21 years ago — almost to the day — Scary, Sporty, Ginger, Posh and Baby hurtled to the top of the US Billboard charts with their debut album, SPICE. It was brilliant. You should’ve been there. 1997 saw the Spice Girls follow a long line of music icons, including Michael Jackson and Madonna, with a series of Pepsi collaborations. Then came Britney Spears, P!nk and Beyoncé. The next artist to follow in their footsteps? It’s the super-charged, super-slinky and super-talented Dua Lipa of course!
Yep, the multi-award winning Kosovo-born Londoner just teamed up with your fave fizzy pop-star lovin’ brand to perform at Kyiv’s NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in front of what was estimated to be 86 million live viewers for the UEFA Champions League Final Opening Ceremony. Pretty much the Olympics of European football. The world’s most-watched annual sporting event. No pressure whatsoever then.
Last week, as she was mentally preparing herself for Saturday’s performance, we called Dua to discuss her fandom, her first crush and all things girl power.
Hey Dua. How’s it all going in Kyiv?
Good! I’m very excited and a tiny bit nervous. We’re out here to do the UEFA Champions League opening show. It’s pretty surreal being in this massive stadium and envisioning what it’s going to be like out there performing.
What’s the plan? More giant flamingos? No giant flamingos, but a lot of girl power. I especially want to bring lots of girl power to this because football feels like such a male-dominated sport. Of course there are a lot of female footballers and there’s actually a UEFA championship for women, but the show I’m playing is for the men’s league.
Does all of this Pepsi business make you feel like a Spice Girl circa 1997? Honestly, the whole music and Pepsi collaboration made me very excited. I remember the gladiator advert with P!nk, Beyonce and Britney. Then of course there were the adverts with Michael Jackson, and yes, the Spice Girls, so having my own Pepsi adverts feels really surreal and exciting. It feels amazing. I’m very happy to be involved.
Proper pop icon moves. Do you have any stand-out Spice Girl memories from when you were growing up?
Well, I always wanted to be Baby Spice but no one would ever let me because I wasn’t blonde. She was my favourite. I think it was all about making up dance routines with your friends in the playground at break, wasn’t it?
It absolutely was. What do you reckon your Spice Girl name would be?
I’ve never thought about that before… maybe Baby D?
Cute! Catchy! Aside from the fab five, which women in music do you most admire?
P!nk is a big inspiration of mine. I’m such a fan. I love how she’s not afraid be be outspoken, and what she’s done to try and change the music industry with the message she puts out to women. She makes me feel very empowered. I definitely felt her influence when making my own music.
M!ssundaztood for school curriculums. Dua, when do you feel most confident?
The most confident I feel is when I’m on stage. I get really, really nervous before, but as soon as I get on stage the adrenaline hits and I kind of feel invincible.
As far as I’m aware your collective fandom doesn’t have a official name?
Well, I guess quite early on they decided to call themselves ‘loves’ because my name in Albanian means love.
Don’t laugh, but we thought you were just being really affectionate with everyone…
I mean, I am very affectionate with them.
Alright love. What movie do you think your music would be the best soundtrack for?
That’s a tricky question… I’m a fan of Tarantino movies. Not that I feel like my music fits his movies, but if somebody asked me to write something for one, I’d happily do it. It’d be fun.
For sure. And who would you want to play you in the movie of your life?
Noomi Rapace. I think she’s so badass and has such a crazy energy about her. I think whatever role you give her she’d be able to embody it.
She literally kills it in Prometheus. Ending on a big Q now: who was your first crush?
Frankie Muniz in Malcolm In The Middle. I had such a crush on him. I’d watch it all the time and just really wish he could be my boyfriend.
Dua Lipa just performed at the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final Opening Ceremony presented by Pepsi. It made her feel like a Spice Girl.