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Dua Lipa Announces New Album “Radical Optimism” Released May 3rd
Today, 3x GRAMMY and 7x BRIT Award-winning global pop powerhouse Dua Lipa announces her highly-anticipated third album, Radical Optimism. The album will be released May 3rd and consist of 11 songs including the euphoric club-ready track “Houdini” and recently released single “Training Season.”
Inspired by Dua’s own self-discovery, Radical Optimism is an album that taps into the pure joy and happiness of having clarity in situations that once seemed impossible to face. The hard goodbyes and vulnerable beginnings that previously threatened to crush your soul, become milestones as you choose optimism and start to move with grace through the chaos.
Rolling Stone has called the album “pop bliss,” while noting it is “uniquely and utterly Dua Lipa: confident dance pop full of witty Instagram-caption-ready one-liners.”
Infused with the energy of Dua’s hometown, London, the attitude of the album embodies the rawness, honesty, confidence and freedom of ‘90s Britpop. Radical Optimism transports its listener to a dreamy pop world rich in musicality, lyrically unapologetic and sonically liberating.
“A couple years ago, a friend introduced me to the term Radical Optimism. It’s a concept that resonated with me, and I became more curious as I started to play with it and weave it into my life,” Dua shares. “It struck me – the idea of going through chaos gracefully and feeling like you can weather any storm. At the same time, I found myself looking through the music history of psychedelia, trip hop, and Britpop. It has always felt so confidently optimistic to me, and that honesty and attitude is a feeling I took into my recording sessions.”
Dua worked with a team of core collaborators throughout the project including Caroline Ailin, Danny L. Harle, Tobias Jesso Jr. and Kevin Parker.
Earlier this month, Dua opened up the BRIT Awards with an electric performance of “Training Season” and subsequently took home her 7th BRIT Award for Best Pop Act. She also opened up the GRAMMY Awards this year, where she performed a medley of “Training Season,” “Dance The Night” and “Houdini.” Dua recently became the first female artist to have four songs each with over two billion streams on Spotify (“One Kiss,” “Don’t Start Now,” “New Rules” and “Levitating”).
3x GRAMMY and 7x BRIT Award-winning global pop powerhouse Dua Lipa has announced her highly anticipated third album Radical Optimism will be released May 3rd. The album features the recently released “Training Season” and the euphoric club-ready track “Houdini,” which has become Dua’s longest running solo No. 1 on the UK Airplay charts and drew in over 12 million YouTube views within 24 hours of release. “Houdini” garnered immediate praise across the board from the likes of Billboard and Rolling Stone, who lauded the track as “a neo-psychedelic dance-floor rager,” to Pitchfork and Vogue, who called it “a pop masterclass.” “Houdini” followed Dua’s hit song “Dance The Night” from the box office sensation Barbie, which landed on the Oscars shortlist and earned nominations at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards and the GRAMMYs.
Dua’s certified platinum sophomore album Future Nostalgia solidified her position as both a critical success and top radio performer. The GRAMMY-nominated record was the longest running top 10 album by a female artist on the Billboard 200 in 2021, and spawned multiple worldwide hit singles, with “Levitating” earning certified diamond status and the title of Billboard’s No. 1 Hot 100 Song of 2021.
Dua has found superstar status on stage and off, thanks to her many passions outside of music. 2022 saw Dua launch Service95, a global style, culture and society editorial platform that now comprises a weekly newsletter, the Service95 book club and the Dua Lipa: At Your Service podcast, which has been lauded by The Sunday Times and The Guardian, and was named one of the Best Podcasts of 2022 by Spotify. Having graced every major fashion magazine worldwide from Vogue and Elle to W and Dazed, Dua added “designer” to her resume in 2023 when she co-designed Versace’s “La Vacanza” collection alongside Donatella Versace herself, which Vogue deemed “the hottest collaboration of the summer.”
