In one song she bids goodbye to a past love. “I must’ve loved you more than I ever knew, didn’t know I could ever feel, ‘cause I’m happy for you.”
After the smashing success that was Dua Lipa’s “Future Nostalgia” album, I wondered how “Radical Optimism” could ever top that. I remember that Break My Heart was the most memorable first single yet, mainly because the phrase “stay at home” was the theme song of the pandemic at the time.
Houdini was a slow burn at best, maybe because it didn’t hit me until her dance break performance at The Grammys this year. Even with Training Season and Illusion, I was not as sold on them as singles. But that was all about to change when I listened to the album as a whole, and in turn, I could say that “Radical Optimism” is indeed the sweetest pleasure.
The album veers away from her disco-influenced sophomore album and embraces ‘70s psychedelia and ‘90s Britpop, which only emphasizes her need to be radically optimistic.
Dua Lipa describes this album as a collection of songs that “tap into the pure joy and happiness” of choosing optimism as a way to move forward. It also veers away from her disco-influenced sophomore album and embraces ‘70s psychedelia and ‘90s Britpop, which only emphasizes her need to be radically optimistic.
But beautiful explanation aside, this description is far from the true reason why I embraced this album with open arms. It not only had a spectacular opening track, but that track ultimately embraced what I look for most in a song—the feeling of being in love and staying in it.
Certain songs have been able to capture that. It is a feeling that encapsulates dancing by the fireplace, baking cookies with a partner, or being able to scream love from the rooftops. Songs like Sabrina Carpenter’s santa doesn’t know you like i do, Ariana Grande’s intro (end of the world) and supernatural, Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Surrender My Heart” and “Sideways,” Taylor Swift’s “Sweet Nothing,” and now Dua Lipa’s “End of an Era.”
End of an Era is an opening track that certainly beats the eponymous Future Nostalgia. It is sunshine in a song and a potential summer hit if we allow it to, but most of all, I love the confidence that comes with having this song on full blast. It is brilliant in all aspects, from the “I feel like we’re going to be together” to the spoken word bridge. It is a fresh drink of lemonade in a track, essentially.
These Walls is another favorite. It is one of the best ways to utilize imagery to showcase a relationship on its way out. “We call it love, but hate it here,” she croons as the walls where she and her lover are found are already telling her to call it quits. Couple this with French Exit, a beautiful realization that the only person who can truly break your heart is yourself.
Falling in love
Houdini, Training Season and Illusion shine as songs of the album more than singles. While they are all strong in their own right, they truly serve as critical parts of the story Lipa tells in Radical Optimism. However, their sounds felt too similar during their own releases. I appreciated Illusion more when the album came out.
Falling Forever feels like the Physical of “Radical Optimism,” especially with her prolonged “How long” in the intro of the song. It also serves as the “what happens?” after End of an Era.
Whatcha Doing is Lipa’s warning to herself about falling into a new relationship too quickly, and wondering if she’s doing this right. “But if control is my religion, then I’m heading for collision, lost my 20/20 vision.” This is followed by Maria, a letter to the love of her current lover where she says, “I know you’re somewhere in his heart.”
But Happy For You is the most beautiful ender to an album so far. She embraces a rawness in this as she bids goodbye to a past love, probably a letter to her ex Anwar Hadid. “I must’ve loved you more than I ever knew, didn’t know I could ever feel, ‘cause I’m happy for you.”
She skips the metaphors and similes for this one. Instead, she drives the point straight home. “You got everything you deserve. I’m happy for you.”
And we too, Dua. We too.
Radical Optimism is available on streaming platforms worldwide.
