Dua Lipa — Radical Optimism (1 Viewer)

Jark said:
yes but awarding this album 3/10 is deeply unserious and surely invites a backlash.
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The review doesn't read like a 3/10 so there may be editorial shenanigans. I think it reads more like a 5. But it's a perfectly serious review and one that makes a fair point about the relative vacuity of her lyrics.
 
A lot of the songs on Future Nostalgia were pitched to her. I’m not suggesting that she had minimal involvement in the writing but I think perhaps it set up unrealistic expectations for this follow up. This is a perfectly serviceable album.
 
08 End of an Era - I can see myself liking this even more. Very cute opener.
08 Houdini - Still listen to it all the time.
06 Training Season - A miss. Just uneventful.
07 These Walls - This is VERY Gwen Stefani to me. Great tune, but her limited vocals don't take it where it could've gone.
07 Watcha Doing - This is pleasant.
05 French Exit - Hate this chorus
07 Illusion
07 Falling Forever - I appreciate the ambition to create an anthem, but she's straining her voice past what her voice is capable of.
04 Anything For Love - No.
05 Maria - Nothing really memorable about this.
06 Happy For You
 
KindaCool said:
08 End of an Era - I can see myself liking this even more. Very cute opener.
08 Houdini - Still listen to it all the time.
06 Training Season - A miss. Just uneventful.
07 These Walls - This is VERY Gwen Stefani to me. Great tune, but her limited vocals don't take it where it could've gone.
07 Watcha Doing - This is pleasant.
05 French Exit - Hate this chorus
07 Illusion
07 Falling Forever - I appreciate the ambition to create an anthem, but she's straining her voice past what her voice is capable of.
04 Anything For Love - No.
05 Maria - Nothing really memorable about this.
06 Happy For You
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Ouch. I expected you to rate this higher KC.
 
a handful of 6/10 and 7/10 reviews, unsurprisingly. Any theories on how high it'll chart? Is a #1 debut in the US/UK likely?
 
Singles work better in context of album, for me.

LOVE

"These Walls" - SO BREEZY
"Houdini"
"End of an Era" "I've lost aaall my SEEEENSEEEESSS... LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA." :disco:
"Training Season"
"Happy for You"

LIKE

"Illusion"
"Falling Forever"
"French Exit"
"Anything for Love" - it gets going and then it ends so quick :sour:
"Maria" - the flute reminds me of "stereo love".

EEHH

"Whatcha Doing" - like the production, not a fan of her voice here. probably could be a hit, though, VERY "Levitating"

Not a bad song.
 
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Enjoying this album as it should be listened to, illegally torrented off my hotel's WiFi topless by the pool 🌞

I've never known the response to an album to be so dictated by a throwaway line in an interview, I can hear way more influence from early 2000s UK dance-pop than anything else. Anyway, I'm going to go back to sending bomb threats to the Line of Best Fit office over a cocktail.
 
Mugatu said:
Enjoying this album as it should be listened to, illegally torrented off my hotel's WiFi topless by the pool 🌞

I've never known the response to an album to be so dictated by a throwaway line in an interview, I can hear way more influence from early 2000s UK dance-pop than anything else. Anyway, I'm going to go back to sending bomb threats to the Line of Best Fit office over a cocktail.
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TITS OUT FOR DUA
 
19m Spotify debut. (Future Nostalgia did 29m in 2020)





Not GREAT, if she has longevity like last time it won't matter. There are plenty of songs on the album with potential, but not sure if she has that kind of momentum this time around.
 
I don't know how easy momentum will be when she's already burnt through the more obvious "hits"
 
i would push "Falling Forever" everywhere outside North America and "These Walls" for America.
 
I do feel sorry for her for that. The culture does demand that someone is the finished article as soon as they step on a stage nowadays and that is ultimately reductive. People need to be allowed to get something wrong or, not even wrong, just not quite 100%.
 
POP! said:
19m Spotify debut. (Future Nostalgia did 29m in 2020)





Not GREAT, if she has longevity like last time it won't matter. There are plenty of songs on the album with potential, but not sure if she has that kind of momentum this time around.
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Oh wow, her body language era this is. How exciting :disco:
 
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great perf of Illusion on SNL and really fun monologue too




she also did Happy For You



the ultra dramatic white lighting and hair flips :D :disco:
 
Had another proper listen today as I needed some background music to get some work done.

End of an Era is still utterly boring but the worst song is Falling Forever. The fact that it gets stanned so much shows you how sick gays are. The wailing literally gave me a headache and I had to skip to the next song...

...speaking of which it just came and went (houdini) and I can't remember a single thing about it.

The run from Houdini to Whatcha Doing is the best, some nice production elements here and there but it also gets a bit samey when you include French Exit too which is a decent song but yeah.

Thank God for Maria on the latter half of the album.
 
Maria is an absolute delight. such a strange little song thematically but the chorus hook and flute that follows pop off.
 
I liked Maria, especially the flute, but hadn't really picked out as a favourite. It was the song stuck in my head this morning though.
 
Jark said:
Maria is an absolute delight. such a strange little song thematically but the chorus hook and flute that follows pop off.
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People seem to not love it but it’s the one that has been stuck in my head the most.
 
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