Training Season

Album: Radical Optimism (2024)
Charted: 4 27
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Training Season" is an empowering anthem inspired by mediocre dates. Dua Lipa conveys a message to men that she will no longer tolerate subpar treatment.

    "Training season's over. You're done teaching people how to do things right," said Lipa. "That's the vibe."
  • Lipa wrote the song with songwriters Caroline Ailin and Tobias Jesso Jr., along with producers Danny L Harle and Kevin Parker. The same five also penned her "Houdini" single.
  • Lipa describes the song's inspiration as a culmination of frustrating dates, stating, "The last one was the final straw."

    The next morning, she arrived at the studio to Ailin and Tobias Jesso asking her how her date went. "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," Lipa said.
  • While the song addresses setting boundaries and demanding respectful treatment, it also delves deeper into Duo Lipa's personal journey.

    "I have never felt more confident, clear, or empowered," she said. "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."
  • Dua Lipa debuted the song on February 4, 2024, at the 2024 Grammy Awards. Kicking off the main ceremony, she performed a medley that comprised "Training Season," "Houdini," and "Dance The Night."
  • While speculation swirls about who inspired the lyrics, some fans point to Lipa's ex-boyfriend Anwar Hadid, whom she dated for over two years. Several of her 2020 Future Nostalgia tracks, including "Break My Heart," are believed to be inspired by him.

    Other guys she's dated include model/chef Isaac Carew, Lany singer and guitarist Paul Klein, TV host Trevor Noah, and director Romain Garvas.
  • Vincent Haycock (Calvin Harris, Florence + The Machine, Sam Fender) directed the music video. It opens with Lipa getting bombarded by a wave of desperate voicemails from exes, their apologies washing over her in a cacophony of regret.

    Later, a throng of men engulfs Lipa, vying for her attention with hungry gazes and reaching hands. This whirlwind becomes a physical manifestation of her own contemplation, a visual representation of the question burning within her:

    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
    'Cause training season's over
  • "Training Season" samples elements from "Tokyo Nights" by Digital Farm Animals, Shaun Frank & Dragonette. Both songs use a very similar melodic structure, particularly in their choruses. The writers of "Tokyo Nights," Digital Farm Animals, Martina Sorbara, Shaun Frank, Yaakov Gruzman and Steve Mastroianni are also credited on "Training Season."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

Kim Thayil of Soundgarden

Kim Thayil of SoundgardenSongwriter Interviews

Their frontman (Chris Cornell) started out as their drummer, so Soundgarden takes a linear approach when it comes to songwriting. Kim explains how they do it.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Trucking Songs That Were #1 Hits

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

Bob Dylan Lyric Quiz

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.