DUA LIPA celebrated an “emotional” return to home soil after kicking off the domestic leg of her three-times-postponed Future Nostalgia world tour on Friday night.
It’s been five years since she graced the stage at Manchester’s AO Arena and in that time she’s graduated from a rising songstress to the UK’s hottest female pop star.
Dua has clearly found her strut touring the show in the US for the past two months.
She confidently sashayed around the stage, flanked by a squad of energetic dancers.
It seemed fitting that her opening number was Physical, which instantly had the 21,000-strong crowd on their feet — and in the palm of her hand.
She told us: “This is the best welcome home ever. We’ve been waiting so long to put this show on. We moved it and postponed it and finally we’re here.
“I was looking at pictures of my previous shows here in Manchester and I got really emotional, as so much has changed in what feels like so little time.”
Dua went on: “I want to thank you so much for listening to the music and all your support for dancing with us.
“It means the world. Thank you for allowing me to be on this stage.”
The two days she spent holed up at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena perfecting the show clearly paid off, as her set was tight and polished.
When Dua dropped Future Nostalgia at the height of the pandemic — as artists left, right and centre were holding off releasing new material — it became an unlikely success story.
The world was stuck at home, desperate to go out, having kitchen dance parties instead.
It is easy to see why music legends Madonna and Elton John have pounced on the opportunity to work with her, while fashion maven Donatella Versace is on her speed-dial.
Dua’s vocals were consistent throughout Friday night’s performance. She even held a note while being carried in a horizontal pose by an army of hunks.
And Dua showed off her enviable Amazonian figure via four changes of outfit, focusing on eye-popping bodysuits.
Props were kept to a minimum, with just a few Rihanna-esque umbrellas, heart-shaped disco balls and cowboy hats, which she threw into the rapturous crowd.
Following this storming opener are gigs in Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Glasgow, Nottingham, Cardiff and Liverpool, before two nights at London’s 02 Arena.
Forget Future Nostalgia. Dua couldn’t be more now.
