Over the weekend, I had the chance to see Dua Lipa live on her Radical Optimism Tour, and I can confidently say it was the best concert I have ever been to. Yes, it beat out Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish and more.

Going into the show, I wasn’t expecting much. I liked some of her songs, but I would not have considered myself a fan, and I didn’t know much of the new album (Radical Optimism, which dropped in May 2024), and I hadn’t seen or heard much about the tour online. But from the moment the lights dimmed, Dua completely exceeded every expectation I had. The show was nonstop energy from start to finish. There were lasers, a fog machine, sparklers, a ring of fire, so much confetti and the best group of backup dancers I have ever seen. At one point, she was even lifted into the air — think Lady Gaga or P!NK levels of drama. It was an absolutely captivating performance.

She performed for about two hours and sang around 25 songs, including fan favorites like “Levitating,” “Don’t Start Now”, “New Rules” and “Dance the Night” from the Barbie movie. One unique element of her show is that she performs a surprise cover of a song by a local artist in every city, changing it up each night. For Chicago Night 2, she sang “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire — a perfect choice that felt especially meaningful, given the concert took place in early September.

Beyond the visuals and the vocals, Dua made the show feel very personal. She interacted with the crowd on multiple occasions and had several outfit changes, each more stunning than the last. What really stood out to me was looking around the United Center and realizing barely anyone had their phones out. Everyone was dancing, singing, and just being in the moment — something that has become so rare at concerts.

After the concert, I can officially say that I have joined the Dua Lipa fan club, and if I could, I would go back to this tour ten more times.