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Dua Lipa is a pop star with no lore on 'Radical Optimism'

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Dua Lipa is a pop star with no lore on 'Radical Optimism'

Dua Lipa’s “Radical Optimism” has a hilarious album cover, two songs about illusionists and what may end up the year’s most succulent bass playing. What it doesn’t have is the kind of detailed celebrity meta-narrative that’s come to define — and to propel — the superstar pop LP in music’s parasocial age.

The 28-year-old London-born singer might disagree: On the cusp of her Saturn return, Lipa has been talking up her third studio album as a meditation on hard-won emotional maturity à la Ariana Grande’s “Eternal Sunshine” or Kacey Musgraves’ “Deeper Well.” “Radical optimism in the way that I see it,” she told Zane Lowe, “is this idea of rolling with the punches.” The LP’s cover shows her bobbing in the sea dangerously close to a shark’s fin, and I guess the shark represents the punches?

Yet because Lipa’s lyrics are very bad — “If these walls could talk, they’d tell us to break up,” she sings at one point — this concept doesn’t really come together. And, besides, a quest for emotional maturity really misses the whole point of Dua Lipa, which is being coolly above it all in the pursuit of earthly pleasure. Her celebrity lore, to the extent that it exists, revolves around her identity as the Vacanza Queen, as she’s known on social media thanks to her fabulous Instagram photo dumps.

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So “Radical Optimism” raises an interesting question: In this era of the endlessly annotated “The Tortured Poets Department” — not to mention the downright scholarly “Cowboy Carter” — can a pop album succeed without functioning as a referendum on fame or as a work of musicology? Is it enough just to deliver a bunch of loosely connected bangers and bops?

At its best, “Radical Optimism” answers yes — or at least makes you want the answer to be yes. Lipa has style and attitude to spare; her singing is sly, throaty, slightly Bond-girl conspiratorial. Working with a crafty studio team led by Andrew Wyatt (who co-wrote and co-produced Lipa’s “Barbie” smash “Dance the Night”) and Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, she fills these 11 songs with a wonderful array of sounds and textures: tick-tocking drums, silky guitars, synths that sparkle and growl. And those bass lines! Truly nasty stuff.

Despite Lipa’s proclamation in a recent interview with The Times that she’d moved away from disco, the album is firmly rooted on the dance floor, though it does lean more toward live instrumentation than 2020’s Grammy-winning “Future Nostalgia.” “These Walls” is a shimmering soft-rock jam with echoes of Fleetwood Mac, while “Anything for Love” starts out as a spare piano ballad before blossoming into chewy, “Off the Wall”-ish funk.

A woman at a distance in the ocean, next to a large shark fin

The cover of Dua Lipa’s “Radical Optimism.”

(Warner Music)

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The songs are about learning to understand the limits of romance. But we know so little about Lipa’s personal life as compared to Grande’s or Taylor Swift’s, for instance, that her comically dull revelations carry no charge. Here’s how she describes arriving at a state of post-breakup acceptance in “Happy for You”:

Late on a Tuesday, I saw your picture

You were so happy, I could just tell

She’s really pretty, I think she’s a model

Baby, together you look hot as hell

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On the other hand, there’s something deeply refreshing about the opportunity “Radical Optimism” offers to ignore all the superstar mythologizing and simply take in Lipa’s music as theater — to savor its energy and color the way we once did ABBA, to name one clear influence from a time when music made far more room for fantasy. (See also: Tori Kelly’s “Tori,” a vivid and inviting new pop album that exists almost entirely outside the celebrity-industrial complex.)

None of the singles from “Radical Optimism” have burned up the charts yet: “Illusion,” the album’s latest, sits at No. 78 this week on Billboard’s Hot 100, while “Houdini” fell off the tally after only a few months — a startlingly short run given the year-plus Lipa clocked with “Levitating” and “Don’t Start Now.” But those songs came before the full footnote-ification of pop that arguably began with Swift’s so-called Taylor’s Versions of her old albums. Now everything is a text to be scrutinized, whether the work can bear it or not.

