that. I’m sure this has been said but it’s VERY Hallucinate, just made me want to go and listen to that.

[jgarbary]

KIIS just played this to kick off the 8:00 hour for New Music Friday. On
My first listen last night, I was thinking this wasn’t quite as good as Houdini. But after a few times, I’m convinced Illusions is a grower. The build up and instrumental are really good

[85la]

Apr 11, 2024 19:25:32 GMT -5 †ealsünset said:

I like the Busby Berkeley-style music video, but the chorus just isn't great.

I thought that too, somewhat of that Old Hollywood Esther Williams vibe, but a much more modern take on it. Not sure if it's an intentional allusion to that time period or whatever.

As for the song, I think it's my favorite of the 3 so far. The first two weren't quite there for me, but this seems to finally hit the mark, but since the first two under-performed, this will be a real challenge to become a bona-fide hit. If it doesn't strike hard within a few weeks after the album release, it's done. Also, it's clear that basic dance pop is her preferred, established style that she has no intentions of venturing away from.

[Bhad Bill]

Apr 11, 2024 18:47:20 GMT -5 Mike said:

LOL when I saw this shot in the MV, I was like "wow that would have been a great album cover!" Well...

Also, it’s 100 percent the pool from Kylie’s Slow music video… really Dua?

[eagle27]

Like many here and on social media, this is probably my least favorite of the three Radical Optimism singles. Has potential to be the favorite of the general public though. Maybe this could pop as the summer kicks off

[haven]

This should have been released a month later or a month earlier. Theres far too much competition right now, and im afraid its going to get swallowed up. That being said, i like the song and i hope i'm wrong.

[lchaim]

“Houdini” has a great chorus, but the verses are unmemorable. It sounded like a fourth or fifth single on first listen to me. “Training Season” is clunky and wordier than necessary and the falsetto bits killed the momentum every time.

“Illusion” is what she needs to launch the album. It’s a small departure from her usual, and it’s basic to the bone, but at least it sounds like a hit. It instantly commands attention with its flytrap hooks and her confident vocals. Unlike the first two singles, but more like “Don’t Start Now,” it’s buoyant and effortless from beginning to end. It should perform as well if not better than “Houdini.”

[Juan Carlos]

FRIDAY 4/12 UPDATE:

POP:
— 47 DUA LIPA Illusion 156 0 156 0.499

HOT AC:
— 50 DUA LIPA Illusion 53 0 53 0.149

Top 50.

[Deleted]

I will say my brain conflated this with Hallucinate in my head yesterday #oops

That also happened with me for TS to Break My Heart when that song first came out… kinda does feel like she’s chasing FN maybe a tad too much this era? FN was such a distinct departure from the debut, despite obviously staying in the dance pop realm.

[Future Captain]

I don't dislike this but releasing it just one week away from a Taylor Swift album when the previous two singles struggled to grab momentum feels like bad timing