Pop Princess Dua Lipa Slays at ACL, Reminds Us Who Really Runs the World (Hint: Not the Patriarchy)

It’s Hard to Believe, But Yes, Female Artists Can Move Tickets

In this supposedly enlightened year of 2024, with pop queens ruling the airwaves and the country being “HOT TO GO,” the phenomenal Dua Lipa just levitated through a mind-blowing headline set on Saturday night at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. It’s almost unthinkable that just a decade ago, (mostly) men actually had the audacity to say that female artists shouldn’t headline festivals because...they couldn’t sell enough tickets. Seriously, young readers, they said these things without even the slightest hint of irony. Because, you know, women make up only half the planet’s population. 🙄

But surprise, surprise—that glass ceiling has been shattered, and shards are raining down on the patriarchy. The biggest challenge for the massive crowd at Zilker Park wasn’t some archaic notion of female incompetence, but rather, the massive crowd at the T-Mobile stage watching pop sensation Reneé Rapp.

Dua Lipa, Benson Boone and Reneé Rapp: The best moments we saw at ACL Fest on Saturday

A deafening scream rippled through the park as Dua Lipa strutted onto the stage, clad in dominatrix black and flanked by a dance team that was approximately a dozen deep, around 8:25 p.m. As a pounding rhythm gave way to a familiar melody, the crowd lost it. “Training Season” was officially over. Dancers snapped their bodies into seamless stage pictures as the song wound down, and a group of men hoisted her onto their shoulders, parading her around like the reigning pop queen she is.

What followed was a hit parade for the ages—“One Kiss” into “Illusion” into “Break My Heart” into “Levitating.” The crowd belted out “Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeahs” like their lives depended on it, while a galaxy of lights swirled on the screen and the first fireworks of the night illuminated the sky.

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“There’s not a song that’s not a (expletive) banger,” the guy next to me astutely observed.

He was not wrong.

Beyond the tracks themselves, Dua Lipa’s production was next-level—each song was choreographed with the precision you’d expect from an awards show or a Vegas residency.

One small gripe: the vocals often got lost in the mix, and the sound wasn't loud enough to engulf a crowd spanning half the park. It felt like some of the intimate moments, such as the relatable relationship ballad “These Walls,” were lost on the audience. Plus, when she launched into a heartfelt speech about her career growth since her last ACL Fest performance, my part of the crowd couldn’t hear a thing. Social media was abuzz with people who left because of audio issues. saison

Despite her stratospheric fame—selling out shows globally, hosting SNL, and stomping the runway for Yves Saint Laurent—Dua displayed a genuine humility. She paused mid-set to introduce her band (which, by the way, played live under a massive, stage-enhancing staircase) and showed genuine gratitude for her career trajectory.

One of her superpowers is her ability to project vulnerability. Her vocals ached in “Be the One,” smoldered in “Pretty Please,” and played as the perfect soundtrack for a good cry on the dance floor with “Don’t Start Now.”

How to watch ACL Fest 2024 on Hulu: See Sunday lineup, live streaming times

And yes, she’s using her powers for good. Ladies, her “New Rules” are the ultimate guide to keeping that no-good ex out of your bed.

Of course, she ended the set with “Houdini,” another anthem about writing your own relationship rules. Fireworks streamed into the sky as she reminded her beau she’d only stick around for a real one. A shoutout to one of the greatest magicians seemed like the perfect way to wrap it all up.

After all, on this October night, magic was made. ✨