Gig review: Duran Duran join Sabrina Carpenter at BST Hyde Park – When Pop meets Pink Power Nostalgia

Hyde Park on the evening of 6th July 2025 shimmered like the inside of a giant glitter globe. The air was thick with perfume, heat, and adolescent squeals as Sabrina Carpenter stepped onto the BST stage. Having experienced many gigs in this iconic London venue, this one felt different — like a generational coronation for a pop princess in her prime, with just enough nods to the past to make us grown-ups feel seen.

Barbie Rodeo: The Fashion Parade Before the Music

Walking through Hyde Park felt like stepping into a TikTok-filtered fever dream. Think pastel pink cowgirl boots, sparkly cropped tops, tulle skirts, baby doll dresses and rhinestone-studded denim jackets. Girls and women in their teens, twenties, and even thirties came dressed as if Sabrina herself would personally inspect their outfits. And in a way, she did. Midway through her set, she paused to say: “You guys made such an effort with your outfits, your nails, your hairdos… it’s crazy!”

The air of sisterhood was strong. Mothers and daughters wore matching bows. I spotted one group dressed in coordinating heart-shaped sunglasses and glitter freckles, clearly planned weeks in advance. It wasn’t just fashion – it was fandom couture.

Pop Theatre with Precision and Sass

Sabrina Carpenter opened marching down her sleek white runway stage like a Y2K pop gladiator. Wearing a glittering sparkly one piece swimsuit with calf-high white boots and an illuminated “SC” behind her, she launched into a meticulously rehearsed, high-octane set. Her voice – syrupy, soft, and Disney-princess sweet – filled the park. And yet… at one moment I caught her lowering the mic while the vocals continued seamlessly. It was subtle, but noticeable. A sprinkle of playback? Perhaps. But in a show this polished, it was expected.

She peppered her set with plenty of banter and a lot of the F-word – more than I’d expected for such a young-skewing crowd. It jarred slightly, especially with very young fans in sparkly unicorn backpacks nearby. But the fans lapped it up, as did her sassy energy and unfiltered jokes.

High-Gloss Pop, served with theatrical flair

There was nothing subtle about this show — and that’s not a complaint. Sabrina used every theatrical trick in the book: ’50s-style commercial interludes, video skits, bedazzled props (including a white-sheeted rotating bed for “Bed Chem”), and a jaw-dropping crane lift that floated her above the crowd for “Don’t Smile”.

She performed with a 12-strong dance crew and enough outfit changes to make a Met Gala dresser jealous. When she appeared in a second-half black glitter fuchsia dress, the crowd erupted in cheers. It was giving Broadway-meets-pop, with a dash of Britney’s 2001 VMA magic.

Then came the Twist: Duran Duran’s surprise appearance

Just as I was thinking the show had peaked, Sabrina introduced her “special guests.” The screen flashed, the lights changed, and then – Duran Duran. I gasped. My teenage years came roaring back. Simon Le Bon stepped out, and I was suddenly 14 again, holding a homemade “I’m Hungry Like a Wolf” sign at Hyde Park a few years ago. The crowd was split – half shrieked in nostalgic joy, the other half (mostly Gen Z) looked bemused. On my bus ride home, I overheard a group of 20-something mutter, “Who the f*** were those Duran Duran guys?” My heart laughed and cried at the same time.

Together, they performed “Hungry Like the Wolf” and somehow, it worked. A glittery, silly, serotonin-laced moment that united generations in sheer pop delight.

A Disney Diva Grows Up

This wasn’t just a concert. It was a style summit, a theatre piece, and a nostalgia trip. Sabrina Carpenter proved she’s more than a former Disney darling – she’s a pop performer who knows her audience, commands a stage, and understands how to make a moment.

Yes, it was slick. Yes, there may have been backing tracks. But it was also joyful, intentional, and beautifully choreographed. For the generation that grew up on her, and those of us who remember when Duran Duran ruled the charts, this was a night that offered magic in sequins and song.

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Monica Costa

Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://www.londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums