Ryan Paton was in the ground when Dua Lipa’s hit song was adopted by Reds supporters. The singer will perform at Anfield tonight and tomorrow
Dua Lipa performs prior to the UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Liverpool in 2018(Image: Getty Images)
Dua Lipa is arriving at Anfield tonight for the first of two gigs in Liverpool. While many of the 29-year-old popstar’s hits will be heard for the first time in L4 on Tuesday evening, there’s one of her songs that’s already a firm favourite in the Anfield songbook.
It’s now become customary after a major Liverpool win for Reds supporters to party to 2018 pop classic, One Kiss. Supporters of all generations now know every word to the Dua Lipa song, as though it’s no different to Poor Scouser Tommy or Fields of Anfield Road.
The time when One Kiss wasn’t synonymous with a Reds’ triumph now feels like a distant memory, as it has been the soundtrack of the club’s journey back to the top of their perch. I was lucky enough to be in the ground for the 2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid seven years ago when the love affair with the song began.
It was a trip that will live long in the memory for any supporter who made the journey to Kyiv, as Liverpool were in their first European Cup final for 11 years and it truly felt as though the Reds were back in the big time. Jurgen Klopp had restored the team’s identity on and off the pitch – and the Reds could lay claim to have the most exciting side in Europe.
For a generation of fans, whether Liverpool were competitive felt perilously reliant on individual brilliance from star players, or fan power to drag them through against more talented sides. However, under the guidance of a genius German boss, it really felt like something special was brewing.
The most dangerous front three in Europe were ready to commit their best years to the club and Virgil van Dijk had already proven he was capable of solving the team’s defensive struggles. He just needed a goalkeeper on his level, and a certain Brazilian would fortunately be soon on his way to Merseyside a couple of months later.
There was so much joy and optimism surrounding being a Liverpool fan and where the club was heading, which contributed to a festival atmosphere in the hours leading up to the game. The scenes in Shevchenko Park are legendary amongst supporters and this buoyant mood continued on the walk to the NSC Olimpiyskiy on May 26, 2018.
Liverpool fans are traditionally quite cynical towards the pre match show before a final, which is often dismissed as UEFA’s contrived attempt to make football too similar to the Superbowl. However, the mood ahead of Dua Lipa doing the show felt a little bit different.
Perhaps this was testament to the incredible popularity of One Kiss, which had surged to number one after it had been released the previous month. Or maybe it had something to do with the brilliant banner a fan had made, which featured the lyrics from the song alongside the image of Gerrard kissing the European Cup in 2005.
More than likely, it was just that spirits amongst Liverpool fans were so high that the opportunity to listen to a genuinely great pop song was only going to be embraced by a group of supporters in a party mood.
However, I don’t think anyone could have expected just how much the Liverpool end would have embraced the song when Dua started singing. The way it swept through the Liverpool end was completely organic and felt like a truly special live music experience that will always stick with me.
I don’t think I’d ever sung One Kiss out loud before but, before I knew it, I was singing along to every word. Or, at least my drunken self thought I was getting the words right anyway.
And so a bond was formed in this moment, which is so strong that it’s convinced many that Dua is a die hard Liverpool fan. Sadly she isn’t, but the popstar has previously said how she feels like an honorary supporter in past interviews. It sums up the strength of the connection that a global popstar like Dua will now always likely have to address questions about whether she’s a Liverpool fan.
The One Kiss performance will live long in the memory for Liverpool supporters, but it was also pretty special for Dua too. She told LiverpoolFC.com in 2020 how she will always treasure the way Liverpool fans embraced her performance ahead of the Champions League final.
She said: “One of the highlights of the night was definitely seeing the video of all the Liverpool fans chanting along to One Kiss afterwards. I felt very honoured. I had never played a show of that size before, I don’t think I have since!
“I get really nervous before I perform anywhere, let alone the Champions League final. I remember standing at the side of the pitch with my palms sweating waiting to run on and get into position.
“I was so full of adrenaline it was over very quickly and I remember running off the pitch at the end with two of my tour dancers I was very lucky to have the support of people back home right there in the stadium in Kyiv. I’m still shocked when watching it back seeing all these fans singing along to my song!
“I’m always extremely grateful for the support. It’s heart-warming and I’m very lucky.” For fans of other teams, the game will likely be remembered for one of the greatest ever goals in a final from Gareth Bale.
However, the lasting memories for any Liverpool fans from that trip will of course be what happened before the match. One Kiss was the perfect representation of where this Liverpool side was heading under Klopp.
The song has been a mainstay on the terraces for the past seven years and the way it featured heavily in the 20th league title celebrations in Arne Slot’s maiden season is a sign the song is not going away anytime soon.
It will be fitting for One Kiss to finally be performed live in the song’s spiritual home in L4 tonight and tomorrow. If the atmosphere is anything like it was in 2018, then it will be a truly special experience for anyone lucky enough to be there.