single Dua Lipa - "Illusion"

[popstickle]

For me, this is her best video this era but her worst single sonically 

 

I loved the FN era so much. It had a cohesive thread that ran through the whole album, yet none of the songs sounded the same. Each song had its own flavour while the visuals matched the era perfectly and each single felt like its own little era in itself. It felt like a proper era/campaign; it had a point of view and a clear mission statement. Radical Optimism feels like the total opposite of all that.
 

At the beginning of the era, before Houdini was released, I was excited for the album, with talk of psychedelic and britpop influences (which are some of my favourite genres). After FN, I trusted Dua to be able to meld the psychedelic and britpop inspirations she spoke about into forward thinking, fresh pop songs and was eagerly awaiting the results. But then Houdini was released and, while I do like the song, it's psychedelic influences were low in the mix (for me personally). They were there, but it felt like Dua was scared of fully immersing herself in that sound, instead teasing it and scattering it lightly into the song. It was a disappointing start but I wondered if it was a strategic move; a way to bridge the gap between the disco sound of FN with the new sound of RO. Then Training Season was released.

 

Training Season felt so far and away from all the influences Dua had spoken about. The song did nothing for me personally and I struggled to see how it fitted in with Houdini. These feelings have only been exasperated with the release of Illusion.

 

To me, TS and Illusion do not fit the sound Dua described for RO in my opinion and Illusion in particular feels like an outlier against the rest of the album's singles. I genuinely believe Illusion could have been an outtake from the DL era - it feels like a major step back sonically for her (it's the most basic sounding song she's released in a while IMO) and and an even further step back from the way she has described the album which is this era's issue for me.

 

We have gone from a really slick, tightly produced, disciplined era in FN to a loose, vague era in RO. I'll reserve total judgement until the album is out and hope there's more sonic cohesion in the album deep cuts, but I think the era is lacking a strong thread, whether that be in the visuals, sonics or lyrics. It feels almost like a droplet era - dropping random singles to see what will stick - which is so removed from what the FN era was. This may have been her intention, but if it was then I have no idea why she's been pushing this psychedelic/britpop inspiration chat in most of her interviews when that element isn't particularly present so far. It feels misrepresented.

Edited April 12 by popstickle

[QueenMortuana]

I didn't think I was a huge fan of it at first but after one listen I had the chorus going through my head. And now the song is on repeat lol.

[mike_int]

 

reading same people who praised "My oh my" and "I Luv it" criticize "Illusion"

 

 

[thirdward]

I expect the rest of the album to have those psychedelic elements 

i don't think her label would've let her release a full experimental album without some "hits" in there and that's why we got the singles 

[LanaXtinaFan]

It's really sad to witness her "downfall" in the US. She was a FORCE with FN. Hit after hit, a 100% sold out arena tour. Now literally nobody seems to care, I mean Sabrina carpenter is getting higher streams on AppleMusic… that's wild. Gays on my social media (as an example) were gagging all throughout FN, this time around… silence. It's just unfortunate with the US being the biggest market. It's great she can do well in Europe but for worldwide domination, she needs the US. And other than the Grammy's and meaningless late night talk shows that nobody watches, her team has done nothing to push anything here so maybe it's on them.

 

But with that said, ILLUSION is the song to turn it all around if anything can!!! It's incredible. Listening on headphones, noticing all the details and intricacies… it's a gorgeous pop song. Deserves to smash.

[mike_int]

10 minutes ago, LanaXtinaFan said:

It's really sad to witness her "downfall" in the US. She was a FORCE with FN. Hit after hit, a 100% sold out arena tour. Now literally nobody seems to care, I mean Sabrina carpenter is getting higher streams on AppleMusic… that's wild. Gays on my social media (as an example) were gagging all throughout FN, this time around… silence. It's just unfortunate with the US being the biggest market. It's great she can do well in Europe but for worldwide domination, she needs the US. And other than the Grammy's and meaningless late night talk shows that nobody watches, her team has done nothing to push anything here so maybe it's on them.

