Earlier this month, Dua kicked off the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards with a performance of “Training Season,” “Dance The Night,” and “Houdini.” She’s also set to perform at the BRIT Awards on March 2nd, where she’s nominated for three awards – Artist of the Year, Best Pop Act, and Song of the Year for “Dance The Night.”
Her comeback has given listeners a taste of her distinct sound, but with a new-found confidence and more spunk. “Training Season” is the perfect example of this, which is all about embracing her singlehood and dating life without feeling any pressure of finding the ‘right’ one.
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Speaking of the track, Dua shared, “I had been on a string of bad dates, and the last one was the final straw. The next morning, I arrived at the studio to Caroline [Ailin] and Tobias [Jesso Jr.] asking me how it went, and I immediately declared ‘Training season is over.’ And like the best ‘day after’ debriefs with your mates, we had a lot of laughs and it all quickly came together from there.”
With lyrics such as “Are you somebody who can go there? 'Cause I don't wanna have to show ya. If that ain't you, then let me know, yeah. 'Cause training season's over,” Dua sends a message to her listeners about knowing her worth. This relatable message, together with an electrifying dance beat, guarantees another can’t-be-missed track from the singer.
“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,” Dua added.
Fans have also received another treat along with this release – the official “Training Season” video, which captures Dua’s sentiments perfectly. It opens with her voicemail being flooded with apologetic messages and second chance requests. As the song continues, Dua sits alone while she’s surrounded by men vying for her attention, and the room begins to spin into chaos. It’s the perfect balance of fun, bold, and edgy.
A highly anticipated release
Filipino fans have eagerly awaited the release of “Training Season,” which comes as no surprise since the country has Dua’s largest fanbase in Asia-Pacific. In fact, the Philippines boasts of aggressive streaming and fanbase growth for Dua compared to the rest of Asia. Through the years since her initial rise in 2017, the pop star's streaming volume in the country has far outpaced her streaming volume across Asia - even compared to Indonesia, which has nearly double the Philippines’ Spotify users.
Dua’s legacy in the Philippines is undeniable, and was established primarily due to her success with songs such as “New Rules,” "Don't Start Now,” “Levitating,” “Dance The Night,” and “Houdini.”
Back-to-back hits
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.
Last November, Dua returned with the euphoric club-ready track “Houdini,” which went straight to No. 1 on the UK Airplay charts and drew in over 12 million YouTube views within 24 hours, and garnered immediate praise across the board – from Rolling Stone and Billboard, who said the track is “an immediate blast,” 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.
With “Training Season” joining the roster, Dua continues to prove that her journey as a global pop superstar is far from over.
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