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Ricky Martin safe after ‘tear gas’ — or maybe pepper spray? — stops his concert in Montenegro

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Ricky Martin safe after ‘tear gas’ — or maybe pepper spray? — stops his concert in Montenegro

Ricky Martin had to stop his concert Thursday in Montenegro after someone in the audience “discharged tear gas toward the stage,” causing an “abrupt” interruption to the show as fans retreated and got any needed medical attention, the singer’s publicist said in a statement posted on Instagram.

The show did go on.

“As a precautionary measure, Ricky Martin and his entire team exited the stage while security personnel and local authorities worked to contain the situation and ensure the safety of those in attendance,” the statement said.

“We didn’t understand what was happening,” one shaken Montenegran concertgoer said on Instagram during the outdoor show. “Suddenly, people started pushing each other, and we smelled pepper spray. Many people quickly covered their mouths and left the area. I don’t know if there’s still anyone in the area right now. I didn’t see what the police did. I can hear that the concert has started again, but I left the area. I hope everyone is OK.”

Whether the substance was tear gas — which, incidentally, is a powder, not a gas — or pepper spray is unclear. Both substances have similarly irritating effects, despite different ingredients. Tear gas is typically employed by law enforcement for crowd control while pepper spray is often used by individuals for self-defense, according to hazmat and crime-scene cleanup company Bio Recovery, which operates mainly in the American south. Both substances can disperse widely in the air.

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Martin, 54, decided to resume the show once authorities said everything was back under control even though “members of the artist’s team advised against continuing the performance,” the publicist’s statement explained.

The headlining performance, which was part of festivities marking the 20th anniversary of Montenegro’s restored independence following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, came as the “Livin’ la Vida Loca” singer gets ready to embark on a European tour with dates in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Czechia, Poland, Hungary, Istanbul and more from June into August.

Also Friday, Martin announced he would join the U.K.’s Heritage Live Festivals with a show Aug. 22 at the Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk with Sugababes, Olly Alexander and Sophie Castillo. It will be his only U.K. show in 2026. Other artists appearing in Heritage Live shows in July and August include UB40, Lionel Richie and Eric Clapton.

“The rise of Latin music as a global force has been phenomenal, and we’re thrilled to welcome one of the true pioneers who helped bring it to a massive international audience,” Giles Cooper of Heritage Live Festivals told the BBC. “It’s set to be an incredible party.”

Martin, who hails from Puerto Rico, joined Bad Bunny’s all-Spanish halftime show at Super Bowl LX in February with a 30-second cameo in a scene invoking the cover of the latter singer’s album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” Clad in all white, Martin sat in a white chair and dove into “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii,” a ballad that implores Puerto Ricans, should the opportunity arise, to resist compromises that Hawaiians made when those islands became a U.S. state in 1959.

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‘Ladies First’ Review: Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike in a Netflix Comedy That’s High-Concept but Hopelessly Predictable

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‘Ladies First’ Review: Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike in a Netflix Comedy That’s High-Concept but Hopelessly Predictable

You don’t have to have seen the 2018 French film on which it’s based to predict exactly where Ladies First is going every step of the way. This comic tale of an arrogant, sexist male executive who gets his comeuppance when he hits his head and wakes up to find himself in a world dominated by women hits every satirical note you’d expect but provides more knowing chuckles than genuine laughs. An almost ridiculously overqualified cast of notable British thespians does their best to elevate the material of this Netflix comedy directed by Thea Sharrock (Wicked Little Letters, Me Before You), but it’s heavy lifting.

Sacha Baron Cohen, unusually not relying on changing his vocal and physical attributes for comic effect, plays Damien, an advertising company executive who revels in his misogynistic attitudes and playboy lifestyle. He’s looking forward to an upcoming promotion at the hands of his boss (Charles Dance), swaggering through the office to the strains of “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” (one of far too many on-the-nose soundtrack selections).

Ladies First

The Bottom Line

No, you go right ahead.

