Dua Lipa Radical Optimism: an essential bounce-back album.
Themes on perspective changes, loose ends, vulnerability, and entering new phases in life—in a fun diverse track-by-track album review.
After nearly four years since the Future Nostalgia album was released in 2020, Dua Lipa has put out her third studio album Radical Optimism. As she steers away from her more notable sound, This 11-track album has a flare of sunny disposition, and a variety of new production to go with it.
In an interview with Zane Lowe Dua states, “With this album, I feel like I’ve managed to put so much more honesty out there, and be open in a way that I don’t think I’ve ever had the chance to.” She also stated that she views the theme of this album as “rolling with the punches and not letting anything get you down for too long.”
‘End Of An Era’ is a fun opening track, that talks about the start of a new beginning. With lyrics such as “The sweetest pleasure, I feel like we’re gonna be together/ this could be the end of an era/who knows this could be forever, forever.” This easily transitions into ‘Houdini’, with themes of desiring a partner to give her the things she desires and deserves because she can leave at any time.
‘Training Season’, comes more as a guide on how to start a relationship with Dua. The entirety of the song is Dua questioning motives and explaining her standards— with sultry vocals, Dua sings the bridge, “ Can you compete?/ Now is your time/ Run when you hear that whistle blow/ Are you on my team/or stuck on the sidelines waiting for someone to tell you to go?”
‘These Walls’, is about feeling the energy that holds stagnant in a room, the heaviness of it and inevitably having to address it. With lyrics such as “Oh this love is fading/ So much we’re not saying.” She then effortlessly belts, “But if these walls could talk/ (They would say) enough!/ (They’d say) Give Up!" Ending the chorus with “It’s not supposed to hurt this much/ oh if these walls could talk/ They’d tell us to break up.”
Coming in with a more familiar sound ‘Whatcha Doing’, is a song about full infatuation, wrapped in a dance track. Dua sings “In the future I see you next to me/ But I can’t shake the feeling/ that there’s more to learn in the time between.” Which is a complete 180 to ‘French Exit’.
A song detailing the feeling of not fully being in for the long haul and pulling the disappearing act, accompanied by smooth guitar riffs and French adlibs. In the second verse, she sings “Maybe time away will make it make sense/ I’m better at a clean break than leaving doors open,” these lyrics can also be a good reference to track Two ‘Houdini’.
‘Illusion’ is one of three singles Dua released, about being aware of all the red flags, calling them out, and not allowing the rose-colored glasses to mute your decision-making.
Giving a more reminiscent sound to a previous track, “Fever” by Dua and French singer Angèle, ‘Falling Forever’ is about letting go of control and free falling. The production sounds highly influenced by ABBA, with subtle builds. Distinct lyrics that show optimism in this song are, ”I don’t believe that every flame has to get colder.”
“Anything for Love” a more raw vocal-based track— Dua created a soothing piano ballad with a surprise jump. This track is about what ‘s wants in a relationship, reverting to the theme of commitment—she wants something that will stick. Dua sings “I’m not interested in a heart that doesn’t beat for me/ I want a mind that meets me equally/ when it’s hard, it won’t feel like it’s too much/ Remember when we used to do anything for love?”
‘Maria’, is a song about being grateful to the current partner’s ex for the person they were able to give to her. She sings “Deepest effect always comes from a cause/ I’m better too from the ones that I’ve lost/ now he’s everything I’d ever want/ I want to thank you for all that you’ve done.”
The concluding song, ‘Happy for You’ is a reflective song about seeing someone you were once with moving on and being happy for them.
Radical Optimism is a good listen with easily memorable pop hits and sonically pleasing tracks.
You can listen to Radical Optimism on Apple Music and YouTube.
