barttttender

What I don't get with these pop stars sitting on 500 million dollars+ is: why not just hire songwriters to write you a record?
 
Beyonce is very smart with that, with dozens of writers on board for every record. Lana does her own shit and is super productive so she doesn't need to.
 
But Dua is not a great writer. "Dance the night", for example, is one big songwriting cliche that's been done a million times before, which is why it wasn't nominated for an Oscar. Compared it to "What was I made for" or "I'm just Ken" and the difference couldn't be more stark.
 
So, if she had written five good ones, let's say, (the opening track, the three singles and, let's say, French Exit), why not hire songwriters for the other half of the album? Just look how well Padam Padam turned out for Kylie. I woulda literally hired the same Norwegian girl who wrote that track. 

My god, when I remember how incredible "Be the one" was when it came out, I thought Dua will be the new Madonna. And then "New Rules".
 
Nothing on DL3 came even close to those songs, or any of the songs on DL2.
 
Houdini and Training Season came close to being great, thanks to Parker, but the songwriting itself is nowhere near as good. 
 
Falling Forever is probably the worst DL song I've ever heard. Like Pitchfork said, "it's not a song, it's an assault".

My god, when I remember how incredible "Be the one" was when it came out, I thought Dua will be the new Madonna. And then "New Rules".
 
Nothing on DL3 came even close to those songs, or any of the songs on DL2.
 
Houdini and Training Season came close to being great, thanks to Parker, but the songwriting itself is nowhere near as good. 
 
Falling Forever is probably the worst DL song I've ever heard. Like Pitchfork said, "it's not a song, it's an assault".

The issue isn't that it's European. Everybody loves British pop, trip-hop, etc. In fact, European music nowadays is fab fab fab. Just check out Angele.  
 
It's that Radical Optimism lacks identity, has little personality, sounds like AI, and the worst cuts on it sound like Eastern European Eurovision entries, which is Europe's worst.

What I don't get with these pop stars sitting on 500 million dollars+ is: why not just hire songwriters to write you a record?
 
Beyonce is very smart with that, with dozens of writers on board for every record. Lana does her own shit and is super productive so she doesn't need to.
 
But Dua is not a great writer. "Dance the night", for example, is one big songwriting cliche that's been done a million times before, which is why it wasn't nominated for an Oscar. Compared it to "What was I made for" or "I'm just Ken" and the difference couldn't be more stark.
 
So, if she had written five good ones, let's say, (the opening track, the three singles and, let's say, French Exit), why not hire songwriters for the other half of the album? Just look how well Padam Padam turned out for Kylie. I woulda literally hired the same Norwegian girl who wrote that track. 

What I don't get with these pop stars sitting on 500 million dollars+ is: why not just hire songwriters to write you a record?
 
Beyonce is very smart with that, with dozens of writers on board for every record. Lana does her own shit and is super productive so she doesn't need to.
 
But Dua is not a great writer. "Dance the night", for example, is one big songwriting cliche that's been done a million times before, which is why it wasn't nominated for an Oscar. Compared it to "What was I made for" or "I'm just Ken" and the difference couldn't be more stark.
 
So, if she had written five good ones, let's say, (the opening track, the three singles and, let's say, French Exit), why not hire songwriters for the other half of the album? Just look how well Padam Padam turned out for Kylie. I woulda literally hired the same Norwegian girl who wrote that track. 

Not a fan of Katy Perry, but I'm sure a collab with her (or anyone) would have made this album better. Dua can't even carry those 11 songs (30 mins of running time) on her own.
 
She shoulda done another Angele collab, especially if she was going for that European sound (which, I dunno, she was?).

Her SNL appearance had more personality and flavor than the entire album. I'm not hearing "I bumped into my parents at 3 am outside the club and we were all stoned and drunk" from these tracks. Honestly I'm really just getting a lazy, spoiled rich girl who doesnt give a shit vibe from her at this point.
 
Its like shes making albums because its her job that pays well but not her passion. 
The label can only do so much with an artist that clearly does not care or want to put in the effort to innovate. 
 
Like what even is the theme of this album? "clean girl" "White backdrop" and "uhh... summer?" seem to be the only vibes it gives with the 'summer' part being forced at the last minute.
 
Its weird because she very clearly had the drive to improve as the "go girl give us nothing" moment really showed. Where is that energy now? Did she just think she was done???

are the numbers really flop or ppl r just making fun of her?

DL1 era you will always be superior.

I got on board with this record because of Kevin Parker. In the end, I only heard his sound in Houdini and Training Season.
Everything else coulda have been produced by anyone.

". The bigger illusion here is an album that claims to mark a change in direction but instead does the same as before, only less notably"-  The Financial Times

For me the hype was in a critical  condition after she blindsided us w the horrible title and visual direction, and then it was a wrap after hearing Delusion. I'm in mourning for the trippy UK "red" album that could have been 😫 

Sometimes delulu is the solulu

I hate the aesthetic for this era, the artwork, the fact she delivered something completely different than what she promoted… crazy to think that interesting girl from self titled is now doing this to please record labels… I still love Dua but I would love to see that “self titled era” energy girl to come back and deliver something that she *actually* wants to do.
Watcha Doing and Maria are my faves lol 
also crazy to think that the same guy who produced the masterpiece that is “Desire” from Polachek is involved in the production of this album     Its a no for me but I hope the stans can support her through this era bc she’ll need it.
also waiting for the outtakes to come thru bc it can still change my opinion since FN outtakes actually smashed half of that album

imagine how bad the discarded 80 songs sounded like 

100%. Imagine spending money on it.
 
Hopefully, Billie's new record doesn't disappoint in the same way. It's a bit suss that it's also very short (10 songs or so) and there are no singles.
 
At that length, it needs to slap as much as "When we all fall asleep" and definitely more than "Happier than ever".
 
Let's hope she didn't wing it like Dua Peep.

I got on board with this record because of Kevin Parker. In the end, I only heard his sound in Houdini and Training Season.
Everything else coulda have been produced by anyone.

I am  I pre-ordered hoping it would sound like Houdini/Training Season and have that psychedelia that they promised us 😭 
I guess this is a clear lesson for me to stop pre-ordering til I’ve listened to the whole album

Something about this album feels deeply unfinished and empty. By the time HFY ends, I can’t help but feel like I’ve only heard 5 songs

thats why lana and grimes are the only artists i'll pre order, they never miss!

this album is the music equivalent of unseasoned chicken

this should’ve been an EP! 

I do. Because it was packed with good songs.
 
37 mins with only 4-5 songs worth one's time, as it is the case with RO,  is really taking the piss.
 
You know, I really respect Beyonce for putting out 90 mins of good quality music. Radical Optimism is a great album to compare other albums too this year (because it's that bad).

". The bigger illusion here is an album that claims to mark a change in direction but instead does the same as before, only less notably"-  The Financial Times