Beyoncé brings rodeo to London
The show gained momentum with every song. There was a flurry of costume changes: from white-fringed cowboy trousers to LED colour-changing dresses to bejewelled leotards. The singer's lauded vocals were so strong they overpowered the microphone as she sang 'The Star-Spangled Banner', the US national anthem, leading into the R&B-gospel mix 'Freedom'. But the crowd were inevitably most animated during her old hits: 'If I Were a Boy' and 'Crazy in Love', released in 2003. Not even intermittent rain could dampen the spirits of performer or audience.
The staging was elaborate: at one point, Beyoncé sang from atop a gold mechanical bull. Later, she was suspended over the crowd in a huge horseshoe, followed by a red cabriolet as she performed the country ballad '16 Carriages'. Both of Beyoncé's daughters were present. Eight-year-old Rumi sat with her mother during 'Protector' – an ode to motherhood – and Blue Ivy, 13, performed as a back-up dancer.
The night finished with a bang: during the expansive prayer for America, 'Amen', columns of fire spread a welcome wave of heat over the audience – many of whom were wearing fringed shorts or cropped denim shirts covered with plastic raincoats. 'I'm not like other singers,' Beyoncé sang, with a wink.
Beyoncé: Cowboy Carter Tour
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London N17
[See also: Bruce Springsteen faces the end of America]
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Daily Record
a day ago
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Father's sinister explanation as he boiled himself to death in huge pot
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Daily Mirror
a day ago
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Man boiled himself alive in huge pot as people watched in horror
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New Statesman
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Photo by Larry Ellis/Express/We adored Terence Stamp, the best looking of all the East End boys, the new celebrities of the Sixties. He was so glamorous and he was in love with Jean Shrimpton, the pony club girl who'd become a top fashion model. We whispered, 'He's the most beautiful man in the world.' At a party I asked my host, 'Who is the man over there who looks just like Terence Stamp?' 'He is Terence Stamp. I'll introduce you.' Terence was polite and disinterested talking to me till I said, 'What's your day? What d'you do after you wake up in the morning?' His amazing blue eyes looked deep into my far less amazing blue eyes. 'I get up at five. Do my Yoga exercises. Tie my feet together and stand on my head. That sort of stuff you know. Then I have a bath in my Japanese bath.' I said, 'But you said you live on the top floor of The Albany in Piccadilly and I know there's no lift, and a Japanese wooden bath has to have water in it so how did you get it all the way up the steep stone stairs?' 'Yes. I had to have it. It was flown back from Japan full of water. I was filthy rich then. It cost me five thousand quid.' He laughed so happily at this crazy act of indulgence. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe I asked him, 'D'you ever write stories?' He looked sad and said, 'I wrote a novel, a trilogy, based on a game of chess. When Jean Shrimpton left me I threw it on the fire.' 'Any copies?' I asked. 'Nah, I didn't make a copy.' 'Well you can tell a good story and I'm a literary agent and I love stories so if ever you want to write some more come and find me.' I gave him my little cream coloured card with an owl above my name. 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He'd suddenly call and say, 'I'll meet you up at Louis at 4pm.' Louis is the famous old Patisserie in Hampstead. As if I had nothing else to do in my life. I nearly always went. He'd grumble about some film producer who wasn't paying him enough. I think the East End boy in him was always suspicious he'd get short-changed. One time I was in pain andhe told me to shut my eyes and to think: what shape is the pain? Is it round or square or oblong or what? Then to imagine the shape smaller and my pain would get less. He was a mind over matter kind of a man. And seriously spiritual after he'd lived in India. The last time I saw Terence he called and said, 'Have you still got the dog called Sam?' I said 'Yes.' 'I'm coming round with my wife. She likes dogs.' He drove a Rolls Royce. Came into the kitchen with his – far younger than him now he was in his sixties – bride. She played with the dog. 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