Review: On the Run Tour

As previously mentioned in my last blog post, I had to make sure I post my review of the best concert I’ve ever attended in my life, Beyonce and Jay Z’s On the Run show. This absolutely deserved its own post. It was just…. EPIC!

As anyone who knows me is well aware of, I am a certified stan and obsessed freak of both Beyonce and Jay Z. So when I heard they announced that they were finally touring together, I was naturally ecstatic. My close friends all know I have been praying for this joint tour for a long time. I truly believe I claimed this into existence, but you can just thank me later….

Anyway. This show was the third time I’ve seen Jay Z live in just the last year alone and the second time I’ve seen Beyonce. And each time never disappoints. However, this time it was different. Seeing them perform together in a very artistic and movie-like presentation of love, pain and anarchy according to their longstanding rebel romance theme was…. simply beautiful. I have to say that the imagery presented and stage presentation was a highlight for me. I appreciated all the thought and effort that went into this to make it absolutely perfect. I also had amazing floor seats so I was totally in heaven being so close to my 2 favorite artists, to the point where I could actually HEAR Beyonce's voice when she came out on the plaform among the crowd. Whewwwww.

The crowd at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on that hot evening of July 7 was so ready for the Carters as they finally took the stage, opening up with their 2003 “Bonnie and Clyde” anthem. The perfect intro for the entire production. I counted at least 40 songs that were done all together, but I heard it was even more than that. Overall, it was a flawless mix of each artist’s greatest hits along with most of their collaborations. I absolutely loved hearing Beyonce perform Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-factor” as it’s one of my favorite songs ever. Her voice is impeccable as usual and her dancing and stage presence is just unbelievable. There is simply no way to describe it. I just don’t know how the woman does it. She must literally burn 10,000 calories each night. Everything flowed perfectly according to the theme too. Very tasteful and well done, but we’d expect nothing less from the royal couple.

It was interesting that their tour began just weeks after the controversial footage of Solange going HAM on Jay in an elevator, for reasons we will just never know. I have heard a lot of speculation about Beyonce’s convincing and tear-filled performance of “Resentment” in which she pours her heart out while wearing a wedding gown and veil. However, I’m not buying it. Beyonce is the ultimate entertainer and professional, who knows how to put on a show but only gives us what she wants us to have. Our Queen does a great job of keeping her shit on lock. And while she has given us more of a glimpse glimpses into her personal life lately than ever before, she still will never be the type to reveal her dirty laundry. We will simply never find out the real reason behind that altercation. She will continue getting her $2.5 million a night with her husband and keep it classy without even acknowledging or addressing the mishap, in true Beyonce form. 

Anyway. Despite the drama, the show must go on. And from the looks of it, the Carters remain completely unbothered. Another favorite for me was Beyonce’s many outfit changes, which seemed to take place between almost every song. She was not scared to show off her amazing body this time around, with several outfits revealing most or all of her fabulous cakes. And I was loving it. She is truly a work of art and an inspiration for all women. The set was absolutely stunning, with both vertical and horizontal poles as part of the tantalizing acts. My personal favorites were “Partition” where Beyonce did some very daring moves on a lounge chair as in the video, “Naughty Girl” where she literally bounced around in a thong, “Part II” which is my favorite of all the couple’s collabs, “Drunk in Love” where a playful Hov showed some PDA for his bashful wife, and “Haunted” which is not one of my personal favorite songs but I am a sucker for dark-artsy presentation and modern dance, so it blew me away. As for Jay Z, well he’s always incredible to see live and has great energy and stage presence. He’s got so many hits and keeps the crowd hype. What more can you ask for? I was especially glad he did one of my favs “Diamonds are Forever”. But… let’s keep it 100. Beyonce simply stole the show.

 Overall, this is a show you need to see in your lifetime. It was worth every penny and more. These two have simply outdone themselves. They even share some personal, never-before-seen footage of their super-secret wedding and some very special moments with their adorable daughter, Blue Ivy. Of course I was geeked. I left that concert with a high like no other that took about a week to wear off. It’s truly more than a concert. The Carters are not selling concert tickets, they’re selling an experience. On the Run is a movement. I am just glad I got to see it.

