The dazzling Dua Lipa kicked off her Radical Optimism Tour in Australia on St. Patrick's Day with a nod to the nation's biggest rock export by covering a classic AC/DC sing-a-long.
The 3x Grammy-winner began her five-night Melbourne residency with a generous amount of tracks from her latest album as well as past hits like "Break My Heart" and "One Kiss."
Before she heads off to Sydney and Auckland, she would have entertained about 75,000 at the Rod Laver Stadium in Melbourne Park.
The Bon Scott-era hard rock cover was a surprise addition to her typical pop setlist, especially after she told the unsuspecting audience that she wanted to infuse her gigs with something a little different this time around.
“I thought, why not do a new song every night from a local artist from every place we’re in?," the 29-year-old star told the crowd. "Obviously Australia has an abundance of amazing musicians, so we thought we’d go really big from the very beginning. If you know it, sing it.”
Oh they knew it.
Dua Lipa is no stranger to covers, but the one she's covered the most - over 120 times - is not from the classic rock genre, it's Elton John's "Cold Heart," a tune she performed with the Rocket Man last fall at the Royal Albert Hall.
A few months ago a reporter on the Australian Today Show noticed the singer/dancer had some bruises on her knees while shooting a video and asked how she was holding up.
Dua said the bruises had healed, but her body really gets beaten up when she's on tour.
"That is when the adrenalin kicks in. That's when I start feeding off the crowd and audience. And that's when I start throwing myself on the floor, more so than when I am just doing my rehearsals," she explained.
One way to pace herself during her 22-song set is to break it up into four acts and a four-song encore.
The jubilant "Maria" followed "Highway to Hell" to round out the second act which was done on the more intimate second stage that jutted out from the main stage.
On night two (3/19), she gave love to a different Aussie, Natalie Imbruglia by covering her big hit, "Torn." That, too, was followed by "Maria" to end the act.
A song that was surprising to be left off the set, so far, is "Handlebars," a duet she does with Jennie that's currently in the Top 100.
Very few artist are as hot as the BLACKPINK singer, whose solo album, Ruby, debuted this week at #7 on the Billboard album chart. That record has yielded three singles, one being the collab with Dua Lipa which is currently at #83 on the singles chart.
The video has only been out for 9 days and has already been watched 12.6 million times.
Maybe it could fit nicely after "Illusion" to close out the third act?
When Jennie live debuted her new album earlier this month in LA, is came across as a little slow for a concert. Maybe that's why Dua has forsaken it thus far?
No one seemed to be complaining, though, at the first two Melbourne shows. Dua was flirty and fun and friendly.
She got to meet some of her fans with the best seats and one front-row attendee got as up close as one could ever dream for.
Since the tour has just begun, no matter where you live, the odds are good that Dua will be playing in an arena near you. Some may even live in or near a city where she will be doing more mini-residencies.
Cities that will get multi-night doses of Dua include Sydney (where she will be at the Quodos Bank Arena), Antwerp, NYC's Madison Square Garden and LA's Kia Forum.
Tickets available on Dua's website.
Radical Optimism Tour 2025
Thursday, March 20 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
Saturday, March 22 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
Sunday, March 23 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
Wednesday, March 26 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena
Friday, March 28 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena
Saturday, March 29 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena
Wednesday, April 02 – Auckland, New Zealand – Spark Arena
Friday, April 04 – Auckland, New Zealand – Spark Arena
Sunday, May 11 – Madrid, Spain – Movistar Arena
Monday, May 12 – Madrid, Spain – Movistar Arena
Thursday, May 15 – Lyon, France – LDLC Arena
Friday, May 16 – Lyon, France – LDLC Arena
Monday, May 19 – Hamburg, Germany – Barclays Arena
Tuesday, May 20 – Hamburg, Germany – Barclays Arena
Friday, May 23 – Paris, France – La Défense Arena
Saturday, May 24 – Paris, France – La Défense Arena
Tuesday, May 27 – Prague, Czech Republic – O2 Arena
Wednesday, May 28 – Prague, Czech Republic – O2 Arena
Saturday, May 31 – Munich, Germany – Olympiahalle
Sunday, June 01 – Munich, Germany – Olympiahalle
Tuesday, June 03 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Wednesday, June 04 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Saturday, June 07 – Milan, Italy – Hippodrome Snai La Maura
Wednesday, June 11 – Antwerp, Belgium – Sportpaleis
Thursday, June 12 – Antwerp, Belgium – Sportpaleis
Friday, June 13 – Antwerp, Belgium – Sportpaleis
Friday, June 20 – London, England – Wembley Stadium
Saturday, June 21 – London, England – Wembley Stadium
Tuesday, June 24 – Liverpool, UK – Anfield Stadium
Wednesday, June 25 – Liverpool, UK – Anfield Stadium
Friday, June 27 – Dublin, Ireland – Aviva Stadium
Monday, September 01 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank ArenaTuesday, September 02 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Friday, September 05 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Saturday, September 06 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Tuesday, September 09 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Wednesday, September 10 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Saturday, September 13 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Sunday, September 14 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Wednesday, September 17 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Thursday, September 18 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Saturday, September 20 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Sunday, September 21 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Friday, September 26 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
Saturday, September 27 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
Tuesday, September 30 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
Wednesday, October 01 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
Saturday, October 04 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
Sunday, October 05 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
Tuesday, October 07 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
Wednesday, October 08 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
Saturday, October 11 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
Sunday, October 12 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
Wednesday, October 15 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Thursday, October 16 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
