Global pop sensation Dua Lipa is gearing up to electrify Singapore with her much anticipated Radical Optimism concerts at the National Stadium on 5-6 November.
Known for her powerful vocals, stellar showmanship, and numerous chart-topping hits, Dua Lipa will come under the spotlight this November on the same stage after Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, and Olivia Rodrigo, promising an unforgettable evening of music and performance.
Whether or not you are a fan who would do Anything for Love, there is nothing bad about brushing up on your knowledge of this Grammy Award-winning musician.
If this is the first time you’ve heard of this pop star’s name, it may help to give a listen to her new album Radical Optimism – which is also the name of her tour and hence the main component of the concert setlist – with songs ranging from groovy dance pop Houdini to sad summer bop These Walls.
Start your Dua Lipa knowledge Training Season with the interesting facts below to shine through the upcoming chats about the Radical Optimism concert.
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Dua Lipa’s real name is…
Credit: Facebook/Dua Lipa @DuaLipa
Dua Lipa.
Yes, it can be surprising – even she herself knows “Dua Lipa” sounds like a stage name. Yet it is her birth name, with “Dua” meaning “love” in Albanian. Her fans call themselves “Loves”.
Dua Lipa was born in London, to Kosovo Albanian parents Anesa Lipa and Dukagjin Lipa. She has two siblings – younger sister Rina Lipa, who works as a model, and younger brother Gjin Lipa.
Music genes from her papa
Dua Lipa’s father Dukagjin Lipa used to be the lead singer and guitarist of the Kosovan rock band Oda. Influenced by her father, Dua Lipa started singing at the age of five.
Dua Lipa first gained popularity on YouTube from cover songs
At around 14, Dua Lipa started to upload covers of popular songs to YouTube. Her covers reached audiences around the world and caught the attention of Warner Music Group, which signed her in 2015, transforming her into a professional musician.
Dua Lipa has a documentary See In Blue
In 2016, Dua Lipa released See In Blue, a documentary film produced by The FADER and YouTube music about her journey from a bedroom singer to a pop sensation.
Debut album Dua Lipa a hit in 2017
In 2017, Dua Lipa released her self-titled debut album, which includes breakthrough singles like New Rules and IDGAF.
This successful debut defined her musical direction, earned multi-platinum certifications, and established her position in the pop world.
The album was nominated for British Album of the Year at the Brit Awards, with New Rules, IDGAF, and One Kiss nominated for British Single of the Year.
In the end, One Kiss won British Single of the Year; New Rules became Dua Lipa’s first number one on the UK Singles Chart and top 10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100; and IDGAF earned her the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
The girl has 33 teeth
Most adults have 32 teeth, but overachiever (musically, now physically) Dua Lipa has 33. The pop star tweeted about this, sharing an X-ray shot as proof, in 2018.
Dua Lipa’s accolades and… Guinness records
Dua Lipa’s accolades include seven Brit Awards and three Grammy Awards. She is also the first female artist to receive five nominations at the Brit Awards in a single year.
This year, TIME included her in its list of the top 100 most influential people in the world.
Aside from her awards, Dua Lipa has two Guinness records, one set in 2020 for the most tickets sold for a live-streamed concert by a solo female artist, and the other for most monthly listeners on Spotify for a female artist in 2021.
Dua Lipa is an honorary ambassador of Kosovo
In 2022, Dua Lipa received the title of Honorary Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo from Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu.
She was recognised for her efforts in raising awareness of the Republic of Kosovo, including organising the Sunny Hill Festival – an annual international music festival – in Pristina, Kosovo.
Supports LGBTQ+ activism
Dua Lipa has been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community for long.
Her supportive actions include waving a Pride flag at her concerts and campaigning against homophobic Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro.
Dua Lipa acted in Barbie the movie
Making her move into acting, Dua Lipa played the role of Mermaid Barbie in the 2023 movie Barbie. She also wrote the song Dance the Night for the soundtrack of the movie.
Though she only appeared for 30 seconds out of the 114 minutes, Dua Lipa received positive reviews for her performance.
The movie eventually garnered a number of awards and nominations, including eight nominations for the Oscars, among which Best Original Song was won by Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas for What Was I Made For?.
