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Refinery29
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
Through The Rain, Beyoncé Poured Light Into Black Girlhood At The Cowboy Carter Tour
Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter Tour has given us so many beautiful reminders to celebrate and honor Black girlhood. Even if you haven't or don't plan on going to a show, you've most likely seen Blue Ivy Carter serving as a dancer beside her mom or Rumi Carter adorably stealing the crowd's heart and, as the internet puts it, clocking into work. Knowing this, I was prepared for my own waterworks, but when I saw that the forecast for the May 28 show at MetLife Stadium, I was not ready for the impending, very real, relentless showers. I admittedly got irritated. I had been excited about this tour since it was announced in February and reading Editor Dontaira Terrell's piece about her experience at the show the first night had me even more hype. But as I put my cowboy hat over my poncho and trekked my boots through the parking lot puddles, I had to remind myself that seeing Beyoncé perform (my eighth time!) was the reward — even if it did rain during the entire concert. ' Though the Cowboy Carter World Tour is a reflection on Beyoncé's work, there are significant moments that pay homage to the youth, joy and tenderness of Black girlhood. taryn finley ' I couldn't have imagined the emotional baptism I was about to experience. From 'American Requiem' to 'Amen,' Bey sang with the passion, depth and vocal athleticism that can only be achieved with God's touch and more than three decades of hard work. The churchy call-and-response during 'Why Don't You Love Me,' the combined nod to the 'Bills, Bills, Bills' video and her haircare line Cecred, and the Renaissance medley were more than enough to prove she's one of one. And though the Cowboy Carter World Tour is a reflection on Beyoncé's work, there are significant moments that pay homage to the youth, joy and tenderness of Black girlhood. Most notably while singing 'Protector' with wet-n-wavy hair and singing to a crowd, a cold and drenched Bey professes her love for her girls surrounded by a pyramid of her dancers. Blue Ivy— who's all up and down this tour — hovers right above her, enveloping her mom and little sister in an embrace. 'I feel proud of who I am because you need me,' Beyoncé croons right before Rumi, 7, comes on stage, joyful, light and fearless. These are some of the purest qualities of childhood that the world tries to rob Black girls of from an early age. Seeing the most powerful performing artist in the world give us a visual representation of what it looks like to revere and protect that light was significant. And it felt even more potent as the rain continued. Even moments when Bey wasn't on stage felt femininity persevering. Violinist Ezinma shared on her Instagram that she had never played in the rain. Yet she killed it while self-proclaimed 'Trap Ballerina' Trinity Joy and movement artist Jahaira Myers gave a contemporary dance performance of a lifetime on a slippery stage. The crowd was mesmerized watching tap dancer Kaitlyn Sardin riverdance to 'Flamenco.' While '16 Carriages' mourns the childhood Bey sacrificed for her career, she uses Cowboy Carter to honor the child that's still inside of her, giving us glimpses of little Bey and paying homage to her country roots the way that she wants to. And she prompts us as an audience to do the same while lifting up the next generation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by _Beyoncé_My_Life__ • FanPage ✨️ (@_beyonce_my_life__) The messaging of this tour, and this Act II era Beyoncé is in, has been incredibly potent. But there was something uniquely beautiful about watching it all take place in the rain. In Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, she wrote, 'You wanna fly, you got to give up the s**t that weighs you down.' Watching Beyoncé dance in the rain with her daughters — along with my seven girlfriends — felt like the weight of the world was washed away and I could fly. Funny enough, the rain stopped at the very end, right before Bey sang 'Amen.' ' Watching Beyoncé dance in the rain with her daughters — along with my seven girlfriends — felt like the weight of the world was washed away and I could fly. ' Witnessing Bey, her girls, and the rest of the performers proffer a declaration to our liberation felt like a spiritual awakening. It felt like they were imploring us to be carefree and color outside of the lines. And it was a reminder that we don't have to work to earn the ease and joy it takes to dance in the rain.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Beyoncé Cowboy Carter at MetLife Stadium triumphant on Night 1: Review, setlist
Beyoncé Cowboy Carter at MetLife Stadium triumphant on Night 1: Review, setlist Show Caption Hide Caption 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 for more info. Subscribe to 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@
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beyoncé Cowboy Carter at MetLife Stadium: Review, setlist
