Radical Optimism, French Edition: Dua Lipa in Paris – Live Review

Paris, France @ Paris La Défense Arena on May 23, 2025

Dua Lipa turned Paris into a giant dancefloor last Friday, kicking off two back-to-back sold-out nights at La Défense Arena. With 90,000 fans packing the venue across both shows, the energy was massive and so was the setlist.

I had a Fosse OR ticket for night one, which meant access to the golden pit. Knowing how chaotic this venue can get, I showed up early (as in five hours early) to grab a good spot. The line was actually a good time. I met some great people and swapped stories about past shows. But once the doors opened, things got intense. Folks pushed, elbowed, and ignored any sense of personal space. It made me miss the (relatively) polite pit culture back in Canada. Still, once Dua hit the stage, the crowd mayhem faded fast.

She launched the show with “Training Season,” and the tone was set. Dua’s stage presence is smooth but commanding. There are no a lot of theatrics, just sharp visuals, solid vocals, and great choreography. “End of an Era” and “Break My Heart” came next, making it clear she wasn’t easing into things. This was a full-on sprint through her discography.

One of the most fun moments came before “These Walls,” when Dua made her way down to the barricade to chat with fans and take selfies. She even played rock paper scissors with someone in the front row. After that, she walked down to the end of the thrust and carried on.

The Radical Optimism tracks hit just as hard live as the hits she’s best known for. “Whatcha Doing,” “These Walls,” “Maria,” and “Illusion” all landed with big reactions. But the surprise of the night (and my personal highlight) was her cover of “Lolita” by Alizée. It’s part of her ongoing tour tradition to cover one song from the country she’s in, and in Paris, she absolutely nailed it. The crowd freaked, phones went up, and fans sang every word.

Later, she brought the house down with high-energy staples like “Physical,” “Electricity,” and “Hallucinate.” But instead of closing the main set with a big club banger, she brought it in closer with “Be the One.” Once again, she returned to the barricade and sang it with fans, making the moment special.

Then came the encore, and she didn’t hold back. “New Rules” kicked it off, and the crowd instantly snapped back into full voice mode. “Dance the Night” kept the party going, while “Don’t Start Now” had the whole arena jumping like it was 2020 all over again (her now-famous dance move nowhere to be seen sadly – it was a nice little iykyk moment on her Future Nostalgia tour). She wrapped the night with “Houdini.” It was the perfect cap to a set that hit every high, and then some.

Dua’s Paris crowd was wild, but they showed up for the right reasons. She’s got a grip on what a pop show should be in 2025. Smart pacing, big hooks, and just enough surprise to keep you talking about it days later. Just Dua Lipa owning the stage and reminding everyone why she’s one of the best doing it right now.

I’ll be catching her again in Seattle this October, where she wraps her North American leg. Hopefully the pit will be a little less pushy, but if it’s not, I’ll still be there. Worth it.

More info on the Radical Optimism tour here.