Beyoncé Cowboy Carter at MetLife Stadium triumphant on Night 1: Review, setlist
Beyoncé Cowboy Carter at MetLife Stadium triumphant on Night 1: Review, setlist
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Mickey Guyton on country music after Beyonce's Cowboy Carter
Country music star Mickey Guyton appeared on the red carpet of the Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala and shared her thoughts on country music and Derby 151.
The nine-city tour will also play in Europe before the finale on Saturday, July 26, in Las Vegas.
The five shows at MetLife are record breaking — they're the most by an artist on a single tour at the venue.
Beyoncé lassoed hips, hearts and minds, too, at her MetLife Stadium Cowboy Carter show on May 22 in East Rutherford.
The show kicked off a record breaking five dates for Beyoncé at the venue, which included May 24 and 25. She also plays Wednesday, May 28, and Thursday, May 29.
The nearly three-hour spectacle on May 22 was a delight of a country music concert, Beyoncé style, that touched on contemporary themes and critiques with a smile and a twirl.
The central point is country music was founded in the hymns, spirituals, blues and field songs of Black America, and that fact this is not widely recognized — well, that's part of the American problem.
'They used to say I spoke too country,' sang Beyoncé in 'American Requiem,' from her hit album, 'Cowboy Carter.'
What is the remedy? An album and tour of country music that takes the genre to its roots and explores exciting possibilities.
From a delicate performance of the Beatles 'Blackbird,' dedicated 'to all the beautiful Blackbirds who came before me and opened the doors for me,' to a delightful corn-fed rendition of Dolly Parton's 'Jolene,' Beyoncé showed an impressive range and exquisite feeling in her vocals.
The multi-piece band made all the right notes and shadings, and the the backup singers delivered a rich context, especially on the new 'Flamenco.'
Mind you, Bey did not strap on her cowboy boots and cowboy hat to just stand there and sing. Beyoncé and her big dance troupe were in constant motion throughout the night, and that included daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi.
Yes, there many cowboy hats, in the audience and on stage, too. Beyonce wore several, which complemented her several rhinestone cowgirl looks throughout the night.
Bey favored sparkled bodysuits and chaps, with the hats and boots sometimes accented by the American flag.
When not dancing, Bey rode a horseshoe and late model sedan over the audience via wires — and, on stage, a mechanical bull, gold horse and truck with giant horns. She looked like a cool Kid Rock when she was on the truck, for a stutter rhythm version off 'Crazy In Love.'
Video vignettes framed the night, such as the concept of the 'reclamation of America.' Heady stuff, and perhaps unsettling to portions of the population. But they were delivered here with such charm and skill that this lesson in American cultural history will not soon be forgotten.
Here's the May 22 setlist:
Beyoncé setlist
American Requiem
Blackbird
The Star-Spangled Banner
Freedom
Ya Ya / Why Don't You Love Me
Oh Louisiana
America Has a Problem
Spaghetti
Formation
My House
Diva
Alligator Tears
Just for Fun
Protector
Flamenco
Desert Eagle
Riverdance
II Hands II Heaven II
Tyrant
Thique
Levii's Jeans
Sweet Honey Buckiin' / Pure Honey / Summer Renaissance
Texas Hold 'Em
Crazy in Love
Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
Love on Top
Irreplaceable
If I Were A Boy
Jolene
Daddy Lessons
Bodyguard
II Most Wanted
Cuff It
Heated
Before I Let Go
Daughter
Renaissance
I'm That Girl
Cozy
Alien Superstar
16 Carriages
Amen
'Cowboy Carter'
The "Cowboy Carter' album won Grammy Awards for Best Country Album and Album of the Year.
Beyoncé opened her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin Circuit Tour April 28 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and it played in Chicago before the East Rutherford shows. The May 22 show began a few minutes after 8 p.m. in a light drizzle.
"I want to say thank you for being here in all this rain and cold weather," said Beyoncé at MetLife. "I'm going try my best to keep you'll warm.
The East Rutherford concerts are record breaking — they're the most by an artist on a single tour at the venue.
The nine-city tour will also play in Europe before the finale on Saturday, July 26, in Las Vegas.
NJ Transit trains start departing Secaucus for the concerts at 4:53 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28, and Thursday, May 29. The last train will not leave MetLife Stadium before 1 a.m. Check out njtransit.com for more info.
Subscribe to app.com for the latest on the New Jersey music scene.
Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at cjordan@app.com
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