Review: Daya at Pegasus Palooza!

Daya at Addition Financial Arena

The night opened with Thomas Day, who gave the crowd a surprisingly long set for an opener. His performance had strong moments, but the lip-syncing was hard to ignore at first. It left some people looking around, unsure of how to feel. While it wasn’t a total dealbreaker, it did make the set feel uneven. To his credit, when he switched back to live vocals later on, it made a real difference, the songs carried more weight, and his voice felt to soothe into the setlist.

Then came Daya, and the energy in the arena noticeably picked up. She didn’t jump straight into her biggest songs, instead taking her time to move through a mix of newer tracks and familiar favorites. From "Hide Away" to "Sit Still Look Pretty", students listened in anticipation. The crowd clearly knew what they were waiting for, though. When “Don’t Let Me Down” finally arrived, the arena reacted instantly; everyone stood, phones lit up, and voices joined in to sing it word for word. It was the highlight of the night, and the moment where it felt like everyone was on the same page. What stood out beyond the big hit was hearing how much Daya’s music has grown since those early radio staples.

For many in the crowd, especially UCF students, it was a little surreal. These were the songs that soundtracked school dances, bus rides, and summer playlists years ago. Now, as young adults, the same people were singing them again, but from a different stage in life. That full-circle feeling gave her set an added layer, even if it wasn’t overly sentimental.

By the end, everyone left with a smile, buzzing from the shared memories and the music that took them to a time where life was easier. It was a night that reminded us why Daya’s songs still resonate years later.