Ben GibsonSir Elton Jon returns to the stage more than a year after his farewell tour, making a surprise appearance with Dua Lipa.
The musicians joined forces at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Thursday to perform their hit duet “Cold Heart,” which combines four of Sir Elton’s old songs, including “Sacrifice” and “Rocketman.”
Towards the end of the concert, the crowd jumped to their feet when Sir Elton appeared – seated in a chair but wearing a gorgeous burgundy suit.
The 77-year-old, who recently announced he was recovering from a severe eye infection that affected his vision, swayed along with the dua, delivered an impressively booming vocal and even commanded the crowd during the final chorus.
“Well, how about that?” Dua smiled as the song ended.
This is the second time the musicians have performed their chart-topping single live.
Their last duet was at Sir Elton’s final U.S. concert at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles almost two years ago.
Lloyd WakefieldThursday’s unexpected appearance came at the end of a one-off concert in which Dua Lipa performed her hits to the accompaniment of a 53-piece orchestra and 14-piece choir.
The event, which is being filmed on TV, focuses on the star’s latest album Radical Optimism, which includes hits such as “Houdini,” “Training Season” and “Illusion.”
She also performed her Barbie single “Dance the Night” live for the first time, and a group of dancers performed dances from the Greta Gerwig film.
“It’s a dream to be in this room,” she told the audience, wearing a Jessica Rabbit-inspired Jean Paul Gaultier bodycon dress.
“There are many famous people on this stage, such as Winston Churchill, de Gaulle and Einstein. But I am almost 99% sure that they did not have beautiful dresses like this.”
Lloyd WakefieldThat night, the Royal Albert Hall floor turned into a rotating catwalk as Dua snaked her way through the orchestra, performing including “Levitating,” “Pretty Please” and early single “Be The One.” This song changed my life and brought me to the stage tonight”).
The Heritage Orchestra, led by Ben Foster, adds new energy to her back catalog, and Maria gets a playful mariachi vibe with funky brass percussions of Pretty Please.
A dramatic, string-driven cover of Cleo Sol’s single “Sunshine” also lends credence to rumors that Dua might record the next Bond theme.
The show required no choreography and instead highlighted the star’s live singing – clear and powerful, although the orchestra sometimes threatened to intimidate her voice.
After playing for more than an hour, she changed into a black Chanel ballgown for the encore—confetti raining down from the ceiling as she launched into a Studio 54-infused version of “Don’t Start Now.”
Apart from a headline performance at Glastonbury, the concert is the star’s only show in the UK in 2024.
She will now fly to Asia to kick off her Radical Optimism world tour, which will arrive in the UK next summer for a series of stadium shows.
settings list
- end of an era
- Houdini
- levitate
- Maria
- French export
- Sunshine (Cleo Sol cover)
- training season
- these walls
- what are you doing
- love again
- Please be pretty
- illusion
- Fall forever
- for love everything
- happy for you
Encore
- Cold Heart (with Elton John)
- be that person
- dance night
- Don’t start now
