Doja Cat turned up the quantity and the drama Tuesday night time (November 25) at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, delivering a high-energy two-hour set that doubled as a daring response to criticism surrounding her Ma Vie world tour.

The Grammy-winning performer leaned into an ’80s aesthetic, full with a leopard print bodysuit and half-face make-up that blurred the road between glam rock and efficiency artwork.

Backed by a full band that includes brass, bass, and keytar, she reworked tracks from her newest album, Vie, into funk-heavy dwell preparations that gave the present a retro pulse.

Despite current backlash over her Auckland tour opener, the place complaints included sparse costume adjustments and scaled-back manufacturing, Doja Cat didn’t mince her phrases. She addressed critics on-line with zero filter, writing, “I’m not your costume monkey” and “keep your opinion to yourself.”

Her Melbourne stop got here simply days after a nightclub look in the identical metropolis stirred extra controversy.

music/doja-cat-slammed-by-aussie-fans-over-disrespectful-melbourne-nightclub-appearance/news-story/8ad6e2e5e377973a424d88b2f497b950″ rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Arriving three hours late, she carried out solely three songs earlier than exiting on account of vocal relaxation orders for a sore throat. Local outlets slammed the 15-minute set, while attendees voiced their disappointment across social media.

But Tuesday’s area efficiency flipped the narrative. Doja Cat moved effortlessly between sultry ballads and hard-hitting rap verses, proving her vocal vary and stage command.

A standout second got here throughout a jazzy model of “Paint the Town Red,” adopted by “Gorgeous,” which featured a saxophone solo that stretched into full-blown theater.

Tracks like “One More Time,” “Take Me Dancing” and “Aaahh Men!” had been reimagined with funkier preparations, whereas older hits like “Wet V#####,” “Ain’t S###” and “Boss B####” got new life via the band’s brass-forward sound.

The present additionally highlighted her difficult relationship together with her viewers. In 2022, she threatened to stop music after backlash from Paraguay followers over a canceled present. Last yr, she misplaced greater than 180,000 Instagram followers after telling her supporters to “get a job.”

Still, the Melbourne crowd sang alongside to each phrase, and Doja Cat appeared genuinely touched throughout her closing remarks. The Ma Vie tour continues with stops in Brisbane and Sydney earlier than heading abroad via 2026.

Her Melbourne present proved she’s nonetheless in full management of her narrative, critics or not.

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