It almost didn’t feel real seeing Beyoncé live for the third time at her sold-out Levi’s stadium “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR” show, but then again, when you’re at a Beyoncé show, nothing ever truly feels like it’s real.
I can still remember when I saw the tour kicked off in Stockholm, Sweden earlier this year. I was constantly watching every video I could about the tour – from what outfits she wore and what songs she performed, to how each show almost always felt different.
It made the date for the show in Santa Clara feel so far away, but “RENAISSANCE” came and swiftly went.
On that day as I’m standing and waiting for her to come on stage, the anticipation doesn’t really hit me, only until the sky darkens.
All of a sudden a large wide-screen on the stage engulfs you with an image of Beyoncé lying down in nothing but a fur coat, with her name splashed across the screen.
Suddenly, a rosy-pink sky and blue clouds formed overhead as she slowly came out of the stage in a custom Marc Jacobs ensemble, introducing the concert with one of her more niche songs from her debut album, “Dangerously In Love.”
It’s a carefully crafted song choice, as is everything in a Beyoncé show, a song only her most devoted fans would probably know.
She transitioned into a serenade for the crowd with ballads including “1+1,” “Flaws and All,” and topped the first act off with “I Care.”
Before she leaves the stage, she also makes the distinction and celebrates the honor the City of Santa Clara bestowed upon her by giving her the key to the city and making her honorary Mayor of the day, according to an Aug. 29 ABC7 News article.
“You know today’s special because today, I am the mayor,” Beyoncé told the audience laughing as we cheered on what could only be the most iconic mayor the City of Santa Clara has probably ever seen.
All of these songs are not the ones you would think she would go with to open the show in support of the electrifying album that is “RENAISSANCE,” but that’s exactly why she did it.
It’s Beyoncé’s renaissance, and we’re here witnessing her create new peaks for herself, each and every time.
As I stood there along with the rest of thousands of people, I started to cry, until I was full-blown sobbing.
Not only because it’s Beyoncé, not only because of the show and the album, but because of who she is to me and what she represents.
I still remember being a child, fascinated by her in the “Crazy In Love” music video as she strutted down the street in that iconic sparkly white tank top. “You ready?” No Beyoncé, I was not ready.
From her album “B’day,” where I would sing along to every word into my imaginary microphone (which was really just my hairbrush),- to her changing the music industry with her self-titled release, to her heartbreaking and radical release with 2016’s “Lemonade,” there isn’t a time I can’t remember where she hasn’t struck me with amazement.
With “RENAISSANCE” I am here as a 28-year-old, a full-grown adult with my full-grown adult money, watching the show with the same friend who saw Beyoncé’s “The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour” with me 10 years ago.
This show was a special time for both of us as we sat there catching up on the last 10 years, with the singer that brought us together again. That’s who Beyoncé is, a uniting force.
A perfect tribute to what the culture surrounding “RENAISSANCE” is, a uniting force.
I could only feel a sensation of being overwhelmed, remembering how she has been with me through thick and thin.
Her music has watched me over the years and has become a part of my growth into the adult that I am now, she’s there on that stage with not a single clue of who I am.
Or who any of us are.
However the opposite is true of her, as she is all we know – her music, her cultural significance and the mark she has left on the world.
You would be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t know who Beyoncé is, even if she means absolutely nothing to a lot of people.
I didn’t have much time to process any of this, as her visuals (which we’re still waiting for the surprise, Beyoncé) started to flicker across the screen as she departed for her first outfit change of the night.
The shimmering silver and chrome animations started to segue into the first song off the album “I’M THAT GIRL.” while Beyoncé arose back on stage, ready to prove to us yet again, that she really is that girl.
“Welcome to the Renaissance,” she politely announces to us, before breaking out into absolutely dazzling choreography with the rest of her dancers.
If one thing’s clear about this show, it is that Beyoncé knows how to pay tribute to what inspires her, which is one of the most brilliant qualities about who she is as an artist.
The show is a staggering and beautiful tribute to Ballroom culture, a Black and Latinx underground LGBTQ+ culture originating in New York City, according to a June 28 Vogue Magazine article.
These pageants began as a response and a form of protection for the community from racism experienced in established drag queen circuits in the city.
The competitions would also create “houses,” groups which participants are part of where relationships are forged when conventional support systems have ostracized them.
Ballroom culture is at the heart of Beyoncé’s live performances, featuring dancers from the scene, forging her own house, “The House of Renaissance,” of which she’s the mother of.
This is her biggest and greatest tribute to the scene and LGBTQ+ community, who have stood by her for the entirety of her career.
It’s also a tribute to her own history with the community, as “RENAISSANCE” is dedicated to the memory of her late Uncle Johnny, her mother’s close confidant and best friend who helped raise Beyoncé and her sister.
This love and homage glimmers throughout the show, as well as in the last two shows I’ve seen Beyoncé perform. Absolute perfection in the details is her standard.
As you watch her perform now, there is so much joy in her movements and steps, a love and warmth where even with all the incredible detail that has gone into this tour, there is freedom, which Beyoncé has allowed herself to enjoy, flaws and all.
One of the other staggering parts of the show for me was the attention to the costumes.
Every show on this tour Beyoncé has worn a variety of different outfits and designers, showing the pull she has in the fashion world.
From fashion houses including LOEWE and Alexander McQueen, to Versace and Mugler, all the pieces tell a story and connect Beyoncé herself visually back to the album.
I couldn’t wait to see all of this, the months of videos, watching people react to the acts of the show, it was finally my turn.
It was better than I could possibly have imagined it to be, even when Beyoncé isn’t purely perfect on stage, she still simply is.
Her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, came out to help her perform “MY POWER,” (or should I say Beyoncé helped Blue Ivy), performing the iconic dance break that has taken the internet by storm, in one of the best parts of the show.
As a journalist, I couldn’t wait for “AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM” where the visuals parody newscasts as she performs on an anchor table which spells out “KNTY 4 NEWS” as someone who is “KNTY 4 NEWS,” she truly did that one for me.
From there we move on to the penultimate song, “PURE/HONEY,” where the tribute to Ballroom culture is direct and the main act of the show.
Her dancers broke off into their own respective acts of house dancing, where the audience explodes in cheers watching the death drops and dives on stage as we wait for her to top it all off.
She really tops off the rest of the show when she comes back on stage with the final song of the night “SUMMER RENAISSANCE.”
In pure Beyoncé fashion, she glided across the stage on a chrome and silver horse, paying tribute to the album cover for “RENAISSANCE.”
From there, she thanked the audience as she flew across the crowd, paying tribute to her dancers and crew and of course, us for supporting her all this time.
As we saw her say her goodbyes and watch her disappear from the stage, the audience was illuminated with a picture of her mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson and her Uncle Johnny, in the ultimate tribute anyone could give to their family.
After her birthday show in Los Angeles on Monday, seemingly with every celebrity in Hollywood showing out in tribute to her and Diana Ross herself surprising Beyoncé with a Happy Birthday rendition on stage, it’s the biggest reminder that Beyoncé is the celebrity’s celebrity.
She continues to be the cultural phenomenon I have loved my whole life and I cannot wait to see where she goes from here.
As I continue to grow and move on in my life, she continues to elevate her craft as the soundtrack to our lives.
“This is my gratitude tour. I don’t take any of this for granted. I know after 25 years I’m still able to do what I love, and it’s because of your loyalty and because of your prayers,” Beyoncé told the audience after celebrating her honorary mayoral status.
We’re grateful for you Beyoncé, just as you’re grateful for all of us.