 

But with that said, ILLUSION is the song to turn it all around if anything can!!! It's incredible. Listening on headphones, noticing all the details and intricacies… it's a gorgeous pop song. Deserves to smash.

[J-esper]

Not it being added to heavy rotation for the coming week at 3 big Dutch radio stations we love to see it

[Curaga]

The video was so Kylie! The human tower reminded me of All the Lovers. 

 

Looooove the bells in this song omg — really cool touch! I can't wait for this damn album! 

[xicnx]

MV Location impact? And Dua stays being a worldwide icon

AM Spain:

#49 Training Season (+25), back in the top 50 for the first time in two weeks! Peak #19
#82 Houdini (+32), new peak since February 21, Peak #13
#87 Illusion (NE)

Edited April 12 by xicnx

[Lovett]

UK Apple Music

#79. (NEW) Dua Lipa – "Illusion"

[G.U.Y_Del_Rey]

Spoiler

Ok, now that the hype has died down a bit, I think I still prefer Houdini and Training Season over this 

 

[NostalgiawithDua]

I think it's perfect time for her to leave Dance sound and slowly transition into Pop/R&B sound like Weeknd with jazz elements for 4th record. Would be a step in right direction without being too alienating for her, she can show her deep vocal range a lot more!

[Daddy]

So boring. Houdini is the only song I enjoyed so far. 

[LanaXtinaFan]

mess

[J-esper]

3 minutes ago, LanaXtinaFan said:

mess

I mean that account is run by one of the biggest losers and Dua haters online. They were still tweeling think pieces about Prisoner's inclusion on the Moonlight Edition when Miley was smashing with Flowers 

[Migs]

#6 at UK iTunes, which is… good?! 
Second best new entry for today.
 

Spoiler

Perrie at #1 but she had hype because this is her first solo single.

 

[Papi Juancho]

These people trying to create something with Sabrina or Perrie like they did with Tate McRae months ago, like... where is she now? 
 

[State of Grace.]

21 minutes ago, LanaXtinaFan said:

It's really sad to witness her "downfall" in the US. She was a FORCE with FN. Hit after hit, a 100% sold out arena tour. Now literally nobody seems to care, I mean Sabrina carpenter is getting higher streams on AppleMusic… that's wild. Gays on my social media (as an example) were gagging all throughout FN, this time around… silence. It's just unfortunate with the US being the biggest market. It's great she can do well in Europe but for worldwide domination, she needs the US. And other than the Grammy's and meaningless late night talk shows that nobody watches, her team has done nothing to push anything here so maybe it's on them.

 

But with that said, ILLUSION is the song to turn it all around if anything can!!! It's incredible. Listening on headphones, noticing all the details and intricacies… it's a gorgeous pop song. Deserves to smash.

Muffy sis...the revisionism. Don't Start Now and Levitating both took months to reach #2 on the Hot 100. Break My Heart did well on radio but it didn't go Top 10. Cold Heart and Dance The Night also took ages to reach their final peaks. I'm not saying that this era's hits are bigger, but she's doing fine and there's no need for this kind of fear-mongering. For some reason stans have convinced themselves that Dua is on Ariana's level in the US or something? and the discussion surrounding her performance in the country is usually loaded with bad faith. Performances might sound useless to most girls but they do actually work for Dua and we've barely had any this era. Meanwhile she was jumping between the EMAs, SNL, The Voice, Ellen, The Tonight Show, the AMAs, on Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve, Good Morning America, and eery single stage on earth for Dont Start Now and Levitating. The biggest push this era got so far in the US was the Grammys performance and that resulted in Houdini's dance break going viral and the song getting a significant boost in streams.