Dua’s eponymous 2017 debut album is certified platinum, spawned six platinum tracks, and made her the first female artist in BRIT Awards history to pick up five nominations in a single year. Dua has a total of 10 GRAMMY nominations, with three wins for Best Pop Vocal Album, Best New Artist and Best Dance Recording. Across platforms globally, she has amassed over 40 billion streams and holds the record for having the top two most streamed albums by a female artist of all time on Spotify.
Radical Optimism Tracklist:
1. End Of An Era
2. Houdini
3. Training Season
4. These Walls
5. Whatcha Doing
6. French Exit
7. Illusion
8. Falling Forever
9. Anything For Love
10. Maria
11. Happy For You
Listen To All The Fantastic Four Radio Show Episodes Featuring Bill Murray and Stan Lee From 1975
In 1975, audiences were treated to a short-lived but memorable radio adaptation of “The Fantastic Four,” featuring a stellar cast that brought the beloved Marvel superheroes to life through the airwaves. Led by Bob Maxwell as the brilliant Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) and Cynthia Adler as the empathetic Susan Storm (Invisible Woman), the ensemble was rounded out by the comedic talents of Bill Murray as the fiery Johnny Storm (Human Torch) and Jim Pappas as the gruff but lovable Ben Grimm (The Thing). Narrated by the legendary Stan Lee himself, the radio show offered fans a captivating audio experience, capturing the essence of the iconic comic book series while adding its own unique flair. Though its run was brief, the Fantastic Four radio show remains a cherished gem for fans of classic superhero storytelling.
The Beatles’ ‘Let It Be’ Writing Process Revealed: Sing The Alphabet
Let it A, Let it B, Let it C, Let it D, fom the 1970 film Let It Be and Peter Jackson‘s epic documentary The Beatles: Get Back.
Watch the Trailer for SUGA│Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ THE MOVIE, Coming to Theatres & IMAX in 90+ Territories Worldwide April 10 & 13
Tickets are on sale now here for the worldwide release of the cinematic cut of SUGA│Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ THE MOVIE, the electrifying concert film by Agust D, also known as SUGA of 21st century pop icons BTS, screening on Wednesday, April 10 & Saturday, April 13.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlHDpgi1Rdc.
As the grand finale of his world tour, “SUGA | Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ THE FINAL” marked the culmination of 25 concerts held in 10 cities, which captivated an audience of 290,000 throughout its run. With SUGA | Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ THE MOVIE, audiences will gather in cinemas globally to celebrate SUGA and to relive the encore concert encompassing his rich musical world and explosive energy, and to thrill at performances from special guests, BTS’ RM, Jimin, and Jung Kook.
SUGA│Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ THE MOVIE is presented in 3,000+ cinemas in approximately 90+ territories worldwide, including the US, Mexico, Brazil, UK, Italy, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, and more.
In addition to standard cinematic formats, ARMY can experience SUGA│Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ THE MOVIE on the biggest screens worldwide in IMAX, the exclusive premium format partner on the film.
BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene,” is a GRAMMY-nominated South Korean group that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since its debut in June 2013. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. Gaining recognition for their authentic and self-produced music, top-notch performances, and the way they interact with their fans, BTS has established themselves as 21st century pop icons breaking countless world records. While imparting a positive influence through activities such as the LOVE MYSELF campaign and the UN ‘Speak Yourself’ speech, the band has mobilized millions of fans across the world (named ARMY), collected six No.1 Billboard Hot 100 singles in a span of a year and just over a month, performed multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world. They were also named TIME’s Entertainer of the Year 2020. BTS was nominated two years in a row for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 63rd and 64th GRAMMY Awards and has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards (Artist of the Year 2021) and MTV Video Music Awards.