My Insatiable Love for Beyonce

I have many idols and women I look up to in my life. Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and several others. I even have had this extreme obsession with Jennifer Lopez for my entire life that is definitely worth a mention. But when it comes to Beyonce Knowles, I am BEYOND a fan. I know she is one of the most popular celebrities in the world and it goes without saying that she is loved by millions. I also realize that when regular people like me become obsessed with celebrities, it’s a little silly. However, I cannot explain or express enough how much I love this woman. Yes, I have never met her, and no, I probably won’t in my lifetime (although I did spot her in Manhattan one time with Solange in 2005 and almost fainted). No, I do not know her personally, and yes I realize she is just a human being like anyone else despite her fame and fortune. But still, there is something about this woman that defies my logic and goes beyond my typical behavior and beliefs. It just is what it is. All I need in this world of sin is.... Beyonce.

The common word these days for what I have become is known as “stan”. This means an extreme fan that cannot be told anything bad about their favorite celebrity because they are unreasonably biased, almost to the point of brainwash. I accept this title proudly. In reality I just don’t see how anyone could NOT like Beyonce. I have actually sat there and tried to wrap my mind around that concept, to no avail. As Beyonce herself has stated in one of her songs, “there’s nothing not to love about me.” But I guess I can understand not liking her music, because people’s tastes in music vary obviously. I understand not being a complete psychopathic fan like myself and many others. But I do not understand one bit how anyone can deny her God-given talent or say that they do not respect her. That is just sacrilege.

Say what you want about her and have your opinions, but some things are just obvious facts in life. Beyonce can sing and dance like no other entertainer of our generation. We do not often see pop stars like Michael Jackson and Madonna who set trends and become so iconic and talented that they change lives. There are just some people who are clearly MADE to do what they do, and Beyonce Knowles was most certainly put on this earth to be a performer. She puts on an amazing show and gives it her all, singing her heart out while simultaneously dancing her ass off. You may not favor her work, but it cannot be said that she is not passionate about her music and her performances (which is becoming rare in this day and age where most are solely motivated by profits).

I will admit (because I am not THAT irrational) that she is not the best actress but I can see her progression with acting and appreciate that she’s tried new things besides singing. Her other business ventures, including a fashion line that embodies her family’s history, have been very successful, and she has broken records, won awards, sold out tours, and accomplished more in 30 years than most people could ever dream of. All the while she has made it a point to keep her personal life private and remain a meticulous woman with class and poise. Even her impeccable work ethic has been praised by posh legends like Prince. Despite being a megastar, she seems very genuine and remains well-grounded and humble. You can tell she stands by her family and holds herself to strict standards and high morals. I can also appreciate that Beyonce often tries to empower women, even in an industry where sex sells and dignity is often forgotten. She has managed to never appear cheap or tasteless no matter how revealing her ensemble… proving that you can be powerfully sexy without compromising who you are. She leads by example, both by staying out of scandals and by waiting to have a child until after getting married and aggressively pursuing her career. She has inspired myself and countless others to push harder in life and follow our dreams. In a world where talentless women often find fame just because of their looks or sex appeal, you cannot tell me Beyonce's credentials are not extremely impressive. I am not hearing it. So do I really need to keep going on and on? Because I really could….

I said all this to say one thing. Give credit where it is due. Beyonce specifically differentiates herself from other artists in many ways and sets the bars for other singers, celebrities, and women period. You may not like her, and you are entitled to your opinions, but I think that tearing down a beautiful woman who is making a difference in this world and sharing her incredible gift is just senseless. There is a reason she’s been so successful and has so many fans (and die-hard stans). She really is a special artist who has undeniably impacted the world and pop culture as we know it. And if I did not convince you with this unbelievably infatuated blog post, then clearly my persuasive writing skills are not as sharp as I have sworn they are since 7th grade. But it was definitely worth a shot.