Live Review: Dua Lipa @ Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Radical Optimism is a philosophy that focuses on maintaining a positive outlook in the face of uncertainty and chaos. It’s about choosing hope, no matter the challenges life throws at you. Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism tour perfectly embodies this mindset. 

Taking its name from her third studio album, the tour has created quite a buzz in Melbourne. Local artist Amanda Newman unveiled a vibrant mural of the singer in Hosier Lane, while on Little Collins Street, an exclusive pop-up store opened, offering limited-edition merch and immersive photo opportunities. 

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A three-time GRAMMY Award winner and seven-time BRIT Award winner, Lipa has firmly established herself as British pop royalty. Originally, only two Australian dates were announced, but due to overwhelming demand, six additional shows were added—and it’s now clear why: Lipa is an artist best enjoyed live. 

For months, fans have been speculating about who would be joining Lipa on tour, and two weeks ago, the mystery was solved when Australian pop singer-songwriter Kita Alexander shared an adorable video of herself announcing the news to her two kids. 

The ARIA-nominated artist performed seven songs, including Between You & I (which briefly detoured into a cover of Tears For Fears' Everybody Wants to Rule The World), Atmosphere, and her latest single Press Pause. One of the most moving moments of the whole night was Alexander’s performance of Hotel, a heartfelt dedication to her late sister Natassja.

Quietly pouring her heart into every lyric, Alexander’s performance was a powerful testament to grief and healing. The crowd responded by turning on their phone lights in a sign of solidarity. “Thank you, Melbourne,” she said. “That was absolutely beautiful.” Barefoot and so effortlessly cool, she could only hail from Byron. 

As the extravaganza began, fans quickly realised that something had changed. This wasn’t simply the second leg of the tour but an entirely new show with a re-imagined stage, new costumes, and an updated setlist.

The new stage featured a wide, multi-level design with an elongated runway and fluid curves mirroring the water motif from her album artwork. As images of crashing waves enveloped Rod Laver Arena, a powerful sense of renewal washed over the venue, suggesting a changing of the tide.

Then, almost as if parting the waves herself, Lipa emerged at the centre, and the crowd went wild. She opened with Training Season, a song that took on a deeper meaning in this context. It was as if the years of hard work and musical evolution had all led to this moment, this tour, this dazzling display of stardom. Lipa is no longer in the ‘training season’ of her career but at the pinnacle, and the crowd could feel it. 

The momentum continued as she seamlessly transitioned into End Of An Era. The track glistened with a summery allure, and feathered fans added a touch of old Hollywood glamour, heightening the sense of occasion.

Lipa has come a long way since 2018, when her dance skills went viral after an awkward performance of One Kiss at Lollapalooza Berlin. Fast forward a few years, and her stage presence has completely transformed.

During the show, she seized every opportunity to showcase her skills, proving herself not only to be a powerhouse vocalist but an impressive dancer, too. Each song was complemented by choreography by Charm La'Donna, including the sultry Whatcha Doing, the explosive Physical, and Illusion, which felt like a lesson in endurance. Her twelve-strong troupe of dancers added to the spectacle, elevating the show with their infectious energy. And for the record, her performance of the effortlessly cool One Kiss was a highlight of the night. 

Throughout the night, Lipa moved offstage to greet those along the barricade, making each fan feel seen. One fan, Natalie, received a sweet compliment about her lipstick, while another reminisced with Lipa about her first Melbourne show at the Northcote Social Club way back in 2016. Later, during Be The One, Dua got even closer to the crowd, leaning into her fans as she sang to them. At one point, she even filmed part of the performance on one lucky fan’s phone. 

Offering a moment of reprieve, These Walls gave the audience a brief pause amidst the high-energy set. While Anything For Love saw Lipa suspended on a levitating platform, her voice soaring as she held the audience completely captivated. Her voice also shone on the new setlist addition, Maria. 

Another exciting element of this leg of the tour is the addition of a nightly surprise cover of a local artist. On Monday, Lipa performed AC/DC’s Highway to Hell, while on Wednesday, she took on Natalie Imbruglia's Torn. Last night, she switched gears again, giving us Kylie Minogue. “There are some songs that I guess don’t really need much of an introduction,” she said before launching into Can’t Get You Out Of My Head. 

The fashion on this leg of the tour marked a radical departure from last year's edgy leather looks, instead opting for a more opulent and refined aesthetic. The first look of the evening was a Jean Paul Gaultier pink-champagne corset, exuding an air of Old Hollywood glamour. The second act saw her in a black Valentino lace catsuit, followed by a slinky lingerie dress by The Attico before she wowed the crowd in a striking red Balenciaga dress. Finally, she closed the night in a black Chanel bodysuit that pays homage to the luxury house's iconic 1992 Chain Dress.

Other highlights included Levitating, which took things to another level with its funky, galactic groove; Electricity, a joyous track that radiated infectious energy throughout the venue; Love Again, which she performed surrounded by a dramatic ring of fire, and, of course, New Rules—the sassy breakup anthem that became a global sensation. But while the setlist was longer than ever, Lipa's only misstep was omitting her hit collaboration with Elton John, Cold Heart. 

As the show neared its end, Lipa effortlessly channelled the vibrant energy of Barbie into her abridged performance of Dance The Night. Featured in Greta Gerwig's 2023 film, the disco-infused song came alive on stage, even if only for a few moments.

Disco may have died in 1979, but it lives on in Dua Lipa’s infectious dance anthems and sugary pop beats, which have revived the genre for a generation whose parents weren’t even around for its first incarnation, most notably in Don’t Start Now. Widely considered the beginning of the disco revival, its funky bassline had everyone dancing. 

The show closed with Houdini, a bold, shimmering anthem with an assertive bassline that sounded even better live, leaving the audience with a lasting sense of empowerment. In fact, the entire night was a lesson in harnessing one’s power, with Lipa’s performance fuelling a confidence that lingered long after the final note.