Dua Lipa's Radical Optimism Problem, pt. II
tldr: commit to the bit.
Welcome back! Previously, I wrote at length about Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism and its inconsistent aesthetics. In part II, I’m trying my hand as a ~creative director~ and pitching my rebrands for Radical Optimism.
Option 1: Sunset & Sequins
To me, the phrase Radical Optimism evokes sunset glam and Studio 54 dreamscapes. If Dua Lipa had fully committed to this aesthetic, she could’ve embraced elaborate ’70s-style glittering dance halls for her live shows and promoted the record in Y2K pink, dripping in sequins and rhinestones. This hyper-feminine, glitzy visual would have dovetailed nicely with the rising aquamarine and mermaid-core fashion trends on Pinterest & TikTok. With influencers twirling in sequin mini skirts and manifesting wellness with every Erewhon smoothie, Radical Optimism had every opportunity to become the shimmering soundtrack to a new era of aspirational, cosmo-sipping party girls.
That being said, darker songs like “Houdini” and “Illusion” don’t really fit into sunset & sequins dreamland. Instead, “End of an Era” and “Whatcha Doin’" would be released as lead singles, since their bouncy piano chords and kaledioscopic musings on love perfectly encapsulate the dreamy glamour of this asthetic. Here’s my abridged playlist for Radical Optimism (Sunset & Sequins Version):
Option 2: Pick up your phone, Baz Luhrmann!!
I wish Dua Lipa had fully leaned into the smoky, cloak-and-dagger mystique hinted in her lead singles “Houdini” and “Illusion.” With clever, performance-driven marketing, “Houdini” could’ve carved out real cultural impact. Just look at Sabrina Carpenter—her risqué, theatrical Short n’ Sweet bits are still going viral a year into the tour.
Similarly, I wanted Dua to be over-the-top with kitshy stage production and showstopping performances. Imagine if Dua pulled escapist stunts à la Harry Houdini to promote the lead single. Or if she got sawed in half before materializing back in a full magician’s assistant regalia—black-and-white leotard, opera gloves, top hat, and cane—as “Illusion” kicks in.
Her costumes would channel Houdini via Dua’s signature dark leather, chunky belts, and gunmetal chains. The stage would shimmer with Moulin Rouge-style string lights and rich velvet-red curtains. Cirque du Soleil acrobats could twist and tumble overhead as Dua carries the first notes of “Falling Forever,” suspended from a harness and belting like disco-era Cher. In this way, her concerts would continue to showcase her famously athletic stage prescence and still leave room for her existing catalog of festival-ready songs.
We’d have to chuck the name Radical Optimism and fully lean into the circus-theme: maybe I’d title the album Illusion or Falling Forever. But what could’ve been—a campy, Baz Luhrmann-directed fever dream with Dua Lipa as its ringmaster.
This is showbiz, baby. Go big or go home.
I hope you enjoyed this two part series as much as I have. It’s been a nice challenge to both breakdown an album and rebrand it using visual collages, written media, and playlists.
A big kiss goodbye to all of the pretty eyes,
The Culture Cowboy
need to see dua do option 1 asap