Pop singer Dua Lipa made a dual appearance as a host and musical guest on the May 4 episode of the comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL). This happened just a day after the release of her much-awaited album, ‘Radical Optimism‘.
The 28-year-old singer began the show with a monologue, introducing herself and sharing a playful anecdote about her parents. Lipa also explained the concept of radical optimism – a theme that she explored in her latest album. She encouraged the audience to share their problems with her, offering a ‘bright side’ to their issues.
However, when SNL cast member Heidi Gardner, wearing a MAGA hat, introduced herself as South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Lipa declined to engage. Noem, 52, recently attracted headlines for narrating an incident in her forthcoming book where she killed her ‘untrainable’ dog, Cricket. Noem justified the action by citing South Dakota law, which allows for dogs that attack and kill livestock to be put down.
Lipa later performed two tracks from her new album, “Happy for You” and “Illusion”. The former was introduced by guest star Jerry Seinfeld, while the latter saw a cameo by Troye Sivan. Seinfeld, 70, also made an appearance during the Weekend Update segment of the show. Lipa participated in several skits during the episode, including a fictional morning show and a skit named Sonny Angel.
This was Lipa’s first return to SNL since she served as the musical guest for host Kristen Wiig in 2020. In a promotional teaser for the episode, Lipa humorously suggested that SNL cast member Chloe Fineman could take over her singing duties. Despite a complete makeover, Fineman’s dance and lyrical skills fell short, prompting Lipa to jest, “It’s close enough”.
Lipa’s album, Radical Optimism, was released on May 3 to generally positive reviews. The album features 11 tracks, including the singles “Houdini,” “Training Season” and “Illusion”. The title of the album was inspired by a conversation Lipa had a few years ago, where the concept of radical optimism resonated with her, and she decided to incorporate it into her life and music.
