Dua Lipa wrapped the European leg of her Radical Optimism Tour in Dublin over the weekend, adding a special cover song to her set list in tribute to one of Ireland’s greats, Sinead O’Connor.
Performing at the end of her stage that extends out into the crowd, Dua Lipa introduced “Nothing Compares 2 U” to fans at Aviva Stadium Friday night (June 27). In fan-filmed footage from the concert, she can be heard saying she was honored to sing the song that night, and told the crowd to join if they knew the words.
O’Connor, whose hometown was Dublin, passed away in 2023. Her stunning 1990 version of “Nothing Compares 2 U’ — written by Prince, who originally released the song in 1985 — ruled the Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks and launched her I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got album to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 that year.
Dua Lipa’s emotional set list surprise in Dublin followed a pair of surprise guests last week in London, where the singer welcomed Jamiroquai to the stage one night (for “Virtual Insanity”), and Charli xcx the next (for “360”). She also felt the love from the Spice Girls while in the U.K. — the girl group wished her luck at her sold-out Wembley Stadium shows, noting, “That’s Girl Power!!”
The pop star’s tour arrives in North America at the start of September, beginning with two nights in Toronto before traveling to Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, New York City and beyond.
Watch a clip of Dua Lipa’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” performance, courtesy of Warner Music Ireland’s Instagram account, below.