Dua Lipa review: Singer reminds Irish fans of the magic of pop music with electrifying Dublin gig

Dua Lipa closed the European leg of her Radical Optimism tour in Dublin

Less than a year after Taylor Swift performed three sold-out shows at the Aviva, Dua Lipa took over the Dublin venue, and it's safe to say fans were not disappointed.

Last night, thousands of concert-goers strolled into the Aviva in their cowboy hats and sparkly gúnas with cans of White Claw in their hands, of course.

There's a different feeling you can only experience at a pop concert, and it's one I'll never tire of. The sense of girlhood, the feeling of empowerment, and the pure electric joy in the air are indescribable, and that feeling was as strong as ever at Dua Lipa last night.

Seeing fans of all ages, whether it was a teacher on a night out with her friends, a mam bringing her daughters along, or a group of teenagers heading to their first concert, was a beautiful reminder that pop music is something that will always stand the test of time.

And Dua Lipa made sure to put on the most flawless pop show, with the singer seamlessly performing hit after hit after hit on stage in the Aviva last night.

Opening the show with the punchy Training Season, Dua Lipa had the audience dancing and singing along from the get-go, which is all you ever want from a pop concert.

With songs as addictive as Levitating, Physical, and Electricity, Dua Lipa wasn't short of bops to keep the energy up throughout her two-hour set.

Seeing people dancing in their seats or twirling around on the stadium floor only added to the already infectious atmosphere at the gig.

But it was her surprise song that really struck a chord with the Dublin crowd.

Dua Lipa performs a surprise song every night on her tour and picks a song that honours the city she's in.

Speaking to the Dublin crowd, the 29-year-old singer said:

"Every night on this tour, I sing a different song by a local artist. Tonight I am honoured to perform a song by a late Irish legend. If you know the words, please sing along."

Dua Lipa and her band then performed one of the most endearing covers of Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares 2 U.

It was a completely enchanting moment, one that made me appreciate women in music even more. It was also a beautiful opportunity for the Irish crowd to remember a legend we lost too soon.

The picture of the stadium lit up with lights as fans swayed and sang along to those all-too-familiar lyrics is a moment that will stick with Irish fans for some time.

Lipa ended the powerful night with a string of hits, including New Rules, Don't Start Now, and Dance the Night, before closing out the show with chart-topper Houdini.

As the lights went up and streams of fans left the stadium, the empowering buzz lingered in the air as we shuffled towards DART stations and bus stops after one of the most electrifying pop concerts of the summer.