Dua Lipa is here to stay

I went in expecting the worst, expecting to be disappointed. It would be easier that way. A new female artist with good music and a distinct vocal style has been long overdue in the pop industry. Although artists like Camila Cabello, Halsey, and Demi Lovato have definitely made big strides in terms of getting more female representation on the charts, none of them have been successful in taking over the reigns. The possibility of Dua Lipa, a 22 year-old Albanian songstress, eventually taking the currently male dominated industry by storm was thrilling. But the intense popularity of her second single made me apprehensive. The global success of “New Rules” appeared ephemeral. She could very well fall into the deep and detrimental abyss of mainstream obscurity. I pushed these thoughts down; Lipa seemed to have too much potential to be a one-hit wonder. However, her recent circuit of unsteady performances on Saturday Night Live and the Ellen Show allowed these thoughts to rise back up to the surface. She came off as mechanical, bordering on detached, in these televised performances. Nevertheless, that didn’t change the quality of her music; and although a bit shaky, her deep, raspy vocals were still promising. When I found at that Dua Lipa would be bringing her Self-Titled Tour, in support of her debut album Dua Lipa, to the Masonic in San Francisco on February 13th, I decided I needed to see her live in person to put my mind at ease.

As I made my way to the venue, the city seemed sleepy; completely oblivious to the fact that the youngest female to reach 1 billion views on YouTube was in their midst. That is, until I arrived to California Street. As I waited to cross the street, a car pulled up on the curb near me. As the doors flung open, a large group of dancing and twirling fans clad only in robes, an homage to Lipa’s viral “New Rules” music video, burst out of the vehicle. The air around me had shifted. It was thinner than it had been just a block ago, singed by the electricity exuding from the mass of bodies frantically trying to get inside. Fans literally skipped up the stairs of the venue, encouraging me to do the same, and cheesed their hardest for group pictures despite the lack of promotional posters or any signs of who they were there for.

After sitting through opener, Tommy Genesis, who only seemed to amuse the first few rows of people in General Admission, and a minor set change, the moment of truth arrived. Dua Lipa’s band emerged from behind a tall screen, which projected photos and videos of the singer, and began the set with “Hotter than Hell.” Lipa herself glided on stage soon after to thunderous applause. I was immediately blown away by her unabashed swagger and uninhibited dancing. Hair flying in all directions, limbs flailing in the most elegant way, Lipa danced her way through “Dreams,” “Lost in Your Light,” “Garden,” “Last Dance,” and “Blow Your Mind,” during which she pranced around stage gripping a pride flag.

Lipa then decided to show off her vocal range by slowing things down with “Thinkin’ Bout You” and an acoustic version of the first song she ever released, “New Love.” Her voice, heavy with emotional lilts in all the right places, had never sounded so confident. Between these two songs, Lipa took the opportunity to verbalize her gratitude for the raving crowd.

“I can’t believe this is my life” she said, her voice trembling. “I’m so lucky to be doing this. I can’t thank you guys enough.” As she wiped the tears off from under her eyes, I felt a tug at the audience’s collective heart. With the entire venue absorbed in the intimate moment, Lipa then when on to share that some days she felt like she wasn’t good enough, and that this was a reminder of the support she had gained by doing what she loved.

The genuine moment reminded me of a comment I had heard earlier that night. As we waited for the show, I struck up a conversation with the person next to me about pop music, its stars, and what makes them click for us as audiences. “For me,” he said, “It’s all about relatability.” This resonated through Lipa’s passion and dialogue with her fans throughout the night.

To finish the set, she performed “No Goodbyes,” the boisterous “IDGAF,” and the Martin Garrix collaboration, “Scared to Be Lonely.”  It was these run of songs that had the crowd dancing non-stop through the finale, a rousing performance of “Begging.” After an unconvincing walk off the stage, Lipa soon ran back out and ended the night with two final songs: “Be the One” and an electric performance of “New Rules.” The audience performed the last song as much as Lipa, shouting the lyrics at the top of their lungs.

As the lights came back on, I stood at the front of the balcony still in a state of awe that lingered until late the following morning. I had expected the icy and reserved Dua Lipa from television. Instead, I witnessed a force of bright purple energy combusting, with enough stage presence to fill an arena.

It is clear to me now that there is an aura to Dua Lipa’s live performance that just can’t seem to break through the pane of glass that separates the singer and her audience during a recorded performance. But being good for the camera is a skill that can be developed as she becomes more comfortable in her own skin. As for genuine talent and a deeply rooted connection to fans; you either have it, or you don’t. Dua Lipa has it.

Article by Rebekah Gonzalez 

Design by Jessica Tin