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Release date: Friday, May 22
Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen, Rosamund Pike, Charles Dance, Emily Mortimer, Tom Davis, Richard E. Grant, Fiona Shaw, Weruche Opia, Kathryn Hunter, Kadiff Kirwan, Bill Paterson
Director: Thea Sharrock
Screenwriters: Natalie Krinsky, Cinco Paul, Katie Silberman

Rated R,
1 hour 30 minutes

Most egregiously, he treats fellow executive Alex (Rosamund Pike) horribly condescendingly during company meetings strategizing over an ad campaign for their latest client, Guinness. He treats her so badly, in fact, that she quits. But during their subsequent angry encounter out on the street, Damien runs smack into a pole and knocks himself out.

It’s not hard to guess what happens next, as he wakes up in a topsy-turvy world where the agency’s receptionist (Fiona Shaw) is now the CEO and the cleaning woman (Kathryn Hunter) a top executive. Alex is very much in charge, and the men at the agency, including Damien and his former boss, are treated derisively, the sexism very much in reverse.

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Things are equally akilter in his family’s home, with his mother now sitting on the couch watching TV while his father slaves away in the kitchen. And his accomplished dentist sister (Emily Mortimer) amuses herself greatly with fart jokes.

Damien attempts to get things back to normal by slamming his head again, to no avail. So now, fueled by advice from an eccentric street person (Richard E. Grant) who has multiple pigeons perched on his head, he attempts to rise up the corporate ranks again using masculine wiles. It’s not easy, since when he attempts to make suggestions at a corporate strategy mission, he’s told such things as “You need to relax” and “Don’t get too emotional.” 

Screenwriters Natalie Krinsky, Cinco Paul and Katie Silberman clearly seem to have enjoyed reversing every sexist stereotype they could think of with such gags as female construction workers ogling Damien on the street; his attempting to become “fuckable” for career advancement through such things as a “testicle bra” and body waxing (cue The 40-Year-Old Virgin-style screams of pain); and, of course, ordering a plain salad for dinner instead of steak.

And when Damien and Alex do wind up in bed together even though she’s now his boss, they engage in a wrestling match over which one of them will be on top.

It’s mildly amusing but all so obvious, including the sexual reversals evident on such book titles as “Harriet Potter” and “Donna Quixote” and retail outlets like “Burger Queen” and “Victor’s Secret.” Not to mention the female Pope Beatrice.

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The film moves swiftly enough, with the gags coming at such a consistent pace, that inevitably some of them land. And the performers certainly know how to sell the material, with Cohen amusingly leaning into his character’s humiliations, Pike appealingly reveling in her character’s dominance, and the top-notch supporting cast going through their paces like the pros they are.

But long before Alex inverts the stereotypical male/female dynamic by showing no interest in a relationship after she and Damien have their one-night stand, you realize that despite its high concept, Ladies First is hopelessly old-fashioned in its satirical conceit. No points for guessing that Damien will have seen the past error of his ways by the film’s conclusion.

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Stephen Colbert takes final bow on ‘The Late Show’ with Paul McCartney as last guest

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Stephen Colbert takes final bow on ‘The Late Show’ with Paul McCartney as last guest

The roar erupting from the capacity audience inside the Ed Sullivan Theater when Stephen Colbert stepped on the stage of his “Late Show” for the last time made it clear that they did not want him to say goodbye.

Colbert took his final bow as his beloved late-night show came to an end Thursday. The episode was so crammed with top celebrities who showed up to share a last moment with the comedian that it extended nearly 30 minutes beyond its usual one-hour run time.

Before the official start, Colbert addressed the audience as he thanked the staff, calling the show “The Joy Machine”: “We call it the Joy Machine because to do this many shows, it has to be a machine. But the thing is, if you choose to do it with joy, it doesn’t hurt as much when your fingers get caught in the gears, and I cannot adequately explain to you what the people who work here have done for each other, and how much we mean to each other.”

