Dua Lipa at Anfield last night for the second Radical Optimism tour show in LIverpool
Dua Lipa at Anfield last night for the second Radical Optimism tour show in LIverpool
, the soccer bus, then a walk up Anfield Road before a quick pint. It's the pre-match ritual I've done a thousand times before, but this time it wasn't the Premier League champions I was going to see, but one of the world's great popstars instead.
The sights were familiar as the sun shone down on Anfield yesterday, which is a testament to the bond Dua Lipa has formed with the city of Liverpool. when the Liverpool FC love affair with One Kiss began.
It was an astonishing moment in the NSC Olimpiyskiy that will live with me forever when thousands of Liverpool fans, that may have once been embarrassed to admit their love for a pop banger, erupted to sing along to every word in Kyiv.
It has been a regular on the ever since and the soundtrack to some of the club's great triumphs, most recently after the Reds lifted number 20 in May. It's perhaps no surprise then, that many of the same match-going fans bought themselves a ticket for the Radical Optimism show last night to see the song performed in its spiritual home.
Some of the sights outside the Kop before the show felt like every other Saturday as a group of fellas, dressed in , greeted eachother before heading into the ground. Of course, one of the world's biggest popstars is bound to have an impact and it wasn't all your traditional match day crowd, as proven by the swarms of festival outfits and people wearing pink cowboy hats.
This unique combination created a thoroughly original atmosphere in the company of a pop icon at the peak of her powers. After a calming graphic of the Ocean intro, Dua arrived on stage and moved at a breakneck speed through hit after hit.
Training Season became End Of An Era, which turned to Break My Heart, before the first section came to a close with the song that endeared Dua to Reds fans across the globe. The singer seamlessly moved into One Kiss as she would in any other city, which is perhaps a surprise, but the reaction from the crowd was evidence this was not just any other rendition of the song on the Radical Optimism tour.
Seasoned match-going Reds an, someone in the front row had travelled from as far as Indonesia, were united by their love for one of the great pop songs of our time. This first section felt like an impeccably choreographed routine that was executed to perfection, but Dua reserves a special slot on the setlist each night, so that the audience in attendance gets a unique experience.
While there was much talk of which surprise guest she would invite on, Dua didn't need any extra help on Wednesday as she wowed the Liverpool crowd with a spine tingling rendition of Hey Jude. Anfield was graced by a legendary Beatle earlier this month when Sir Paul McCartney turned up at .
The hallowed turf of L4 was blessed to once again get an airing of another Fab Four hit, which perfectly encapsulated the timeless impact they have had on the world. People of all ages and backgrounds were at Anfield last night, but Hey Jude connected and resonated with them all as the thousands in attendance joined Dua in singing the na-na-na chorus.
Dua was emotional as she admitted it was a dream come true to perform in Anfield and sing one of The Beatles' most beloved songs. Ahead of launching into Hey Jude, she told the crowd: "It's been a massive dream of mine to one day be able to play here, so thank you for giving me that opportunity. This next song I'm going to sing for you guys, every night on tour I've been doing a different song by a local artist and so I feel like tonight I can't come to Liverpool without doing this song."
After the amazing rendition of Hey Jude, she swiftly moved back into her catalogue of hits at an incredible pace that meant the two hour show absolutely breezed by. Dua raced across the Anfield pitch like a prime Steven Gerrard with how she ended up performing in every corner of the ground. How the popstar made this look all so effortless without missing a beat is absolutely incredible and a testament to her amazing ability as a performer.
The highlight of the night came when she stood in front of the ground's most famous stand - and was erected into the air on a podium to sing Be The One in front of The Kop. Dua received the kind of adulation usually only reserved for the Reds best players, as the crowd shone the lights on their phone to create a sight to behold, the likes of which Anfield has never seen before.
Dua Lipa in front of The Kop last night
The Anfield atmosphere is usually a hostile cauldron roaring the Reds on to victory, or a raucous party celebrating the triumph. The amazing spectacle was an unusual moment of peaceful calm in the famous ground.
Dua was wowed by the response as she took in the moment and told the audience: "Liverpool, you're the one." She added: "Hopefully every time I get to come back to a city I get to see the rooms grow a little bit bigger and that's what I've worked for my whole life, to get to be here in front of you guys, so thank you so much."
Dua exited the stage at this point, but brought the lively party mood back to Anfield in the encore with more of the hits that have dominated the charts for nearly a decade. New Rules, turned to Dance the Night Away and then Don't Start Now, before a special treat just for Liverpool.
As she launched into another rendition of One Kiss, the crowd screamed with joy as she said: "We couldn't leave without doing this one more time." The ground was bathed in a red light in honour of Liverpool FC's colours and it was just like being in The Kop again after lifted the league in May.
The gig ended with a bang and an extravagant firework display after Houdini, before the lights went up on Anfield to bring an end to another incredible evening under the floodlights in L4. As I exited the ground, it again all felt very familiar as the Liverpool fans in attendance broke out into a chorus of "Allez Allez Allez", as though they were celebrating a win in the European Cup.
Fans broke into a chorus of Allez Allez Allez leaving the ground
The scene summed up the connection Dua will always have with Liverpool FC and there was only one place to head after the gig as I went to my usual post match spot at The 12th Man for a pint of Guinness to digest what had happened. It was just like any other Saturday. Lipa (h) was one to remember.