 

Also to say that "literally nobody seems to care" about her this time is pure delusion. The gays are still gagging. Yes, Future Nostalgia was a bigger event in gay culture with the pandemic and everything going on, but that's what a peak era is. And the gays are STILL here, even if they're complaining about Radical Optimism not being like Future Nostalgia or being too much like Future Nostalgia!!!. Musically, she is obviously underperforming compared to her previous era, but Dua herself is much bigger than she was in 2019-2020. We'll see how the tour does but I'm pretty sure many of you will be switching the tone next year.

[LanaXtinaFan]

10 minutes ago, State of Grace. said:

Muffy sis...the revisionism. Don't Start Now and Levitating both took months to reach #2 on the Hot 100. Break My Heart did well on radio but it didn't go Top 10. Cold Heart and Dance The Night also took ages to reach their final peaks. I'm not saying that this era's hits are bigger, but she's doing fine and there's no need for this kind of fear-mongering. For some reason stans have convinced themselves that Dua is on Ariana's level in the US or something? and the discussion surrounding her performance in the country is usually loaded with bad faith. Performances might sound useless to most girls but they do actually work for Dua and we've barely had any this era. Meanwhile she was jumping between the EMAs, SNL, The Voice, Ellen, The Tonight Show, the AMAs, on Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve, Good Morning America, and eery single stage on earth for Dont Start Now and Levitating. The biggest push this era got so far in the US was the Grammys performance and that resulted in Houdini's dance break going viral and the song getting a significant boost in streams.

 

Also to say that "literally nobody seems to care" about her this time is pure delusion. The gays are still gagging. Yes, Future Nostalgia was a bigger event in gay culture with the pandemic and everything going on, but that's what a peak era is. And the gays are STILL here, even if they're complaining about Radical Optimism not being like Future Nostalgia or being too much like Future Nostalgia!!!. Musically, she is obviously underperforming compared to her previous era, but Dua herself is much bigger than she was in 2019-2020. We'll see how the tour does but I'm pretty sure many of you will be switching the tone next year.

I wonder why her team isn't pushing anything in the US this era. Other than Grammys performance. There have been no other performances, not even a simple radio interview. 

[k4rmabutterfly]

This era keeps on proving that most of Dua stans on here are chart stans   the way Houdini it's the now best song ever (it is) because it ended up being a hit  anyways, good song and video, I'm very excited for the album and the tour 
 

 

 

[motherpills]

sad how dua's artistic integrity has only really been questioned because her music this time round hasn't been as successful in the us. if one of the singles had gone number one already you would have all been eating this up.

[Vermouth]

24 minutes ago, Migs said:

#6 at UK iTunes, which is… good?! 
Second best new entry for today.
 

  Reveal hidden contents

Perrie at #1 but she had hype because this is her first solo single.

 

Question is what are the absolute numbers for iTunes or Apple Music? Anyone know?

I was under the impression that Apple Music was reasonably significant in the USA but not in the U.K. for instance. Not much joy being high up a chart that has low absolute numbers in the way that No1 on Spotify in Latvia is not like being No1 on Spotify in France for example. And don't get me started on longevity. I suspect Spotify swamps both these charts these days anyway.

 

The rush of some ( not referring to you) on ATRL to concoct instant dubious stats to prove "my fave is better than your fave" is beyond parody.  

Patience people, patience.

[Solaria]

1 hour ago, J-esper said:

Not it being added to heavy rotation for the coming week at 3 big Dutch radio stations we love to see it

Anything she releases here becomes an instant smash.. it has been that way since 2016 she's MASSIVE here 

[Papi Juancho]

16 minutes ago, k4rmabutterfly said:

This era keeps on proving that most of Dua stans on here are chart stans   the way Houdini it's the now best song ever (it is) because it ended up being a hit  anyways, good song and video, I'm very excited for the album and the tour 
 

 

 

not chart stans, just one chart stans. They barely notice that this era is doing better than FN in France and Germany.

[RideOrDie]

FN was too clean and funky, it was fresh in 2020 but everyone done it a hundred times since then including herself.

the rough around the edges, DIRTY psychedelia sound of radical slayage... oh duallah show the girls how it's done, they will all start hitting up kevin's DMs soon enough