SUGA (Min, Yunki) is a South Korean rapper, songwriter, music producer and member of 21st century pop icons, BTS. SUGA is globally known for his record producing ability with his own solid musical philosophy, constantly pushing the boundaries through his works on BTS albums, solo projects and collaborations with other artists. Since BTS’ 2014 Skool Luv Affair, BTS’ albums include tracks produced by SUGA. Through his mixtapes under Agust D, SUGA also suggested his vision as an artist. He participated as a featured artist in music by international musicians such as Juice WRLD, Max, and So-ra Lee, and he also produced music for globally influential artists including Halsey, PSY, Epik High, ØMI and more. Furthermore, SUGA participated in producing the remix version of Coldplay x BTS’ “My Universe,” an Original Soundtrack for HYBE’s original story 7FATES: CHAKHO called “Stay Live (Prod. SUGA of BTS),” a mobile game OST “Our Island (Prod. SUGA of BTS) [Original Soundtrack],” and Samsung Electronics Galaxy’s official ringtone “Over The Horizon.”
My Next Read: “A Thousand Threads, A Memoir” By Neneh Cherry
A vibrant memoir from Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Nenah Cherry who shares an inside look at her fascinating career and globe-traversing journeys in a life of love and music, and published through the Simon & Schuster imprint Scribner, on October 8.
Born in Sweden in 1964, Neneh Cherry’s father Ahmadu was a musician from Sierra Leone. Her mother, Moki, was a twenty-one-year-old Swedish textile artist. Her parents split up just after Neneh was born, and not long afterwards Moki met and fell in love with acclaimed jazz musician Don Cherry. Eventually, the strong pull New York City in the 1970s drew him them there, but they made a home wherever they traveled. Neneh and her brother Eagle Eye experienced a life of creativity, freedom, and, of course, music.
In A Thousand Threads, Neneh takes readers from the charming old schoolhouse in the woods of Sweden where she grew up, to the village in Sierra Leone that was birthplace of her biological father, to the early punk scene in London and New York, to finding her identity with her stepfather’s family in Watts, California. Neneh has lived an extraordinary life of connectivity and creativity and she recounts in intimate detail how she burst onto the scene as a teenager in the punk band The Slits, and went on to release her first album in 1989 with a worldwide hit single “Buffalo Stance.”
Neneh’s inspiring and deeply compelling memoir both celebrates female empowerment and shines a light on the global music scene—and is perfect for anyone interested in the artistic life in all its forms.
Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” + Judas Priest’s “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'” x Steely Dan’s “Do it Again” = The Greatest Mashup You’ll Hear All Year
Prepare to have your musical senses ignited with the ultimate fusion of classics! In a groundbreaking mashup by Bill McClintock, the iconic beats of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” intertwine seamlessly with the gritty guitar riffs of Judas Priest’s “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'” while being elevated by the smooth sophistication of Steely Dan’s “Do it Again.”
Stone Temple Pilots Rock the Stage with ‘Vasoline’ Performance on Letterman In 1994
In 1994, “The Late Show with David Letterman” secured an electrifying performance from Stone Temple Pilots, capturing the essence of the era’s music scene. With their dynamic sound and undeniable stage presence, the band brought the studio audience to their feet and viewers at home to the edge of their seats. Their performance on Letterman’s iconic stage became an unforgettable moment in late-night television history, showcasing the raw energy and talent that made them a cultural phenomenon, and “Vasoline” a continued classic on radio.
Maynard James Keenan Shares Songwriting Insights and Improv Tips in Exclusive Clip
In this clip, Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer) breaks down his songwriting process and gives advice on becoming a better improviser.
From Folk-Rock Icons to Cultural Trailblazers: Inside the Journey of Indigo Girls with Sundance-Winning Director Alexandria Bombach
With forty years of making music as the iconic folk-rock band Indigo Girls, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have made their mark as musicians, songwriters, and dedicated activists. They have represented radical self-acceptance to many, leading multiple generations of fans to say, “the Indigo Girls saved my life.” Still, Amy and Emily battled misogyny, homophobia, and a harsh cultural climate chastising them for not fitting into a female pop star mold. With joy, humor, and heart-warming earnestness, Sundance award-winning director Alexandria Bombach brings us into a contemporary conversation with Amy and Emily—alongside decades of the band’s home movies and intimate present-day verité.