A Wild Night of Tunes in the Big Apple
Dua Lipa, that fiery British-Albanian pop star, had fans losing their minds on her Radical Optimism World Tour at Madison Square Garden on September 20, 2025. For the third gig in her four-night New York streak, she dragged music icon Nile Rodgers onstage for a killer jam on Chic’s 1978 disco banger, “Le Freak.” The place went nuts as they mixed Lipa’s fresh pop vibes with Rodgers’ funky old-school beats, turning it into pure magic. This team-up shows off Lipa’s talent for tipping her hat to legends while cranking out those high-octane shows. But hey, it’s no fluke—it fits right into her tour’s habit of shouting out local music greats with surprise covers and guests, making every night feel like a one-of-a-kind party.
Her Thing for Local Shout-Outs
All across her world tour, Dua Lipa’s been wowing crowds by throwing in covers that nod to each spot’s music roots. Like in her first Madison Square Garden slots, she gave props to New York with soulful spins on Alicia Keys’ “No One” and Blondie’s punky “One Way or Another.” Over in Chicago, she linked up with Chaka Khan for a fiery “Ain’t Nobody” that lit up the United Center. Down under in Australia, she rocked tributes to AC/DC and Kylie Minogue, and London got a fun duet with Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay on “Virtual Insanity.” Anyway, Lipa’s skill at slipping these hometown gems into her lineup proves her real love for music’s past and her drive to vibe with fans on a deeper level.
A Worldwide Tour Packed with Passion
Lipa’s Radical Optimism World Tour, which started its U.S. run back in early September, keeps blowing minds by blending throwback feels with new twists. After all, it’s not just her smash hits like “Dance the Night” stealing the show—it’s also her nods to the trailblazers who’ve molded music in all sorts of ways. In Liverpool, she belted out The Zutons’ “Valerie” alongside frontman Dave McCabe, and Dublin got a touching take on Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.” As she gears up to close out Madison Square Garden on September 21, the tour’s off to Miami, Los Angeles, and South America next. No matter the city, her way of fusing her pop edge with classic covers makes each gig feel like a heartfelt nod to music lovers everywhere.
