Before taking the stage, the LA-based singer set the tone with the sound of an iPhone ringtone, prompting some concertgoers to check their phones. It was followed by a voice note from Cil (pronounced SIL), breaking up with a former partner: “I don’t want you anymore,” she repeated into the abyss.

Once on stage, lit only by the front lights, she created an intimate atmosphere with the crowd. Her set moved through viral hits like “Bloodsucker” and “One More Shot,” highlighting her soulful pop edge, before building to the newer track “Loser,” a song that echoes Lipa’s breakout “New Rules” and makes clear why she was tapped as the opener for this leg of the Radical Optimism tour.

Before Lipa took the stage at 8:30 sharp, the preceding five minutes were spent setting the scene for what was to come. As the lights went dark, the shape of the stage was front and centre, resembling an ocean wave — a major motif for Radical Optimism. A looped clip of waves crashing entranced concertgoers until it was time for Lipa to take the stage. She emerged at the wave’s peak looking like a mermaid before launching into the opening notes of “Training Season.”

While some fans may have thought she’d leave the club lights of Future Nostalgia behind, the iconography quickly turned into an inverted red ocean visual. The serenity of the waves gave way as Lipa reminded fans they were in for a night of fun.

Despite the mixed reviews of Radical Optimism, Lipa has a vast catalogue of hits to lean on. The top of the set featured tracks like “Break My Heart” and the Calvin Harris collaboration “One Kiss,” while No. 1 hit “Levitating” and “Physical” were woven into the nearly two-hour show.

Toward the end, older favorites like “New Rules” and “Be the One” had their moment — the latter turning 10 this October. “It makes me emotional because of the journey I took to get here,” she told the crowd. It was a nostalgic set for fans and Lipa, who danced the night away — literally, as she delivered the chorus of her Barbie soundtrack hit during the encore.

At her last Toronto show in 2022, the city was only just emerging from pandemic restrictions. This time, Lipa immersed herself in the crowd, taking time to connect with fans one-on-one. After the first set of songs, she surveyed the barricade, asking fans their names and snapping photos with awestruck concertgoers. One fan had a sign that read: “Talk thirty to me,” referring to Lipa’s milestone birthday. “Thirty’s going well,” she shared. Another wore a T-shirt that read “Sicilians do it better,” prompting cheers from the crowd. A final fan revealed they shared a birthday with Lipa and offered her a black feather boa, which happened to match her second outfit change. “I’ve got a show to put on,” she sweetly told the crowd before joining her band.

During Radical Optimism deep cut “Anything for Love,” Lipa rose above the audience on a pedestal, pausing to smile at fans below and flash heart signs as they confidently sang the lyrics back to her. “It’s moments like these where I really remember why I do what I do,” she told the crowd as she returned to center stage.

Later, while performing the sleeper hit “Be The One,” she went back into the crowd, standing amongst the barricaded fans. She happily took a fan’s phone to record the bridge of the song, where the audience participated in a call-and-response of: “I could be the one.” As one of pop music’s biggest stars, it’s these genuine interactions that fans will remember forever.

Each night on the Radical Optimism tour, Lipa has performed a song from a local artist. Last night’s pick was a nostalgic favourite for the Grammy-winning artist. “You know, I’ve always had quite special love for Toronto,” she said. “My first introduction to Canada was through one specific pop artist that I love very much. When I was five years old, I got this Nelly Furtado cd, called ‘Whoa Nelly’ and I was reciting it, non-stop, every day and I loved it, and I love her very much.” she shared. “I thought that tonight would be extra fitting if I did one of my favourite Nelly Furtado songs.”

As the opening strings of “I’m Like a Bird” filled the stadium, the crowd lit up, marveling at Lipa’s rendition of Furtado’s Y2K hit and singing along word for word.

The first show of Lipa’s North American leg was a night to remember. Since her last Toronto stop, the choreography has reached its highest level yet, with Lipa fully immersed in sharp, intricate dance routines. To keep the crowd’s energy high, she gave simple instructions to follow Radical Optimism’s fitness terms and conditions: “bend up, round and round,” she told the crowd via voiceover, before singing the aptly titled “Physical.” At times she disappeared into the swirl of dancers, but her voice cut through the stadium on songs like “Falling Forever” and “Happy for You,” leaning into the downtempo side of Radical Optimism.

During “Love Again,” Lipa performed alone, gliding across the stage inside a ring of fire before being lifted on a pedestal in a dramatic pink fur coat. Fireworks punctuated key moments, bursting during hits like “Training Season” and “Levitating,” while confetti storms added color and texture throughout the night. Heart-shaped pieces fluttered down during “Break My Heart,” flower-shaped decals rained after “One Kiss,” and a rainbow shower of confetti during “Don’t Start Now” lit up the arena ahead of the final song.

Everything built up to the set’s closer, “Houdini,” where Lipa told the crowd that they had “one more chance to dance,” — and they delivered.

Lipa is set to perform a second night at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday, September 2.