Beating around the bush has never been Dua Lipa’s style. She has always been direct in her approach to the games of love, whether it be the ballet of seduction or contact dancing in bed. Racid Optimismthe title of her third album, is therefore to be taken literally: here she wants to be lucid and positive even in the pain of the breakup.
Dua Lipa suggests a shift End of an Era, which launches the album. It’s about a new love, the good one perhaps, told over a catchy pop song reminiscent of the preppy electro jazz of the turn of the 2000s. This smiling piece, with a summery lightness, also features a guitar. revolving acoustics, which give the whole thing an “organic” side unique to her.
However, naturalness has not been chased very far. Houdini And Training Seasontwo pieces published before the release of Radical Optimismtake our ears back to familiar territory, that is to say this renewed disco-pop, pushed by slamming bass and very 1980s keyboards. Illusionunveiled last month and in a similar vein, completes the quartet of the most exciting pieces on the record.
Less focused on desire and nights spent dancing than Future Nostalgia, Radical Optimism sounds like an alarm clock. The party is not over, but the desire for something deeper is pressing. Dua Lipa sings from the point of view of a self-confident young woman, tired of being unloved, who names the complete and egalitarian love she seeks. A touch of humor here and there suggests that she will perhaps still give in to the great game of seduction, but not at any price. Her lucidity goes so far in the admission of possible shifts and the slightly sarcastic look she casts on the finished romantic that she admits to being.
His optimism is also reflected in a greatness of soul and gratitude (Maria, Happy For You) that we did not expect in the vision of love that she displays and that we rarely hear in song. Dua Lipa wants to dig deeper into the movements of the heart, that’s clear, but comes up against the limits of the texts concocted with her team of authors. It was the disadvantage of the direct tone that made its mark.
What is more surprising is the overall melodic poverty of the record. Songs These Walls And French Exit quickly lack momentum. The desire to expand the universe is evident here: Dua Lipa flirts with europop (Falling Forever, where his voice is superbly powerful), explores the simplicity of the piano voice (Anything for Love) and pushes his singing towards soul (Watcha Doing). She’s trying, which bodes well for her longevity, but we feel it too much: the whole thing lacks sparkle.
Compared to many albums by other pop artists, Radical Optimism is a bomb. However, when we compare Dua Lipa to herself, this third album is a tick or two below our expectations. And it’s rather sure Dance the Night that we will spend the summer dancing. Like last year.
Excerpt fromEnd of an Eraby Dua Lipa
POP
Radical Optimism
Dua Lipa
Warner Records UK