The Meaning of “Training Season” by Dua Lipa and What’s Behind Her ‘Radical Optimism’

Dua Lipa is optimistic. It’s in the title of her latest and third studio album, Radical Optimism.

Lipa’s growing confidence showed during her Grammy-opening performance earlier this year. Then she flawlessly pulled double duty on Saturday Night Live as both a host and performer. Still, her coolness is most visible on her glamorously curated Instagram account where she’s amassed 88 million followers.

Recognizing one’s power over circumstances. This is the stuff Lipa sings about on her disco-pop single “Training Season.” There’s no more patience for bad romance. And she’ll pull a “Houdini” if necessary.

Finished With Bad Dates

Dua Lipa has had enough bad dates. A seemingly endless series of disappointing partners inspired Lipa to write “Training Season.”

Are you someone that I can give my heart to?
Or just the poison that I’m drawn to
It can be hard to tell the difference late at night
Play fair, is that a compass in your nature?
Or are you tricky? ’Cause I’ve been there
And, baby, I don’t need to learn my lesson twice

The day after a bad date Lipa arrived at the recording studio and declared: “Training season is over!” So, she debriefed her collaborators on the “final straw” date, laughed off the debacle, and quickly wrote a hit.

I need someone to hold me close
Deeper than I’ve ever known
Whose love feels like a rodeo
Knows just how to take control
When I’m vulnerable
He’s straight-talking to my soul
Conversation overload
Got me feeling vertigo

Gaining Confidence

In a statement about “Training Season,” Lipa said, “And while it is obviously about that feeling when you are just absolutely done telling people … men specifically in this case, how to date you right, it is also about my training season being over and me growing with every experience. I have never felt more confident, clear or empowered.”

With confidence comes a clearer sense of what she wants.

“And while it may be that training season is never over for any of us, you start to see the beauty in finding that person to experience it with. You stop looking for the trainees and become more interested in having someone where you are and someone to grow with,” she added.

Radically Optimistic

Lipa told Rolling Stone UK that Radical Optimism is the essence of “youth and freedom and having fun.” It’s a mission statement of letting go.

While many pop artists these days are either self-referential or addressing weightier topics—the opposite of pop music as an escape hatch from daily woes—Lipa stands apart. Her new album isn’t autobiographical. It’s not attempting to do anything other than make you feel good. Make you forget. (What upset you before losing yourself in this three-minute banger?)

Lipa said Britpop inspired the album too. Remember how Oasis and Blur reacted against the doom and gloom of American grunge music. So, when Kurt Cobain wanted to die, and Alice in Chains claimed, “We Die Young,” Noel Gallagher responded with “Live Forever” and Blur went, “Woo-hoo!”

There’s a life-is-short ethos to the whole thing.

Like Harry Houdini

Kevin Parker, an Australian musician who records psychedelic rock as Tame Impala, produced “Training Season.” Parker is famous for being an obsessive and extraordinarily talented producer. Much of his psych-rock uniquely sounds old and new at the same time.

In addition to Parker, Lipa’s collaborators from “Houdini” are the same on “Training Season”—Danny L Harle, Tobias Jesso Jr., and Caroline Ailin. Lipa’s waning tolerance for duds echoes in both songs, reinforcing the pop star’s impatience for lukewarm affection.  

Catch me or I go Houdini.

Radical Optimism, released on May 3, reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Albums chart and No. 1 in the UK—proving that music fans welcomed Lipa’s positivity.

The Mailbox Is Full and Cannot Accept Any Messages at This Time

In the Vincent Haycock-directed video, Lipa listens to compounding voicemails from former dates pleading for another chance. Meanwhile, Lipa sips tea in a café while throngs of boys attempt to gain her attention. She remains cooly detached.

The scene becomes whirling chaos as suitors descend on her in a blur. The video ends with a jammed mailbox unable to accept further messages, and a terse “Goodbye.”

Like the concise finale to the “Training Season” music video, Lipa’s pop music is tautly packaged, inflexibly fun—a true escape. Also, the sports metaphor applies to Lipa’s larger theme of overcoming obstacles. The hurdle, like the loser dates, are things to jump over, to get past.

Dua Lipa isn’t looking back in anger, but she won’t wait around either. “Training Season” is a self-empowerment chant. Her pop songs make letting go sound easy, obtainable. It’s dance-floor euphoria turned life mantra. A radical owner’s manual for optimism.

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Photo by Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock