Dua Lipa’s “Future Nostalgia” Boston Performance Highlights the Future of Pop Music
All photos taken and edited by Elaine Tantra // @elainetantra
Dua Lipa is back on the road for her 2020 sophomore album “Future Nostalgia,” and the pop star's innovative performance at TD Garden on Feb. 18 made the wait all too worth it. After two years of anticipation, fans went from dancing in their rooms at the beginning of quarantine to finally experiencing the ultimate dance party of their lives.
The 90-minute show was separated into four acts, each undergoing a specific theme and stunning outfit change. Although this is her first time headlining arenas, performing in front of 20,000 people seemed natural with Lipa’s radiating confidence and comfort level on stage. From motorcycle dads to college students in flashy outfits to families of five, her concert displayed the definition of a diverse crowd. Despite their differences, the entire arena equally danced their hearts out (yes, even the security guards).
Lipa’s grand arrival included the synth-pop masterpiece “Physical,” as she sported an astonishing custom-made Balenciaga neon yellow bodysuit. Her two years of preparation were immediately apparent with this opening track. The addition of professional dancing, colorful strobe lights, and staggering designer outfits showcased the queen of pop she is becoming, contrasting the low-key production of her previous tours.
The crowd instantly roared at the transition into Lipa’s early hit, “New Rules.” Her fans astounded by her illuminating stage presence and perfect coordination with the dancers, as she reclaimed the viral meme of her choreography to “One Kiss” back in 2018.
The 1980s made a comeback for her Prince inspired song “Cool,” as she included a disco ball background and an impressive roller skating routine by her dancers. The singer fed off her fan’s enthusiasm when she shouted in between lyrics, “I never expected a crowd like this!”
The tenth and last song of Act One, “Be the One,” which eagerly describes fighting for a romantic relationship, was filled with crowd interactions, as Lipa complimented a fan's “nice t-shirt” and requested everyone to unanimously clap along to the beat. The crowd did not hesitate, and claps immediately echoed throughout the arena. Impressed by her fans’ cooperation, her gratitude only grew with each song: “Boston, this energy, thank you so much! I’ve been looking around the room a lot at these first few shows, and I can’t believe this is happening to me.” The song ended with Lipa asking the crowd to repeat, “I could be the one,” and praising them for their blaring, off-key renditions of the chorus.
Even in between acts, the excitement continued as the professional dancers entertained the crowd with a dance off and continuation of their roller skate dance number. For Act Two, Lipa featured no dancers for her comeback song, “We’re Good,” but she shined more than ever, flaunting a glittery Versace body-suit with cut-out details. The track took the crowd to paradise, presenting a beachy background and enormous blow-up lobster prop on stage.
With the promiscuous track “Good in Bed,” the singer couldn’t help but banter with a fan passionately singing to the erotic lyrics: “I think, you in the white t-shirt definitely relate to this song.” Even with the absence of the featured Belgian artist Angèle for “Fever,” Lipa made sure to include her by projecting her singing the verse on the big screen.
Out of the four acts, Lipa visibly enjoyed herself the most during Act Three, motivating her fans to reciprocate the same liveliness. Seeing her perform “One Kiss,” “Electricity,” “Hallucinate,” and “Cold Heart” back-to-back was the nightclub experience we all needed. Lipa couldn’t help but leap in the air during the four tracks. This once again did not impact her vocals, further proving that nothing comes in the way of her sustained breath control. The entire arena jumped, including the nose-bleeds, resulting in a literally groundbreaking performance.
For Act Four, Lipa transformed into “starlight,” repping a shimmery, black Mugler catsuit for her chart-topping track “Levitating.” The show, which felt as though it had just started, came to a close with her most-streamed song, “Don’t Start Now.” Lipa’s final minutes on the stage consisted of more appreciation for her fans and as much vibrancy as she began with. Finishing with an explosion of confetti, the show was just a sneak peek of Lipa's promising future as a superstar.