Dua Lipa Glows and Grooves on the Sunshine-Packed Radical Optimism
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In 2018, a YouTube commenter named Tobias shared his now legendary thoughts on Dua Lipa performing “New Rules” at the Brit Awards: “I love her lack of energy. Go girl, give us nothing!”
The comment quickly transcended Lipa’s orbit and became go-to internet vernacular for a less than stellar performance, red carpet fit, or new release. The comment very well might have changed Lipa’s life; whether or not she actually saw the meme or cared about its impact, she’s transformed into a truly formidable performer, athletic and confident.
It’s been four years since Future Nostalgia made Dua Lipa a household name, and Radical Optimism, her third studio album, is her first statement as a superstar. Opener “End of an Era” is a dreamy, somewhat cinematic introduction to the project — Lipa floats in and out of her falsetto at the top of her register against a backdrop of tranquil flutes. There’s a delightful push and pull between the breezy woodwinds and pulsing beat; “Another girl falls in love/ Another girl leaves the club,” she sings.
Two of the album’s pre-release singles, “Houdini” and “Training Season,” hit back to back, and when the third single arrives in “Illusion,” it lands as even more of a standout. Here Radical Optimisim feels like a rave, from the hazy melodic repetition on the chorus to the demanding backbeat. The keyboard spotlight is euphoric.
But her ability to reach such heights makes the less exciting moments on Radical Optimism more noticeable. Those explosive club elements are absent from “These Walls,” an inoffensive but somewhat forgettable mid-tempo track. “French Exit” is the only other miss here, failing to achieve liftoff from a breezy guitar foundation.
Plenty of other moments shine, like the glittering “Whatcha Doing,” which could’ve been plucked from Carly Rae Jepsen’s recent discography (one of the highest forms of compliment this writer could conjure). “Whatcha Doing” also offers a genuinely great vocal from Lipa, and the same could be said for the anthemic “Falling Forever,” where the club beat kicks back in.
Lipa co-wrote every song on the album, and Kevin Parker (of Tame Impala fame), Danny L Harle, and Caroline Ailin make for a formidable production team. But the lyrics are more of a platform for performance than they are a glimpse into her life. While there certainly may be some autobiographical moments to Radical Optimism — what songwriter wouldn’t infuse at least a little personal perspective into their work? — that aspect feels far less important here.
With that in mind, there’s something to be said for a track like “Anything for Love,” a song that takes its time transitioning from studio chatter to piano ballad to cute bop, and doesn’t seem to care at all if the listener is along for the ride. It speaks to Lipa’s confidence as an artist and makes it easy to wish she would experiment just a bit more — those elements of psychedelia and invigorating rave are excellent in the songs where they’re most present, and the album concludes with the sense that she could’ve gone further.
Lipa’s music, when it’s at its best, can be as interesting as it is fun; so while Radical Optimism might not be quite as radical as one might have hoped, Lipa’s story is far from over. She’s ready to soak up the sun and dance, and the path is laid for us to join her, if we so choose.
Essential Tracks: “Whatcha Doing,” “End of an Era,” “Illusion”
Dua Lipa Glows and Grooves on the Sunshine-Packed Radical Optimism
Mary Siroky
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