Beyoncé lassoed hips, hearts and minds, too, at her MetLife Stadium Cowboy Carter show on Thursday, May 22, in East Rutherford. The nearly three-hour spectacle 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 opened the door 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. 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. Check out Thursday's setlist below for what Beyonce played at the MetLife opener: 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 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, which include Saturday, May 24; Sunday, May 25; Wednesday, May 28; and Friday, May 29. The five upcoming shows at MetLife 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. The NJ Transit engineer strike was settled this week, and it's service as normal at MetLife for the shows. The trains start departing Secaucus for the concerts at 4:29 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25, and 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 for more info. Subscribe to 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@ This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Beyoncé Cowboy Carter at MetLife Stadium: Review, setlist
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beyoncé setlist: All the songs on her Cowboy Carter tour
INGLEWOOD, CA — It's been a year since Beyoncé dropped arguably her most ambitious album yet, and now she's bringing 'Cowboy Carter' to life. With a few pops of pyro and a strut down a catwalk in a white-fringed getup, country couture Beyoncé kicked off her 32-date stadium tour April 28 at SoFi Stadium with 'American Requiem.' Beyoncé's five shows at the venue add to her record-breaking resume: She now holds the record for the most performances at the 70,000-capacity stadium, where she played three nights on her Renaissance World Tour in 2023. The opening night of Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter spectacle – the fifth all-stadium tour of her decorated career – drew heavily from her lauded album, with 19 of the 36 songs played during the 2 ¾-hour show coming from the career opus that won album of the year at this year's Grammys. Beyoncé changed the setlist for SoFi Stadium's second night May 1, moving some songs around and adding several including "If I Were A Boy," "Single Ladies" and "Love on Top." Along with her California performances, Beyoncé will play multiple shows in Chicago and East Rutherford, New Jersey before heading to Europe in June and returning to the U.S. for a pair of shows in her Houston hometown and Washington, D.C., four concerts in Atlanta and a final double shot in Las Vegas July 25-26. Here are all the songs Beyoncé performed at her Cowboy Carter concert: "Cowboy Carter" tour review: Beyoncé is fearless, flawless at LA kick off concert 'American Requiem' 'Blackbiird" 'The Star-Spangled Banner' 'Freedom' 'Ya Ya' 'America Has a Problem" 'Spaghettii" 'Formation' 'My House" 'Diva' 'Alliigator Tears" 'Just For Fun" 'Protector" 'Flamenco" 'Desert Eagle' 'Riiverdance" 'II Hands II Heaven' 'Sweet Honey Buckiin'' (on April 28); "Tyrant" (on May 1) 'Jolene' (on April 28); "Thique" (on May 1) 'Daddy Lessons' (on April 28); 'Levii's Jeans' (on May 1) 'Bodyguard' (on April 28); "'Sweet Honey Buckiin'" / "Pure/Honey" / "Summer Renaissance" (on May 1) 'II Most Wanted' (on April 28); 'Texas Hold 'Em' (on May 1) 'Cuff It' (on April 28); "Crazy in Love" (on May 1) 'Tyrant' (on April 28); "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (on May 1) 'Thique' (on April 28); "Love on Top" (on May 1) 'Levii's Jeans' (on April 28); "Irreplaceable" on (May 1) 'Daughter' (on April 28); "If I Were a Boy" (on May 1) 'I'm That Girl' (on April 28); "Jolene" (on May 1) 'Cozy' (on April 28); "Daddy Lessons" (on May 1) 'Alien Superstar' (on April 28); "Bodyguard" (on May 1) 'Texas Hold 'Em' (on April 28); 'II Most Wanted' (on May 1) 'Crazy in Love' (on April 28); 'Cuff It' (on May 1) 'Heated' 'Before I Let Go' '16 Carriages' (on April 28); "Daughter" (on May 1) 'Amen' (on April 28); 'I'm That Girl' (on May 1) "Cozy" (on May 1) 'Alien Superstar' (on May 1) '16 Carriages' (on May 1) 'Amen' (on May 1) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Beyoncé setlist at SoFi Stadium: All 39 songs at Cowboy Carter tour
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I attended Beyonce's Cowboy Carter tour and what I saw shocked me... now I want my $700 back
I'm the first to admit that I'm not the biggest Beyonce fan, but it's hard to deny her talent. She's rightfully cemented herself as one of the greatest performers of her generation and even her naysayers have at least one Beyonce song they like. When I saw that the star, 43, was struggling to sell tickets to her Cowboy Carter tour, I thought it would be the perfect time to finally see the Queen Bey live in concert. I mean, how bad could it be? Despite the controversy around her authenticity as a country music star, I'm actually a huge fan of her eclectic Cowboy Carter album. The production and vocal arrangements are breathtaking with a level of artistry rarely seen from Bey's pop peers. If any Beyonce concert was going to transform me into a card-carrying member of the Bey Hive, it would be this one. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a waste of money and the worst concert experience of my life. From the eye-watering cost to the distorted sound quality and being blindsided by the worst seating imaginable, everything seemed to go wrong at the show. Unlike the many people who snapped up tickets in the nosebleed section for the same price as a McDonald's meal, I went for the much pricier first elevation, just above the floor section. Sure, the tickets were over $350 each, but I wanted to be close to the action and had been advised that these would be better than floor seats because I'd get an amazing view of Bey's blockbuster stage production. While I was tempted to get something cheaper that was more in my budget, I was confident I'd found two of the best seats in the house and that it would be worth the splurge in the end. I couldn't believe that I'd spent $700 for me and my friend to see Bey live, but she is the most awarded artist in Grammy history and has been lauded as the