Dua Lipa kicked off her Radical Optimism Tour in Melbourne with a surprise that left fans in awe. At the Rod Laver Arena on March 17, the pop sensation delighted the crowd by performing a soulful cover of AC/DC’s iconic “Highway to Hell.”
The 29-year-old singer explained the inspiration behind the cover, revealing that she wanted to connect with each city on the tour by covering a local artist. “I thought, ‘Why not do a new song every night from a local artist from every place we’re in?’” Lipa shared with the audience. “Obviously, Australia has an abundance of amazing musicians, so we thought we’d start big.”
Dressed in an edgy black lace outfit paired with red shorts and a furry scarf, Lipa commanded the stage as she delivered a powerful, rock-infused version of the 1979 AC/DC classic. The audience eagerly joined in, singing along to the energetic chorus, while fans on social media raved about Lipa’s unexpected rockstar side. One Twitter user called her a “fellow metal queen,” while another praised her voice, saying it was “perfect for rock.” Some even speculated that the singer could have a future in rock music, with one fan commenting, “She could genuinely make a career out of it.”
Videos from the concert show how the crowd’s excitement built as Lipa’s raw, rock-infused vocals effortlessly blended with the electric energy of the classic anthem. Fans expressed their surprise at her powerful rock tone, with one commenting, “I was blown away by how strong her voice is in this genre.” Another fan added, “The crowd went wild. I don’t think they realized how into it they were going to be!”
The Radical Optimism Tour, which is named after Lipa’s upcoming album, reflects the artist’s deep connection to the theme of embracing optimism amid chaos. Lipa explained the concept behind the album, saying, “Radical optimism is about going through chaos gracefully and feeling like you can weather any storm.” Drawing inspiration from psychedelia, trip-hop, and Britpop, Lipa’s album is set to bring a fresh and bold sound to her performances.
This first tour stop in Melbourne is just the beginning for Lipa, who will continue performing across Australia and New Zealand through April, followed by a European leg in May and June. Fans are eagerly awaiting what surprises Lipa will bring to the stage next as she covers more local legends during the tour.
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