Dua Lipa’s sophomore album, Future Nostalgia, is a collection of upbeat dance-pop (with a hint of disco) that was released at one of the worst possible times. I recall listening to the album, which dropped at the start of the pandemic in late March 2020, in my backyard, wishing I could instead hear it blaring over a crowded dancefloor. The pop star’s tour was set to kick off that April, but was postponed several times—each time a harsh reminder to fans that we were living through unprecedented times.
So it was with full hearts that fans welcomed Lipa to T-Mobile Area on March 25—nearly two years to the day Future Nostalgia was released. Teens and adults alike came dressed to the nines, some in bright leotards and sweatbands inspired by the "workout" video for Lipa’s song “Physical." At least one fan showed up in a neon yellow-green bodysuit, one of Lipa’s costumes for this tour.
The production design was everything fans could have hoped for, with incredible dancers, captivating choreography, a catwalk stretching into the crowd and even confetti cannons, but Lipa's vocals were the true highlight of the evening.
The show was divided into multiple parts, kicking off with Lipa in the well-known bright neon bodysuit. In that chapter, Lipa played chart-topping hits like “News Rules” and such fan favorites as “Break My Heart” while dancers circled around her. Next came a unique performance by a pair of roller-skating dancers, set to the tune of “IDGAF.” A brief cartoon segment, in which Lipa appeared to be lost at sea, led into a rendition of "We're Good" that saw Lipa costumed in a silver glitter bodysuit with matching boots, backed by a giant lobster. “I’m on an island/Even when you’re close," she sang.
The rest of the chapter included “Good in Bed,” one of Lipa's top songs on Spotify, and the emotional ballad “Boys Will Be Boys,” which transitioned into a dance beat, returning attention to the dancers. The singer changed into a black bodysuit with pink tights to blend into the club-like atmosphere, belting out “One Kiss” as strobe lights flashed on the catwalk.
In the final chapter of the show, Lipa appeared in a skintight black-and-beige bodysuit and hopped onto a lift suspended from the ceiling to sing “Levitating,” surrounded by disco balls and star-shaped sculpture—a truly Instagrammable moment.
At the end of the main set, the pop star disappeared as fans shouted for “one more song.” Instead, she surprised them with two, beginning with “Future Nostalgia,” followed by her most recent chart-topping hit, “Don’t Start Now.” It was then that Lipa reclaimed what is known as her “lazy dance,” a move that became a viral meme in 2018.
The crowd went crazy in the moment, and Lipa was clearly having the time of her life. While some on social media have been unfairly critical of Lipa’s stage presence, the Future Nostalgia tour proves that she has transformed into a true pop diva.
