Hilary Duff performed her first live concert in 18 years and millennials are feeling the high

Hilary Duff just performed her first live concert in 18 years last night in London, and millennials worldwide are feeling the high. This limited engagement of intimate shows will take her to Toronto, Los Angeles, and New York over the next week and a half.

If you were one of the lucky ones to score tickets after the queues of more than 140,000 people then congratulations, you’re attending the hottest nostalgia ticket in town. All of this is in anticipation of her big album release on February 20^th. The album, Luck… or Something, is her first release in eleven years and the latest single “Roommates” is out just in time for the start of tour.

Aside from one single radio show in 2015 where she performed a three-song set, the last time Hilary Duff was performing her music on stage was February 3^rd, 2008 in Melbourne. To come back after such a long time can be scary, but fan footage shows otherwise. And whoever is doing her makeup on this tour needs some love because my girl is beat to the f-cking god. This moment taken before the show has been making some serious round on socials with the general public losing their minds over just how fabulous she looks.

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A post shared by Hilary Duff (@hilaryduff)

Hilary seems at right back at home on stage, and is taking in the love that her adoring fans (like me) are sending her way. Her music and acting roles are staples in the lives of so many of us who grew up in the early 2000s.

I have this theory that at one point or another, we all lived the same life. Before streaming gave everybody complete autonomy over what to watch or listen to, there was a time where we all took in the same media. The result? A bunch of socially awkward and f-cking awesome 30-somethings singing the lyrics to “What Dreams Are Made Of” at the top of our lungs at a Hilary Duff concert – a song that she is performing live for the first time and happens to be closing her show with, and I still don’t have a ticket.

@caround3world
as a millennial, i never thought i’d hear this song live in 2026 @hilaryduff @Hilary Duff HQ #beatofmyheart #hilarydufflondon #hilaryduff #lizziemcguire #london
♬ original sound - caround3world🌍

@jesusontour_
Replying to @Bruna Soares FLY is so iconic 😭😭😭 #Hillaryduff #hilaryduffconcert #smallroomsbignerves Hilary duff London
♬ original sound - JESÚS

We’re only three weeks into 2026 and so far every single edition of this column has been about the comeback of a beloved artist. Jill Scott, Robyn, Bruno Mars, Hilary Duff and A$AP Rocky have all released new music within the first few weeks of the year. Bruno’s comeback has been received so well, he just broke the Ticketmaster record for most sales in a day with 2.1 million tickets sold. We can also add Harry Styles to that list as he also just announced his upcoming fourth album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally – wicked title. You can pre-order the new album now but if you were hoping to get one of the limited edition versions of the record you’re out of luck; his site crashed immediately following the announcement. You can almost feel the thirst his fans have for his return; the same thirst I have for tickets to Hilary’s show Saturday.

Speaking of ex-One Direction members, next week we have a new album from Louis Tomlinson. There’s also a new De La Soul album on its way for my old-school hip-hop heads. And…of course… BTS is coming.

For now, though, this week along with Hilary, we’re listening to tunes from Gorillaz, A$AP Rocky, Madison Beer and an unreleased Jennifer Lopez track in honour of the 25^th anniversary of her sophomore album J.Lo. Plus, this week’s viral pick is a perfect blend of hip-hop and Afrobeats.

Listen on…

MC’s PICK OF THE WEEK

“Roommates” by Hilary Duff

Simply put, “Roommates” is “Anti-Hero” but for pop fans who don’t necessarily claim pop artists of today but the pop artists of their youth. You know the type, they say they aren’t the biggest Taylor Swift fans but will lose their mind over a song with just as much of a pop sound from 2003 (no, I’m not describing myself… always). The bassline is pretty much identical and the melody is similar. “Roommates” is Hilary getting sexy and a little bit raunchy, describing giving head to her partner in the back of a dive bar. Never did I think I’d hear Hilary Duff singing about giving a blow job, but it’s delivered in such a romantic way that it works, hasn’t left my head since I first heard the snippets last week, and is making me very excited to hear the rest of the body of work. After such a long time away, I was curious as to what her sound would be and she has not let me down. This is pop music but with a lyrical message that is relatable to her fans that have grown up with her and are now adults going through real life sh-t.