greatest performer to ever grace the stage. I was ready for the concert of a lifetime. It was impossible to see Beyonce performing from behind the big black box and scaffolding that blocked my section An usher took me to my seat at SoFi Stadium as Bey kicked things off with American Requiem - and I was shocked by what I saw. Not only was there gigantic scaffolding in front of me blocking half the stage, right next to it was some kind of huge box-shaped structure with people on top that blocked another chunk of my view. Surely there was some mistake? I'd spent hours researching these seats, not only on Ticketmaster but also on various third party websites. I'd poured over photos from previous concerts to ensure the view was clear and had read customer reviews of my section. I did everything to ensure that I wasn't wasting my money. I frantically checked my tickets again to see if there had been some mention of an obstructed view that I'd missed - there wasn't. I felt completely bamboozled. How had I been sold these expensive seats and not told that I'd be staring at big black box and hulking scaffolding? I've been to plenty of concerts and they always warn you about obstructed views and the ticket price usually reflects that. To try and mitigate the issue, Bey's team had set up a television screen on the back of the black box. When I saw it, I realized that I'd just traveled an hour (don't even ask me how much the Uber cost!) and spent $700 for me and my friend to watch Beyonce on a TV that was smaller than the screens some people have in their home theatres. I also noticed that half the seats in my section were empty even though it had been sold out when I'd checked Ticketmaster a few hours earlier. Apparently people who had arrived early had complained and were moved. I tried to do the same and asked a staffer, but it was so loud we could barely communicate. She directed me downstairs towards the floor section, but then the floor staff wouldn't let us through. I tried to ask somebody upstairs again, but it was too loud for them to hear my pleas for help. Oh yeah, and the stadium speakers were pointed directly at our section, making each one of Beyonce's hits deafeningly loud and distorted. I'm not trying to sound like the quintessential Karen that complains that the concert is too noisy, but the audio from my seat was so blown out that Bey sounded like she was wailing into a toddler's plastic karaoke machine at full blast. People who had arrived early had been able to get staffers to move them, but myself and the others left in the section weren't so lucky And did I mention the freezing air conditioner nearby, blasting an ice cold gale designed to cool a stadium of 70,000 people but somehow only landing on my section? I would've been warmer watching the show in an igloo. I'm sure the sound quality would be better too. Eventually I gave up and just tried to enjoy the rest of the show with the other poor souls stuck in the dreaded corral with me. I'd already missed Bey riding a mechanical bull on stage so I didn't want to spend more time shouting over the music at confused staff members. I've seen almost every pop star from Beyonce's generation in concert - Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Britney, JLo, Justin, Miley, Pink, Christina - and this was by far the worst concert experience I've ever had. I felt like Helen Keller, unable to see or hear a thing. If I'd just stayed home, I could've watched the concert on YouTube from the comfort of my bed and saved $700. When I wasn't staring at the tower of twisted metal blocking my view, I looked out at the concertgoers in the other areas. They all seemed to be having the time of their lives. Fans, dressed in their best western-themed attire, danced up a storm to Texas Hold 'Em and sang along to every word of Irreplaceable. Although I could barely see the show and was busy trying to fight off hyperthermia and tinnitus, the bits and pieces that I caught were impressive. Beyonce is a master on stage and effortlessly powered through song after song with pitch perfect vocals and flawless choreography. It's easy to see why she's considered one of the best divas to ever do it. The fact that she was so good made it even more disappointing that my night had been ruined by SoFi Stadium's shady seating. I tried to get a refund from Ticketmaster after the show, but was told that there was nothing they could do and that their fineprint states that they're not responsible for the venue screwing up my view. Ticketmaster were at least nice enough to refund the $114 'service fee' that had been tacked onto my tickets, but that doesn't exactly make up for the cost of the tickets, transport, and wasted time. I'm not the only person who complained about the Cowboy Carter tour either. Viral clips on TikTok from the night of my show reveal multiple technical difficulties, from screens malfunctioning to a crew member missing a vital cue on stage. Another fan complained that she'd forked out full price for floor seats, only to have the price slashed considerably before the show due to sluggish sales. When I got home after midnight, I listened back to a few clips that I'd recorded on my phone. Despite the audio being abysmal at the show, my phone played Beyonce's crystal clear voice back perfectly, as if the concert had been designed for an iPhone instead of the human ear. I'm sure this is how she probably sounded to those further back who weren't being assaulted by the speakers like I was. I guess to see or hear anything at the Cowboy Carter tour you had to be in the nosebleed section. If you plan on going, do yourself a favor and get the cheap seats. Trust me.
