Dua Lipa’s sold-out Saturday night show at Wembley Stadium wasn’t just a concert; it was a coronation.
Ten years on from her first London show, the Radical Optimism world tour arrived at the UK’s biggest venue with a bang (and several dozen fireworks), cementing her status as a bona fide global superstar.
From the moment rolling waves crashed across the stage screens and Dua emerged in a silver sequin leotard to launch into ‘Training Season,’ the energy was relentless. The 70,000-strong crowd barely had time to catch their breath across a 23-song set as she strutted through a tightly choreographed show, flanked by dancers in flawless synchronicity. It was polished to the point of perfection – perhaps too much so at times, with moments that felt so rehearsed they lacked a certain spontaneous essence.
Still, the spectacle was undeniable. ‘Break My Heart’ got a darker, bass-heavy revamp, while football fan favourite, ‘One Kiss,’ promoted a resonant crowd singalong, complete with confetti showers and a costume change (one of five throughout the night). The showgirl feathers came out for ‘End of an Era,’ and a burlesque chair routine added sultry flair to ‘Whatcha Doin’.’ Dua’s signature smoky vocals were consistently on point, confident and clear throughout, despite the relentless dancing.
Having made a tradition of bringing out a special musical guest from each country the tour stops in, anticipation was high for who Dua would duet with tonight – Friday’s Wembley show saw Jamiroquai make an appearance for ‘Virtual Insanity.’ Announcing “total brat” Charli XCX as Saturday’s surprise star threw the crowd into complete hysteria. Screams barely subsided as the pair strutted across the stage for Charli’s infectious hit, ‘360.’
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A shot bout of rainfall during ‘Maria’ gave frenzied fans a brief reprieve before Dua dialled the energy back up again, playing a string of her high-energy, club-centric Future Nostalgia-era tracks, ‘Physical,’ ‘Electricity,’ and ‘Hallucinate.’
After yet another outfit change that saw Dua switch into a vibrant, royal blue sequin set, we’re in the ballad section of the night, with ‘Falling Forever’ and ‘Happy For You.’ On ‘Anything for Love,’ Dua stood alone, bathed in a starry sky of phone lights, her vocals backed only by piano. It was a rare moment of stillness in a show otherwise engineered for movement.
Closing out the show, Dua paused for a moment of reflection and shared her gratitude for the journey she’s been on over the past decade, saying she owes it all to her breakthrough song, ‘Be the One.’ It’s a fitting end to the night, complete with a barricade run, where adoring fans brushed their outstretched fingertips against the star.
After a fake exit where Dua bids us goodnight, glitchy, futuristic sounds bring ‘New Rules’ to life, and the high-energy encore begins. Clad in a head-to-toe Versace look, BICEP’s hit, ‘Glue,’ is woven into the fabric of the song, giving it a rave twist complete with strobe lights. We revisit past hit, ‘Don’t Start Now,’ before fireworks explode into the sky on the finale, ‘Houdini.’
With an almost superhuman stamina, Dua danced, sang, and sashayed her way through two and a half hours of pop perfection. She may have started the night as a pop star, but by the end, she was something else entirely: a maestro in a Union Jack-lined fur coat, conducting a stadium of worshippers with a grin that said she knows exactly the power she holds.
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Words: Aimee Phillips
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