The #BeyHive swarmed greater DC this past weekend and this #GirlDad joined the festivities with his two daughters to see what the buzz was all about.
You see it is a #SmartGirlsSummer in my household. My two daughters have reveled in every opportunity to partake in numerous cultural and travel experiences this summer while emptying my wallet. How awesome is the emptying my wallet part right? I didn't realize a Beyonce Level Event required a whole makeover of my personal finances to include incidentals for hair, makeup, and new outfits. Beyonce is the cultural event of the year so we had to take care of those important things first according to my girls. Gotta keep our priorities straight since you never know if the Queen will ask the girls or dad to be in the next video shoot. I'm game but I'm bringing my Costco Chic best to the shoot. Look, these kids are expensive but the travel and cultural experiences have been tremendous and Beyonce's showing was no exception.
I'm glad I joined them for Beyonce's two-hour ear carnival but I wasn't sure what to expect especially since I'm not too familiar with Beyonce's "Renaissance" album which is her seventh studio production. I only knew I had to strap in for a concert that was part pop, Dancehall, Afrobeats, and classic rhythm and blues. I will add for the record that I was not prepared for how poorly stadium operations were at FedEx Field. There were some snafus courtesy of #SeatGeek, #LiveNation FedEx Field, and the Washington #Commanders (these snafus would never happen at Cowboys stadium and I say that as a proud Cowboys fan!). We arrived to find obstructed views of the concert stage and while the staff in Guest Relations were angels, the floor team at the stadium were anything but that. The experience with the FedEx Field floor team was embarrassing, demoralizing, and deeply troubling. The issue got resolved after almost two hours. I soldiered past the madness at the house built by Danny Snyder but by then, Beyonce had already performed about six songs.
What part of the show I heard was very good. Beyonce, perhaps more than any artist today, brings a hearty artistic and thematic canvass to her show. "Renaissance" powers forward with great energy, affirmations about romance, empowerment, self-determination, and resistance.
Sprinkled throughout Beyonce's performance were several tributes to her musical heroines and heroes. Her short rendition of "River Deep-Mountain High" was an impressive nod to the late Tina Turner. I was also impressed by her band's outtro on "Break My Soul" with its well-mixed nod to The Jackson's "Shake Your Body Down to the Ground." Her reboot of back-yard cookout standards like "Before I Let Go," by Frankie Beverly and Maze, is fresh and flirty and a worthy tonic for any family gathering:
In between the tributes, Beyonce sashayed through various hits from her other albums including "Homecoming," "4," "Dangerously in Love," and "Lemonade." The crowd exploded with energy when she performed "Love On Top." My two girls warbled along capably enough and I very much enjoyed THEIR show! I can live a thousand years for joy and smiles like this:
The tributes and songs from albums past were appreciated as a confessed "Renaissance" neophyte. Beyonce's renditions helped tether me to something that was more musically familiar while also prepping my musical palate for the Dancehall-driven tracks on "Renaissance."
"Renaissance" is adventurous and I would imagine represent maybe a slight risk for any artist but "Yonce" rocked it. Her performance of the spirit-affirming "Break My Soul," a certified jam with an addictive bass line and drum track, also lit up the crowd. My girls lost it because Beyonce stopped by our section for a brief visit accompanied by the world-famous Les Twins dancers (SEE VIDEO). We were at the midpoint of the stage about eight rows away from Beyonce at this point.
"CUFF It" and "Plastic Off the Sofa" were two additional numbers from "Renaissance" that I found enjoyable. The latter was a surprisingly supple ditty that paired quite nicely with some of the other more up-tempo numbers. "America Has A Problem" wins the award for the most visually stunning set piece perhaps ever at a concert. Beyonce "emerged from the hive" in her bumblebee-inspired costume against the backdrop of a CNN-like chyron. Les Twins then performed during the number with Cirque de Soleil energy for about five minutes on 20' poles. That was cool!
What's notable about Beyonce's performance throughout the two-hour show is her consistency. Technically, there were no obvious flaws during the August 5, 2023 show that was also attended by Vice President Kamala Harris, Jay-Z, and Maryland's First Lady Dawn Moore. I don't believe I heard one bad note from Beyonce all night. The emotional highlight of the night was an appearance by her oldest daughter Blue Ivy who as a guest dancer, appears to be adapting well to the family business. A trumpet player about seven months pregnant was a fan favorite too. The background singers, dancers, and band were also amazing. I would also add a thumbs up to the sound engineers - the bass from the music rumbled very deeply throughout the stadium and you felt it in your bones. Crazy!
I would likely see the show again but not at FedEx Field. I would also add that I think the best fan experience might be had in the lower bowl of any stadium (100 sections in most stadiums) and the floor of course which is a more costly experience for most devoted fans.
My girls gave the show a 10/10 even though the experience was marred by events beyond Beyonce's control. I'll concur for now but certainly wish I was able to capture the opening sequence of songs for a fuller experience. It was great overall to hang with my daughters and a great experience with Beyonce.
Beyonce's Renaissance Tour is expected to generate a jaw-dropping $2 billion by the time it concludes in October. After Washington, DC, Beyonce heads to Charlotte, NC, and to Atlanta, GA for a three-day stay.
Beyoncé Recap: Joy, Chaos, and Frustration During DC Renaissance Stop
https://www.washingtonian.com/2023/08/07/beyonce-recap-joy-chaos-and-frustration-during-dc-renaissance-stop/