Welcome to the Renaissance: Beyonce’s Boldest Era

As a card carrying member of the bee hive I’ve experienced the Alien superstar in concert a few times, and what remains true is that she puts her ALL into every performance; delivering a show that is not only worth your coins, but good for your soul. Every time the queen bee tours, the girls and guys gather their time, talent, and treasure to experience her live; and this go-around feels like her boldest era yet!

“UNIQUE…that’s what you are!” - Beyonce, Alien Superstar

Photo courtesy of The Los Angeles Times

To be a Beyonce fan is to be a fan of excellence. The veteran performer is widely considered the hardest working woman in show business, notorious for her relentless work ethic, and attention to detail. Though the proof is still in the pudding, she’s been shedding the shackles of perfection for a while now. Songs like Pretty Hurts capture her struggle with her pageant like persona, something she continued to unpack for years to come in her artistry, but in this era she has ARRIVED! The result is the Renaissance; a stunning visual, vocal, and visceral moment that can only be described as a religious experience…one that will leave you transformed.

“10/10/10s across that board” - Beyonce, Heated.

Welcome to the Renaissance!

This album landed like a meteor, releasing on a personal milestone birthday, it felt like a gift to me. Jolting me out of the wicked trauma hangover from COVID-19, and the Trump Era. With a sound that’s simultaneously vintage and futuristic, a track listings that flows like water, and lyrics that pump confidence into your veins, it raised the collective consciousness, ushering a wave of positivity through house-inspired sounds. The cultural impact of this album is undeniable, with everyone from first-time-fans, to A-List celebrities jumping through hoops to get the coveted tickets, to concert goers sourcing, and creating chromed-out, custom looks at the Queen’s request. She quite literally boosted the economy with Renaissance now holding the record for the highest grossing tour by a female act, EVER.

“Category, bad b*tch I’m the bar!” - Beyonce, Alien Superstar

“Me & my girlfriends, came out to play.” - Move

When Beyonce landed in Los Angeles, the city’s energy was on fire. The fits were fitting, the tits were sitting, the girls were OUTSIDE…and I was overwhelmed by it all. I had a disco ball dancing, singing, and screaming my face off, but I admittedly missed some of the show’s nuance in my turntness. I left feeling a little jaded, having seen her perform a few times live before, so when my brother called about getting last minute tickets to her now infamous birthday show, I was on the fence. My head reminded me of all the bills I just paid, but my heart reminded me that some opportunities don’t come twice! When else would Beyonce be performing in MY birthplace on HER birthday? The stars had aligned. We copped last-minute tickets, and committed to manifesting a better seat; and manifest we did lucking up into a friend’s suite with a good view of the stage (a view of the only additional monitor in the building!) With my intention set, I had a view that allowed me to take everything in, and what I saw blew my mind!

“I don’t know why you love me, and that’s why I love you.” Flaws and All.

Appearing in a skin tight Black lace gown, she started the show with a heartfelt speech full of gratitude for her family, friends, and fans. Yellow and Black balloons filled the stadium, reminding her of how much she means to so many. “Yall are going to make me cry, and I’m not gon be able to sing,” were her exact words. She went on to sing four of her classic ballads, opening with the oldie but goodie, Dangerously in Love and ending with River Deep as a tribute to Tina Turner; a move I didn’t appreciate on Saturday in my eagerness to turn up, but stanned for on Monday in my intention to appreciate. It just felt special.

“Happy Birthday, Bey-say-ye” - thumbnail photo courtesy of Beyonce.com

After blowing down the house with her ballads, she returned in a robotic suit that unveiled the epicness that was about to ensue. Welcome to the ren-Ren-RENAI-RENAISSANCE! Starting with the experimental track I’m That Girl clad in a crystalized body suit, and a floor length pink coat, she set the tone for the night to come. Her entire team was in formation, leaving it all on the floor, for the full duration of the two-and-half hour show, complete with dance breaks, outfit changes, and good ol fashioned “sangin.” The energy was on 10,000, it was BDAY!

Thumbnail photo courtesy of NBC news.

Despite being mind-blowing, it wasn’t a perfect show, the legendary Diana Ross surprised Bey, slated to sing Love Hangover, and Happy Birthday but her mic wasn’t working. Kendrick Lamar’s also made an appearance for the fan-favorite America Has a Problem, and his sound was off for half of his verse, but like the professional she is, and free spirit she’s become, she kept it moving, reminding audiences of her humanity. Sh*t happens even to Beyonce! If it was any consolation, we got the mute challenge right…twice, an extreme improvement from Saturday’s show.

“It’s not the diamonds, it’s not the pearls, im that girl.” - Beyonce, I’m THAt GIRL

Executing a production of this scale, must be grueling. The logistics, the travel, the outfit changes, the sacrifices, the STAMINA. A production like this is not even possible for an artist without years of training, experience, and drive. On her seventh solo tour, she sounds great, looks amazing, and performs at the same level if not better than some 15 years ago. This tour, (especially her birthday show,) is a celebration of all the passion she’s invested into her career over the years. She’s still here at forty f*cking two!

That’s a wrap on Inglewood!

What I took from the night is how important it is to find your purpose, and pursue it with your whole heart. We all can’t be Beyonce, and were not meant to be, but we can be the best version of ourselves. Life is hard, even for those who we think have it easy. It will take you up and down, like Bey belts on Church Girl, but all you can do is keep trying day-after-day, month-after-month, year-after-year, and one day you’ll have your own mountain to look down from.

“You ARE THE VISUALS, BABY” - BEYONCE

A star makes everyone feel like they can shine. I hope you keep spreading your light.

XoXo Dot Com

-UNIQUE!