After an extra hour of waiting, thousands of fans, including myself, erupted in screams Aug. 1 as Beyoncé took the stage for her 23rd show of the futuristic-feeling Renaissance World Tour.
With more than 30 Grammy awards, Beyoncé’s music spans multiple genres, including rap and R&B. Her most recent album, “Renaissance,” was released in July 2022, and the Renaissance Tour began May 10, 2023, and is set to end Oct. 1.
Beyoncé began her 2.5- hour setlist with R&B ballad “Dangerously in Love,” effortlessly showing off her vocal range and reminding the people in the audience that they were in the presence of Queen Bey. Even from my seat in the nosebleeds, I was starstruck by her elegance and tone.
The audience cheered once again as Beyoncé complimented the crowd’s outfits. Dressed in all black, including a lacy hat and flashy sunglasses, her own outfit was stunning and perfectly fit the atmosphere that the first few R&B ballads created.
As she wrapped up the first part of her setlist, the stadium screen flashed with visuals of robotic machines and a voice asked if we were “ready to slay.” Soon after, Beyoncé rose up from the stage in a new outfit to sing “I’m That Girl,” “Cozy” and “Alien Superstar,” hip-hop songs from her new album, which feature both her vocal range and rap ability.
While the previous transition was rather long, the next one engaged the audience as two dancers ran around the circular stage, flipping through the air and hyping everyone up as Beyoncé’s “7/11” played.
An emphasis on dance was a common theme, with high-energy choreography throughout the show. Props further enhanced the performances and it felt like I was at an awards show. My favorite visual, by far, was the giant horse that popped out of the stage during “Break My Soul,” but the silver tank from which Beyoncé performed “Savage (Remix)” and the UV light “scanner” which changed the color of her white gown were highlights as well.
Another unique aspect of the show was that Beyoncé brought out her 11-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, onstage during “My Power” and “Black Parade.” Blue Ivy’s energy and confidence was contagious when she held up her hands in the shape of a heart as the crowd cheered her on.
However, the sweetest moment occurred when Beyoncé noticed a proposal in the audience. Not only did she congratulate the couple; she also told us to all scream congratulations on the count of three, which we gladly did.
When Beyoncé sang “Love on Top,” smiling as the audience took control for the last few key changes, I couldn’t help but wonder about the couple. She immediately followed the song with “Crazy in Love,” another one of her most well-known singles.
For the closing act, Beyoncé got on top of a sparkly crystal horse, similar to the one on the cover of her latest album, and flew over concertgoers in the pit as she sang “Summer Renaissance.” The layout of the stage made the entire concert an incredibly special experience for those attendees, as they were standing right in the middle of it.
Beyoncé’s tour has often been compared to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, which I attended at the same venue in May. Both artists have been in the industry for over a decade, extend over multiple genres, and are still gaining popularity. I found Swift’s concert to be unique due to the storytelling and connection with other fans, while Beyoncé’s specialties were the dancing and vocal power, but both shows far exceeded my expectations.
Ultimately, Aug. 1 was an unforgettable night for everyone in the stadium. Although the show started an hour late and there were no opening acts, Beyoncé sparked a renaissance.
–Aug. 16, 2023–
