Dua Lipa - Live From The Royal Albert Hall (Album Review)
Monday, 09 December 2024
Written by Chris Connor
Photo: Elizabeth Miranda
With her distinctive blend of pop and neo-disco, Dua Lipa has become one of the most well-loved pop stars to emerge from the UK in recent years. This live album is both a celebration of that fact and a reset of sorts.
It marks another career milestone by documenting a triumphant show at the Royal Albert Hall while also putting a fresh spin on material from ‘Radical Optimism’, a record that struggled to make its mark in the wake of the blockbuster ‘Future Nostalgia’.
In many artists’ hands, this could easily have been a victory lap — a glitzy celebration of earlier works. So, in shying away from some of her biggest hits and focusing on newer material and deep cuts, Lipa lays bare her belief in her current output, eschewing expectations in fine fashion.
Dua Lipa is clearly someone comfortable on the largest of stages but here she clearly relishes the more intimate surroundings of such an iconic venue.
From opener End of An Era it's clear she has put a lot of attention into this show, making sure the tracks suit the room. Many arrive with added instrumentation, giving them a more bombastic sound and sense of grandeur, while spotlighting her vocals amid arrangements that help to reinvigorate some of the material.
Houdini and Training Season hold up well, packed full of Lipa’s unique energy, and the crowd are clearly having a blast. The added flourishes throughout, be it jangly piano on Watcha Doing or a subtle, stripped-back opening for These Walls, help the Radical Optimism tracks really shine through. It may even be enough to make some re-evaluate the record.
The second half of the show finds Lipa turning to her back catalogue for hits such as Levitating, Be The One, Dance The Night and a rare duet with Elton John for their smash Cold Heart. These tracks benefit from some extra polish before a rousing version of Don’t Start Now closes a memorable show.
Ultimately, ‘Live From The Royal Albert Hall’ is about underlining Lipa’s quality as a performer. It is to her credit, at this stage in her career, that she is willing to show a different side to herself as an artist and live act, with ‘Radical Optimism’ perhaps emerging as the biggest winner following the experiment.
Dua Lipa Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Mon March 17 2025 - MELBOURNE Rod Laver Arena
Wed March 19 2025 - MELBOURNE Rod Laver Arena
Thu March 20 2025 - MELBOURNE Rod Laver Arena
Sat March 22 2025 - MELBOURNE Rod Laver Arena
Sun March 23 2025 - MELBOURNE Rod Laver Arena
Wed March 26 2025 - SYDNEY Qudos Bank Arena
Fri March 28 2025 - SYDNEY Qudos Bank Arena
Sat March 29 2025 - SYDNEY Qudos Bank Arena
Wed April 02 2025 - AUCKLAND Spark Arena
Fri April 04 2025 - AUCKLAND Spark Arena
Sun May 11 2025 - MADRID Wizink Center (Spain)
Mon May 12 2025 - MADRID Wizink Center (Spain)
Thu May 15 2025 - LYON LDLC ARENA (France)
Fri May 16 2025 - LYON LDLC ARENA (France)
Mon May 19 2025 - HAMBURG Barclays Arena (Germany)
Tue May 20 2025 - HAMBURG Barclays Arena (Germany)
Fri May 23 2025 - PARIS LA Defense Arena (France)
Sat May 24 2025 - PARIS LA Defense Arena (France)
Tue May 27 2025 - PRAGUE O2 Arena (Czech Republic)
Wed May 28 2025 - PRAGUE O2 Arena (Czech Republic)
Sat May 31 2025 - MUNICH Olympiahalle (Germany)
Sun June 01 2025 - MUNICH Olympiahalle (Germany)
Tue June 03 2025 - AMSTERDAM Ziggo Dome (Netherlands)
Wed June 04 2025 - AMSTERDAM Ziggo Dome (Netherlands)
Sat June 07 2025 - MILAN Ippodromo SNAI San Siro (Italy)
Wed June 11 2025 - ANTWERP Sportpaleis (Belgium)
Fri June 13 2025 - ANTWERP Sportpaleis (Belgium)
Fri June 20 2025 - LONDON Wembley Stadium
Sat June 21 2025 - LONDON Wembley Stadium
Tue June 24 2025 - LIVERPOOL Anfield
Wed June 25 2025 - LIVERPOOL Anfield
Fri June 27 2025 - DUBLIN Aviva Stadium
Mon September 01 2025 - TORONTO Ontario - Scotiabank Arena (Canada)
Tue September 02 2025 - TORONTO Ontario - Scotiabank Arena (Canada)
Fri September 05 2025 - CHICAGO Illinois - United Center (USA)
Sat September 06 2025 - CHICAGO Illinois - United Center (USA)
Tue September 09 2025 - BOSTON Massachusetts - TD Garden (USA)
Wed September 10 2025 - BOSTON Massachusetts - TD Garden (USA)
Sat September 13 2025 - ATLANTA Georgia - State Farm Arena (USA)
Sun September 14 2025 - ATLANTA Georgia - State Farm Arena (USA)
Wed September 17 2025 - NEW YORK New York - Madison Square Garden (USA)
Thu September 18 2025 - NEW YORK New York - Madison Square Garden (USA)
Sat September 20 2025 - NEW YORK New York - Madison Square Garden (USA)
Sun September 21 2025 - NEW YORK New York - Madison Square Garden (USA)
Fri September 26 2025 - MIAMI Florida - Kaseya center (USA)
Sat September 27 2025 - MIAMI Florida - Kaseya center (USA)
Tue September 30 2025 - DALLAS Texas - American Airlines Center (USA)
Wed October 01 2025 - DALLAS Texas - American Airlines Center (USA)
Sat October 04 2025 - LOS ANGELES California - Kia Forum (USA)
Sun October 05 2025 - LOS ANGELES California - Kia Forum (USA)
Tue October 07 2025 - LOS ANGELES California - Kia Forum (USA)
Wed October 08 2025 - LOS ANGELES California - Kia Forum (USA)
Sat October 11 2025 - SAN FRANCISCO California - Chase Center (USA)
Sun October 12 2025 - SAN FRANCISCO California - Chase Center (USA)
Wed October 15 2025 - SEATTLE Washington - Climate Pledge Arena (USA)
Thu October 16 2025 - SEATTLE Washington - Climate Pledge Arena (USA)
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