The first Dua Lipa song that caught my attention was Be The One, one of the singles from her debut self-titled album in 2017. The album also includes the anthemic IDAF and huge hit, No Rules. Since then she has released hit after hit, most of which have been pure pop and dancefloor bliss. Her second album, Future Nostalgia, went to number one on the UK album charts while its lead single, Don’t Start Now, became the longest top-ten run for a British female artist on the UK Singles Chart. I love this album, which saw her moving in a different direction musically and lyrically, inspired by artists who were an integral part of her childhood, including Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Moloko and Blondie (no wonder the album resonated with me so much!).
Further success followed with the release of the disco-inspired Dance The Night from the Barbie soundtrack; the song is used in the dance party scene which is one of the best scenes, especially once the Kens join in. Dua also starred in the movie as Mermaid Barbie. Hot on the heels of the Barbie phenomenon, she released Radical Optimism in November 2023. Despite mixed reviews, I have enjoyed the album immensely. According to Variety’s Jem Aswad, the album was inspired by "the energy of London, and the rawness, honesty, confidence and freedom of 90s Britpop”; it’s about “the essence of youth and freedom and having fun".
Freedom and fun were definitely strong themes in her Radical Optimism Tour which made a stop at Madison Square Garden this week. The Guardian’s Eilish Gilligan describes the start of the show perfectly: “[It] begins with a blue, oceanic wash of light accompanied by a meditative synth, which gives off the feeling of a wellness floating tank – a collective hypnosis broken by Dua Lipa’s radiant entrance from below the stage”. She commanded the stage, shaped like an infinity sign and covered with HD screens, as she strutted, danced and belted out hit after hit. The show was an epic spectacle, enhanced by dazzling pyrotechnics, confetti (so much confetti) and at one point, a ring of flames. She delivered a powerful performance until the very end, captivating the audience with her stunning vocals and a series of radiant, sparkly bodysuits, some of which were definitely Madonna coded.
It was clear that she’s an artist at the top of her game and I can’t wait to see what she does next. Indeed, Sam Damshenas from Gay Times notes that, “with every high note and dance step…Dua proved she’s not just an artist with gargantuan streaming numbers; she’s a live titan, determined to lift everyone into the light of her (radical) optimism”.
The complete setlist was as follows:
Act I
Training Season
End of an Era
Break My Heart
One Kiss
Act II
Whatcha Doing
Levitating
These Walls
One Way Or Another
(Blondie cover)
Maria
Act III
Physical
Electricity
Hallucinate
Illusion
Act IV
Falling Forever
Happy for You
Love Again
Anything For Love
Be the One
Encore:
New Rules
Dance the Night
(chorus only)
Don't Start Now
Houdini
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