“Roommates” is about keeping the spark alive in a relationship and not wanting to become just “roommates” with your lover, and striving to maintain the spark. The video also provides us with another Hilary rain moment, an obvious nod to her signature 2004 hit “Come Clean”. I f-cking love an Easter egg – shout out to Taylor Swift again. The song and entire forthcoming album was co-written and produced by her husband Matthew Koma, so the lyrical content is very personal for her. It’s all very Shania Twain and Mutt Lange – with a very different ending I hope.

“Orange County” by Gorillaz, Bizarrap, Kara Jackson, Anoushka Shankar

As someone who openly flaunts his obsession with all things 2000s, a new track from Gorillaz is always welcome on my playlist. “Orange County” is one of the many new releases from their upcoming album The Mountain, which is due out next month. Together with electronic giant Bizarrap, they’ve created a tune that is smooth and eclectic. The whistles throughout the instrumentals are a great touch. The band’s current line-up features four virtual members, and three non virtual members have been at the centre of the hottest sounds in British Pop since the late-90s and they seem to only get more creative as time goes on.

“Orange County” confronts the pain of losing someone you love, yet from the whistles to the soaring horns, the song feels lights and airy – an impressive feat for music rooted in grief.

“STOLE YA FLOW” by A$AP ROCKY

At this point, what even is a rap album release if there isn’t a Drake diss somehow involved. In this case, it seems that Rocky’s line about “gettin’ BBLs” and “throwin’ dirt on Rocky name, turn around and copy game” are directly referencing both Drake’s BBL accusations and the idea that he stole Rocky’s flow. The real zinger comes in the chorus though when Rocky raps “Stole my flow, so I stole yo’bitch”, quite obviously about Rihanna and her past relationship with Drake. I can only assume that RiRi gave her consent to be mentioned in this way, after all it’s clear who wears the pants in that relationship (at least to me it is), and it’s all a bit juvenile and the Drake hate is getting a bit old – a wild concept coming from me, I know. Having said this, the song itself is fire and is a perfect jam to put on when you just need to let out some frustration against the haters.

Rocky’s “flow” is on full display on the track as he raps his bars with sharp intention and killer conviction. Given that this is Rocky’s first album in eight years, I’ll give him a pass on the cheesiness of the diss too since this would be the first time he gets to talk his sh-t on a record about the topic. Part of me wonders how he feels knowing that while this is his moment, his wife will always be the one the world is more interested in. I’d like to think he’s secure enough in his manhood to embrace it. He’s got enough of his own talent, and his new album is certainly proof of that. I did get a chuckle of this clip of him refusing to sign a Rihanna album though – ahhhh, men!

“bad enough” by Madison Beer

This moment has been a long-time coming for Madison Beer, who has loosely been releasing music for close to a decade. Her 2018 single “Home with You” was a particular favourite of mine and was co-written by RAYE before her breakout success. Countless singles and EPs later and her debut album, locke,t has finally seen the light of day. Offering her now cemented trap-pop sound with stunning sultry vocals, Madison has found her groove. “bad enough” is a powerful ballad about accepting the flaws of your partner, with Madison coming to the realization that there’s nothing bad enough her man can do for her to part ways with him. This is symbolic, I’m sure, as I believe there’s no person that is completely exempt from bad behaviours, but I can understand being more lenient towards someone based on how much they mean to you.

Not to get into a full dissertation on this, after all it is a pop song at the end of the day, but the feelings are feeling. Her vocals are powerful and reminiscent of the pop ballads that took over the radio decades ago, another reason why this track stood out to me instantly. Madison premiered the song last week during an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” to roaring applause, and just premiered the music video that echoes the ethereal look that she was presenting during the performance. Madison is set to take her act on the road this summer for a tour of North American arenas, and it’s selling fast with some fans online complaining about the 50K+ queue for her Madison Square Garden show. For an artist who has waited seven-plus years to release a complete body of work, this glorious victory must feel that much sweeter.

