Dua Lipa review at Wembley Stadium - why she is the world's biggest pop star
Associate Editor Tom Bryant watches a five-star performance from Dua Lipa who marks her Wembley debut with a captivating show that was even better than her Glastonbury heroics
The temperature is just shy of 30 degrees, and Dua Lipa is hoisted up 50ft in the air on a floating stage wearing a blue faux-fur coat.
If she wasn't the hottest artist on the planet, she certainly is now…
And over the course of a scintillating two hour set to mark her Wembley Stadium debut, Dua cements her reputation as Britain's, if not the world's, biggest pop star.
'This is such a massive, massive milestone for me,' she said. 'I've had a lump in my throat from the moment this show started.'
Watched by her proud family and fiance Callum Turner, she appeared barely out of breath despite the searing heat.
In fact, she was arguably more energised than ever as she embarked on a huge meet and greet with fans, borrowing not only their phones to pose for selfies, but even items of their clothing too.
'It's been 10 years since our first ever London show, which happened to be about 350 people, and I dreamt of a night like this. To be in front of 70,000 people. I'm so, so blown away,' she says, getting emotional.
Diana Ross opens up in rare interview - 'My five children really take care of their mum'
Hits such as Levitating, Hotter than Hell and Electricity were accompanied by precision-sharp choreography. The futuristic-looking set - framed by extraordinary lighting - really elevated proceedings, making this a Wembley debut to remember.
Bringing out Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay for a one-off performance of his 1996 hit Virtual Insanity, sees the crowd descend into delirium.
'He is a massive trailblazer for British music….he's paved the way, and I feel so lucky to share the stage,' she says.
Costume changes were aplenty. She arrives on stage in a white lace-body-suit, straddling a chair, Madonna-style. For Physical, she slipped into a black PVC number that glistened in the purple light, before later changing into a midnight blue dress and suspenders combo as topless male dancers gyrate behind her.
Confetti canons and fireworks galore accompany the incredible four-song encore of New Rules, Don't Start Now and Dance The Night.
Dua's historic headline performance at Glastonbury last year was always going to take some beating.
But after Friday night's epic show, you'd have to say she's done just that.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Dump Kneecap from Glastonbury line-up demands Starmer after member of group charged with terror offence
THE Prime Minister has called for Glastonbury to axe Kneecap from its line-up after a band member was charged with a terror offence. Sir Keir Starmer said it is 'not appropriate' for the Irish hip hop group to cash in at the festival. 2 2 Rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh, appeared in court last week accused of displaying a flag in support of banned terror group Hezbollah at a gig. O hAnnaidh, 27, who goes by the stage name Mo Chara, was bailed until later in the summe r — leaving him free to play at Glastonbury. Asked by The Sun on Sunday if he thinks Kneecap should play, the PM, left, said: 'No I don't. 'I think we need to come down really clearly on this. I won't say too much, because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate.' The Belfast group are due to play the West Holts Stage on Saturday. Bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh have supported O hAnnaidh. They said at court: 'For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on Saturday. 'If you can't be there we'll be on the BBC. Most importantly: free, free Palestine.' The BBC last night faced pressure not to air Kneecap's set, after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'It should not be rewarding extremism.' A spokesman for the broadcaster said: 'Decisions on our output will be made in the lead up to the festival.'
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
‘They weren't interested': Pulp's Candida Doyle on Glastonbury Festival
The Sheffield band had been strongly rumoured to be set to appear in one of the Somerset festival's secret slots listed as 'TBA' or as the unknown band Patchwork. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Jarvis Cocker-fronted band's classic headline slot in 1995, which saw them stand in for The Stone Roses after their guitarist John Squire was injured in a cycling accident. Asked on BBC Radio 6 Music if she would be performing at Glastonbury, Doyle, 61, said: 'We wanted to, just because it's the 30th anniversary and that kind of thing, and they weren't interested. 'And then we were thinking maybe next year, and then they're not doing it next year.' It comes after Cocker, also 61, said his band would only perform at the festival if it was a 'life or death situation' during an interview with BBC Radio 2 in April, where he said there was a chance he would DJ on the Stonebridge stage. The comments come after Pulp secured their first UK number one album in 27 years with eighth studio LP More earlier this month. Formed in 1978, Pulp struggled to find success with the dark content of early albums It (1983), Freaks (1987) and Separations (1992), before finding their audience during the 1990s Britpop era with their first UK top 40 single, Do You Remember The First Time?, and subsequent His 'N' Hers album, in 1994. In 1995, they gained nationwide fame with the release of the single Common People and the critically acclaimed Different Class album, as well as their Glastonbury performance. Pulp are currently made up of singer Cocker, keyboard player Doyle, drummer Nick Banks and guitarist Mark Webber, and have achieved five UK top 10 singles and two UK number one albums. Glastonbury Festival has been contacted for comment.
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
‘They weren't interested': Pulp's Candida Doyle on Glastonbury Festival
The Sheffield band had been strongly rumoured to be set to appear in one of the Somerset festival's secret slots listed as 'TBA' or as the unknown band Patchwork. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Jarvis Cocker-fronted band's classic headline slot in 1995, which saw them stand in for The Stone Roses after their guitarist John Squire was injured in a cycling accident. Asked on BBC Radio 6 Music if she would be performing at Glastonbury, Doyle, 61, said: 'We wanted to, just because it's the 30th anniversary and that kind of thing, and they weren't interested. 'And then we were thinking maybe next year, and then they're not doing it next year.' It comes after Cocker, also 61, said his band would only perform at the festival if it was a 'life or death situation' during an interview with BBC Radio 2 in April, where he said there was a chance he would DJ on the Stonebridge stage. The comments come after Pulp secured their first UK number one album in 27 years with eighth studio LP More earlier this month. Formed in 1978, Pulp struggled to find success with the dark content of early albums It (1983), Freaks (1987) and Separations (1992), before finding their audience during the 1990s Britpop era with their first UK top 40 single, Do You Remember The First Time?, and subsequent His 'N' Hers album, in 1994. In 1995, they gained nationwide fame with the release of the single Common People and the critically acclaimed Different Class album, as well as their Glastonbury performance. Pulp are currently made up of singer Cocker, keyboard player Doyle, drummer Nick Banks and guitarist Mark Webber, and have achieved five UK top 10 singles and two UK number one albums. Glastonbury Festival has been contacted for comment.
