International pop sensation Dua Lipa has dazzled Melbourne audiences over the past week with her Radical Optimism tour playing five sold-out nights at Rod Laver Arena. I attended the fifth and final Melbourne concert on Sunday 23 March.
From the moment the first beats of “Training Season” echoed throughout the venue the stage and crowd lit up, and the atmosphere was immediately electrifying.
Lipa’s stage presence was nothing short of commanding – proving why she is such a huge star. With ease, she was able to work the crowd, involving them in every song. With each move, she flowed with confidence and charisma, whether she was powerfully singing songs like “Physical” or slowing things down with emotional songs such as “Love Again.” Her connection with the crowd was awe-inspiring as she dominated the stage with her dancers, seamlessly shifting between high-energy choreography and intimate moments.
The setlist was a carefully selected mix of Dua Lipa’s biggest hits and newer songs, ensuring fans were treated to both nostalgic favourites and new and exciting sounds. Songs like “Don’t Start Now” and “New Rules” had the crowd dancing and singing from start to finish.
A standout feature of the Radical Optimism tour is the sense of positivity that permeates the entire show. The concert celebrates hope, resilience, and joy, through all the genres of Lipa’s music and all qualities that are central to her music.
The energy in the crowd was contagious, with fans singing along to every word, creating a sense of unity. Lipa had everyone in the arena at the edge of their seats, and hanging onto every word she said and lyric she sang.
At several points during the show she left the stage to connect with the crowd in General Admission, taking selfies and videos.
On other nights of the Melbourne leg of the tour, Lipa surprised fans by covering Aussie classics like Kylie Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” and Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn. On our night, she surprised us all by bringing Vance Joy out to the stage who played ukulele and duetted what she said was one of her favourite songs, “Riptide”
The stage design was an artistic blend of sleek modern and retro influences, withvisuals and lighting that brought each song to life. The combination of projections on the roof and walls of Rod Laver, neon accents, and bold, geometric patterns helped to set the mood of each track.
This was a stunning production that showed everyone why she’s one of pop’s reigning queens. The tour now continues to Sydney (they only get three shows, sucks to be Sydney) and then to Auckland.