“Crazy (Nobody Else)” by Jennifer Lopez

This week marks the 25^th anniversary of Jennifer Lopez’s sophomore album J.Lo. The album broke countless records including one that she still holds to this day: Jennifer is the only artist to have an album and film debut in the top spot in the same week and she also was the first female artist to hold the top spot in both fields, period. A select few artists have since managed to have a film and album at #1 but none have debuted there since Jenny.

To celebrate, she has re-released the album with bonus remixes and unreleased tracks including this one produced by Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins along with Fred Jerkins and the late LaShawn Daniels, the same trio who created her debut hit single “If You Had My Love” two years prior. The song sounds like a quintessential early 2000s R&B hit, and rightfully so given the production team behind it is the core group of creatives who crafted the entire sound from that era. The instrumentals to this have a distinct melody to “You Rock My World” by Michael Jackson, which would make sense since Rodney and his crew were working on both albums simultaneously along with Brandy’s Full Moon and the Spice Girls’ Forever.

Funky and feel-good, the song feels like a trip down memory lane. Jennifer’s vocals are thin at best, but this was at the beginning of her music career when she was still working out her kinks and used quite a few back-up singers to help her in that process. One of the background vocalists credited on this track in particular is a baby Tamar Braxton whose vocals you can hear on the chorus when you listen closely. That is because there are also three other people’s vocals mixed in there, LOL. Shade aside, I do have many fond memories of this album from my childhood, so it goes without saying that this song is a favorite of mine this week, and my album revisit for this entire project has been the best kind of nostalgic.

MC’s VIRAL PICK

“Raindance” by Dave, Tems

This one passes every vibe test. The perfect blend of hip-hop and Afrobeats with Tems’s unmistakable vocals inviting you in the second she sings her first note. “Raindance” is the lead single from Dave’s latest album. Released last fall, the song has steadily grown in audience impressions and is now one of TikTok’s most-used songs, complete with a viral dance trend. The choreography is simple and easy to mimic, but every move taps into the same breezy feeling.

The two just premiered the music video last week which has helped ignite the song’s streams and sales. The video was shot in Lagos with the city’s majestic sights on full display throughout the clip. It’s as romantic as you’d imagine by listening to the music. And there is some online chatter about their chemistry because the two look suspiciously close, hmm. Or they could just really have understood the plot?

Still, nothing gets the romantic vibes flowing more than good old fashioned success. Tems looks radiant yet simple – a classic beauty. Her stylist Swazzi talked about putting the look together overnight and they’ve been so well-received. The single is on its way to skyrocket to the #1 spot on UK Official Singles Chart this week, while also maintaining a spot on Spotify’s Top 30 streamed songs worldwide. “Raindance” has already commercially surpassed anything either artist has achieved in their respective careers to date, and it’s just getting started. Sometimes when you play the long game and give a song a few months to catch on, the audience it reaches exceeds what it would have had, had it hit right off the bat. Dave is about to kick off his Europe and North American tour in a few weeks, so a big hit that’s resonating with the audience in the midst of the tour is a celebration.

@daverelated
DAVE - RAINDANCE FT.TEMS #santandave #raindance #dave #tems
♬ original sound - daverelated

@s.k.o__
#raindance #santandave #tems @Santan @Tems #foryoupage #trendingsong
♬ original sound - http.jxson

@marihmacleod
First dance in the new home @Cj Salvador 🥰 dc: @Zoe Baptiste #raindance
♬ original sound - http.jxson

@melvine_malard
To see my girlfriend until the end she is exceptional 🤩🤣 @justine_jbr #dancecouple #tiktokdances #couplelgbt #tems #raindance
♬ original sound - http.jxson

It’s a new year which means a new “MC’s MUSIC LOUNGE” Spotify playlist is officially live. You can add it here to keep up to date with my weekly picks throughout the year.