Dua Lipa is currently lighting up arenas across Europe with her Radical Optimism Tour, but there’s one glaring issue—the album behind the tour is missing from the charts.
Her third studio album, Radical Optimism, dropped in May 2024 with high expectations. But so far, it’s become her least successful project, both critically and commercially. Despite the promotional push and global tour, Radical Optimism has failed to maintain a significant chart presence, especially in her home country, the UK.
Fans Rewind Instead of Embrace the New
Rather than rallying behind Radical Optimism, fans have taken a nostalgic detour—streaming Dua’s older hits instead. In the UK:
- Future Nostalgia reentered the Official Albums Chart at No. 90
and rose to No. 80 on the Albums Streaming Chart - Dua Lipa (self-titled debut) climbed to No. 42 on the Albums Streaming Chart
and jumped 17 spots to No. 59 on the main Albums Chart
This streaming resurgence proves that her loyal base is still there—but they’re craving the magic of her past catalog, not the new material she’s touring with.
Where Is
Radical Optimism
?
Nowhere. As of this week, Radical Optimism is absent from both the Official Albums Chart and the Albums Streaming Chart in the UK. That’s a surprising and telling sign, considering she’s currently performing across the region.
However, it’s not all bleak. Since her UK tour dates only kicked off on June 20, the true chart impact of those performances is expected next week. It’s possible that the live shows will spark renewed interest in the album.
What This Means for Dua Lipa
While her tour tickets are selling well—thanks to her hits like “Levitating,” “Physical,” and “New Rules”—her newest work isn’t resonating with listeners in the same way. The contrast highlights just how powerful her previous albums were and raises questions about the direction of her future sound.
Still, Dua Lipa remains one of the most influential pop acts globally, and this could simply be a case of a transitional era not hitting as hard as expected. But one thing’s clear: right now, the fans are dancing to her past more than her present.
Stay tuned to see if the tour’s momentum can breathe new life into Radical Optimism.
