Does anyone else have a hunch that there may have been a very different third album originally but the label for whatever reason weren’t pleased and she’s ended up going back to the studio with a new concept and tracks what are more like what were used to elevated slightly?

 

The Massive Attack / Primal Scream / BRIT Pop influences don’t necessarily come across here and then the first two music videos we got dont necessarily fit what she said the albums theme was which you can kind of see in Illusions visual. I definitely have a feeling that she did actually record and go in a new direction but it isn’t coming across with what we got as the album just feeling more of the same but what she’s done better previously.

 

I still think the album will do well. She always maintains good chart runs and I expect a re release will be happening at some point but she also has Glastonbury which will give the album a big boost then and maybe the album will perhaps come more to life there and feel different in a live setting.

 

I don’t necessarily feel like it’s a bad album but I don’t feel strongly about it either but it could be a case of the tracks being growers. Houdini is the only real moment on this for me as of now though.

I don’t know what really went wrong but can’t shake this feeling that as if her career is being sabotaged.

 

Just 5 days ago all three singles were doing 2+mill and then May 1st they all suddenly dropped a lot of positions, right before album release!!!

I just think her popularity has always been severely over exaggerated as an artist. The songs were good the songs were huge yes but she's a streaming inflated artist. The songs would have been huge with or without her. Which is now why he response to this album debut is even worrying as hasn't even debuted high. The barbie song was only a hit once the movie had premiered. Most British female singers only retain the success for 2 or 3 albums and its just the case here. She doesn't deserve number one with this album and if she does get it, it will be from the success of the previous.

I mean, she was selling out arenas across the world with her last tour. I don't think that happens if you're not popular as an artist.

I don't know, I wouldn't say her popularity has been "severely overly exaggerated". She had the biggest selling song of the year in 2021 with Levitating in the US, that's pretty massive for a UK artist. Don't Start Now was also the 4th biggest selling song of the year there the year prior. It's pretty rare for a UK artist to have the success she's had worldwide, the Future Nostalgia tour was a sellout worldwide too. She definitely deserves her flowers, she's done very well.

 

I do think it's fair to say though that based on first day numbers this is a massive underperformance. 15.8M streams worldwide is pretty shocking for an artist of her level. Future Nostalgia did 29.1M, so almost double, with the same number of tracks. :(

 

@1786728208945049686

 

 

I don't know what the hell to make out of that...if true then she's really being sabotaged!!!

 

Is it because of her pro-palestinian stance?!!

The AM numbers don't back any conspiracies though - it's not doing massively well there either.

She's not being sabotaged. The music just isn't good.

I don't know, I wouldn't say her popularity has been "severely overly exaggerated". She had the biggest selling song of the year in 2021 with Levitating in the US, that's pretty massive for a UK artist. Don't Start Now was also the 4th biggest selling song of the year there the year prior. It's pretty rare for a UK artist to have the success she's had worldwide, the Future Nostalgia tour was a sellout worldwide too. She definitely deserves her flowers, she's done very well.

 

I do think it's fair to say though that based on first day numbers this is a massive underperformance. 15.8M streams worldwide is pretty shocking for an artist of her level. Future Nostalgia did 29.1M, so almost double, with the same number of tracks. :(

 

Yes but let's not forget Adele and Ellie was doing this at the start of 2010s. And Ellie practically touring worldwide non stop from 2009-2016. Dua has done amazing but I think sometimes it's seen as it's something no one else has done before. It's just a different age with streaming inflating figures.

Was just talking to my friends (who are big fans as well) about the underperformance, and one of them has said that maybe it wasn't a smart idea for her to leave TaP so soon right after FN considering they really had a good vision for her during FN era and that's what made her so big in first place.

 

 

I don't know, I wouldn't say her popularity has been "severely overly exaggerated". She had the biggest selling song of the year in 2021 with Levitating in the US, that's pretty massive for a UK artist. Don't Start Now was also the 4th biggest selling song of the year there the year prior. It's pretty rare for a UK artist to have the success she's had worldwide, the Future Nostalgia tour was a sellout worldwide too. She definitely deserves her flowers, she's done very well.

 

I do think it's fair to say though that based on first day numbers this is a massive underperformance. 15.8M streams worldwide is pretty shocking for an artist of her level. Future Nostalgia did 29.1M, so almost double, with the same number of tracks. :(

 

Agree with all of this. She’s definitely a big thing - also multiple Grammy winner!

 

 

Was just talking to my friends (who are big fans as well) about the underperformance, and one of them has said that maybe it wasn't a smart idea for her to leave TaP so soon right after FN considering they really had a good vision for her during FN era and that's what made her so big in first place.

 

Fair point. It normally bites artists in the butt when they part ways after a successful era (Spice Girls and Alexandra come to mind).

Actually, when I think about it this is feeling like Jessie J's second album performance-wise compared to FN/JJ's debut.

Actually, when I think about it this is feeling like Jessie J's second album performance-wise compared to FN/JJ's debut.

 

How spooky I just went from reading about her to reading this comment! I see the comparisons too though Dua is far more likeable than Jessie.

I'm at a beach bar right now and they're playing the album. END OF AN ERA it's the one :wub: :wub:

Is nobody else liking Happy For Now? That and Falling Forever were the standouts for me!

Actually, when I think about it this is feeling like Jessie J's second album performance-wise compared to FN/JJ's debut.

 

Eek you're right!!!! :drama: :drama: Jessie J also had big USA hits too. And how many UK artists actually last? Even Adele has fallen below Taylor Swift. This might actually be it for Dua! Prism, this album is not. Jessie's 3rd album and on were disastrous... Fortunately we're in the streaming and concert era, so she can eke out a continuous recording career anyway. Justin Whinealake and Katy Perry are still releasing, and they're thw two biggest flops going!!

I can’t believe that an artist with such a good ear for a song and melody overlooked that they literally created an inferior version of the previous album!

 

I do love ‘Houdini’ a lot and enjoyed a lot ‘End of an Era” and ‘Falling Forever”, as well as ‘Illusion’, but overall it’s not a strong effort. I hope for the next album she definitely changes the game and sound a lot. The girl needs it.

I can’t believe that an artist with such a good ear for a song and melody overlooked that they literally created an inferior version of the previous album!

 

I do love ‘Houdini’ a lot and enjoyed a lot ‘End of an Era” and ‘Falling Forever”, as well as ‘Illusion’, but overall it’s not a strong effort. I hope for the next album she definitely changes the game and sound a lot. The girl needs it.

 

100% agreed with all this tbh, bur no love for Houdini here

I played it to my husband to see his thoughts and Training Season was by far his favourite.

According to chartdata its looking to do 55k-65k first week in the US and should debut at either #2 or #3. FN debuted at #4 with 66k (but later peaked at #3), so not too far off tbh. At least if she debuts at #2 it'll be her highest charting album in the US.