In his opening monologue, Colbert downplayed the event‘s status, rolling a series of jokes about news stories in New York and New Jersey. But he was repeatedly interrupted by audience members Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Tim Meadows and Ryan Reynolds, who all became irritated — except for Tig Notaro — when Colbert informed each of them that they would not be his last guest.

Tim Meadows, left, and Paul Rudd in the audience during the show.

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(CBS)

When the show’s supposed scheduled last guest, Pope Leo XIV, refused to leave his dressing room, Paul McCartney popped on stage to a rapturous ovation. The legendary musician presented Colbert with a framed photo of the Beatles when they appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964.

One of the few subtle references to President Trump came when McCartney relayed a story how the Beatles, before their Sullivan appearance, got their faces covered with bright orange makeup. “That’s pretty popular in certain circles these days,” Colbert quipped.

Later in the show, a pre-taped segment that revolved around a wormhole that was threatening to consume Colbert featured several celebrities, including “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Elijah Wood and fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver. The show ended with “The Late Show” band, led by Louis Cato, who accompanied Colbert, Elvis Costello and former “Late Show” band leader Jon Batiste in singing with McCartney on the Beatles’ “Hello, Goodbye.”

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The final scene after almost 90 minutes featured Colbert and McCartney going to the light box of the theater and pulling the lever to “off.” The theater vanished into the green wormhole, disintegrating into a snow globe with the theater inside.

1 A man seated on a chair pointing at a man sitting behind a desk.

2 Two men on a stage at singing into microphones. One holds a guitar.

3 A group of men perform a song on stage.

1. Paul McCartney and Colbert during the interview segment. 2. Colbert and McCartney performing together. 3. Louis Cato, left, Colbert, McCartney, Elvis Costello, and Jon Batiste performing “Hello, Goodbye” together. (Scott Kowalchyk /CBS)

The episode marked the finale of Colbert’s 11-year run on CBS’ late-night show, which he has been counting down since July of last year, when CBS said it was canceling the show because of financial difficulties. “The Late Show” franchise, which Colbert inherited in 2015 from David Letterman, was the top-ranked late-night show, but it faced challenges due to dramatic declines in viewership and a drop in advertising revenue.

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However, industry observers also contended the move was tied to Colbert’s relentless criticism of Trump. The decision was announced after Paramount, the parent company of CBS, had settled a lawsuit filed by Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The company agreed to pay $16 million to settle the suit, which came as Paramount was attempting to get regulatory approval for its merger with Skydance Media, which Colbert called “a big fat bribe.” Trump made no secret of his disdain for Colbert and other late-night hosts who have skewered him and his administration over the years.

Colbert, his guests and others continued to blast Trump in this final week. In his introduction Wednesday of his performance of “Streets of Minneapolis,” Bruce Springsteen said: “I’m here in support tonight for Stephen, because you’re the first guy in America who has lost his show because we got a president who can’t take a joke.”

A man stands facing four men who are holding out their arms with fingers pointed at his face.

Colbert, left, was visited by fellow late-night hosts John Oliver, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon in a segment on Thursday’s show.

(Scott Kowalchyk/CBS)

And Kimmel on his ABC late-night series “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” said Wednesday, “I will be watching tomorrow night. I hope that those of you who watch will also tune in to CBS for the last time. Don’t ever watch it again.”

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In a tribute to Colbert, Kimmel, another target of Trump, and Fallon said their respective shows would not air new episodes during Colbert’s finale.

But the overall vibe on “The Late Show” this week has centered on celebration and spotlighting the show’s comedic formula. Several celebrities who have a special connection with the show made appearances, including Stewart and filmmaker Steven Spielberg.

In one of the more arguably iconic sequences, David Byrne and his band — all attired in bright blue uniforms — appeared Tuesday to perform the Talking Heads anthem “Burning Down the House.” Colbert joined in at the end, dancing in his matching blue outfit.

The “Late Show” time slot will be occupied starting Friday by Byron Allen and his “Comics Unleashed” syndicated show. CBS executives have said they hope to develop a new original late-night series in the future.

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