Lizzo at Rod Laver Arena
Kicking off The Special Tour in Australia, the Queen of Self-Love, Lizzo, returns to Melbourne for the first time since 2020 with two packed-out shows at Rod Laver Arena.
Opening for the night was Zimbabwean-born Australian singer-songwriter and rapper Tkay Maidza. From set opener Grasshopper, to her 2020 hit 24k, to singing about mean boys with So Cold, Tkay’s catalogue is filled with a range of hits perfect for the stadium setting to get the crowd amped up. Performing songs from her albums Last Year Was Weird volumes 1-3, Tkay’s immense talent continues to thrive with her new songs, including Flume collab Silent Assassin, and upcoming releases from her next album, including Ringaling. Throw in a Pixies cover, a song about letting toxic things go (Cashmere), and closing banger Kim, and it’s clear why it’s always a delight to see Tkay live.
Even before Lizzo makes her entrance, the screams of her adoring fans drown out any other conceivable noise. As the show begins, a clip plays explaining that the show is about celebrating all kinds of love, to live in the moment, love on yourself, and of course, enjoy the show bitch!
Opening power anthem Cuz I Love You sets the tone of the show – it’s high energy, fast-paced and it’s all happening. Wasting no time, we’re already onto Juice, the production having increased substantially since Lizzo’s debut tours. As Lizzo tells the crowd, she did not come alone – in tow with back up singers, a crew of dancers and full band.
The feel-good experience continues with 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready) and Soulmate, welcoming us to the Australian leg of The Special Tour. Lizzo was running up the walls, telling us ‘I am hyper as shit right now’, dancing alongside her girls and boys, twerking her way into our hearts. It’s easy to see why her latest tour has been headline worthy all around the world. With more hits to follow with Phone / Grrrls, Boys, and Tempo (featuring a pre-recorded Missy Elliott), the crowd were in good spirits dancing and singing to every word by heart.
During Rumors, the crowd is laughing at all of the text messages on the screen with ‘Lizzo played an alien flute in Area 51’ having us in stitches. The show had numerous standout moments, from the awe-inspiring opening to Jerome, to making everyone in Australia feel the love during Special, to Like A Girl and Birthday Girl / Happy Birthday To You; both party anthems and celebrations of people. The show begins to peak with Everybody’s Gay; dedicated to all people in the LGBTQIA+, with Lizzo proudly wearing the flag and shouting ‘Happy Pride Bitch!’ across the stage. The show promised to be a celebration of self love and loving one another – and it delivered.
Heaven Help Me introduces the band, while Water Me has an intro to breathing exercises and meditation. From costume changes, crowd participation and most importantly Sasha the Flute, we see everything from Coldplay’s Yellow, the song Coldplay, and two attempts of Truth Hurts – played a second time for perfection after they rocked so hard the lights stopped working. Taking time in-between songs to address the crowd, there are few artists that care so deeply about their fans. From hugging a baby (Charlotte, Queen of Australia), to taking BeReal’s and polaroids, signing merch to letting a fan touch her toes – nothing was off limits in this genuine crowd exchange.
Closing out the show with her top-tier hits Good as Hell and encore About Damn Time, Lizzo’s tour of Australia has well and truly commenced, with her second stadium show in Melbourne tonight before continuing her dates across Australia. All that Lizzo wants is for you to feel better when you leave her show than when you arrived, and we left feeling good as hell.