CHICAGO – The video of serene waves that swished behind the curved stage at the start ofDua Lipa'sconcert slowly intensified until the tide became a surge, an appropriate analogy for the pop superstar's arrival in the US for thefirst time in more than three years. As she stood atop the lighted stage in a leg-baring gold outfit and knee-high boots, a dozen dancers joined her in writhing to"Training Season"with a mixture of sultriness and glee that would carry throughout the colorful production. At a sold-out United Center in Chicago Friday, Sept. 5 – the first of a two-night stand at the arena – Lipa piloted a flawless pop spectacle with a22-song setlistburnished to glossy precision. The tour behind her third album, 2024's "Radical Optimism,"commenced in November in Singapore, so there has been plenty of time for the leggy Lipa, her airtight five-piece band and pair of backing vocalists to mend any miscues. Their dedication was apparent. Whether peeking from behind a cluster of showgirl feathers during"End of an Era,"her espresso-hued hair swinging in unison with her hips, or sinking into the rave-up "One Kiss" and basking in a pop of confetti, Lipa clearly was having a ball. "Thank you for allowing me to do the thing that brings me the most joy," she said toward the end of the two-hour show, before performing"Be the One"from her 2017 eponymous electropop debut. More:Lady Gaga thrills at theatrical Mayhem Ball tour kickoff: Review Her spirit was infectious as she danced the night away with grins and loose-limbed moves that channeled Bob Fosse in the chair routine that accompanied "Whatcha Doing" – her sheer black ensemble leaving little to the imagination – and rolled through high kicks and lockstep moves with her dancersduring "Levitating." While Lipa, who turned 30 in August, never met a camera lens she couldn't conquer with a her gaze, she also possesses a pretty, if not powerhouse, voice. She modified her lyrical delivery during "Levitating" enough to prove that she was singing live and shared a downy vocal – a capella – for part of "Be the One" while perched midair on a rising platform at the foot of the catwalk. Lipa also demonstrated her soulful strut with an unexpected guest,Chaka Khan. Throughout her tour, Lipa has performed a song connected to each city she's played and has occasionally been joined by the artist behind the chosen cover. In Auckland, New Zealand, Crowded House's Neil Finn joined her for "Don't Dream It's Over" and in Toronto Sept. 2, Mustafa the Poet came onstage for "Name of God." Khan, a Chicago native, joined Lipa for"Ain't Nobody,"Khan's groove-infested 1983 hit with Rufus. The pair traded lyrics and smiles as Khan, 72, in black leather pants and burgundy curls, belted the song's ending notes as an enthralled Lipa ceded the microphone until they embraced tightly at the end. More:Oasis reunion tour finally makes it to North America. Was it worth the wait? The four acts (plus encore) of Lipa's concert pulled heavily from "Radical Optimism," but also tossed in throwbacks mostly from her megastar-making pandemic-era breakthrough "Future Nostalgia." Her dancers led the crowd through bended waists and bouncing hips to introduce "Physical," which lit up the stage with neon pink glow sticks, while Lipa bobbed in the center of her troop – occasionally lost amid the throng – in heeled black Louboutin boots during "Electricity," her 2018 disco-house rompwith Silk City. While she thanked the crowd several times with genuine appreciation, Lipa also took time to wander among them (allowing her stage crew to set up for her band at the base of her catwalk). She posed for selfies ("Don't scroll," one guy warned as she took his phone for a quick snap), chatted with youngsters in the multi-generational audience and solicited opinions on where to find the best pizza in Chicago. More:Dua Lipa Radical Optimism Tour setlist hits all her best dance-pop songs Despite her infinite luminosity, Lipa presents as an Everywoman who bites her lip in between the words of "Be the One," laughs amid her dancers with observable effervescence and prowls the stage with vigor. In other words, she's verified pop royalty. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Dua Lipa's tour is finally in the US and it is a flawless spectacle
