Watch Dua Lipa perform surprise set in Times Square

Dua Lipa has performed a surprise set in Times Square, New York – watch the performance below.

• READ MORE: Dua Lipa – ‘Radical Optimism’ review: summery but slight psych-pop

Earlier today (May 6), Lipa performed at the junction of 43rd Street and 7th Avenue, One Times Square Plaza in New York City, with the show open and free to all who were able to attend. The set was announced just hours before, with the singer writing on X: “8.30PM EST, ONE TIMES SQUARE PLAZA 43RD STREET AND 7TH AVE, I HAVE A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE FOR YOU, SEE YOU SOON”.

The set consisted of four songs, beginning with ‘Training Season’, followed by ‘Houdini’. She then performed ‘Radical Optimism’ closer ‘Happy For You’ and ended her set with ‘Illusion’.

Watch the performance below.

The performance comes after Dua Lipa pulled double duty on Saturday Night Live, where she hosted and performed as well. For her performance, she played ‘Illusion’ and debuted ‘Happy For You’.

During her opening monologue on SNL, Lipa made light of the situation where her dancing at the BRIT Awards in 2018 became a meme. Lipa performed ‘New Rules’ at that year’s ceremony in a performance many deemed to be lacklustre. A video posted of the performance went on to spawn a comment, which is now a viral meme: “I love her lack of energy, go girl give us nothing!”

On Saturday, Lipa joked about the perceptions people have of her in the monologue. On the subject of the meme, she said: “I didn’t give you nothing. I gave you the greatest meme of all time. Now I’m here, I’m hosting, I’m performing, I’m making the wigs, I’m dealing Adderall to the writers, I’m doing it all. So tonight, I promise you I’m going to give you EVERYTHING!”

This past weekend, Lipa released her third studio album ‘Radical Optimism’, which NME scored three stars: “‘Radical Optimism’ offers little to latch on. Later this summer, she’ll headline Glastonbury for the first time and also top the bill at a string of European festivals. It’s the kind of place where ‘Radical Optimism’ might thrive: the album’s beachy vibes feel suited to a festival field’s carefree disposition. You just wish there was a little more to these songs.”

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