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Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Beyonce, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, review: Nobody in pop can touch her
The British weather may have rained on Beyonce's parade but the self-styled Queen Bee reigned supreme. As a wet drizzle briefly swept through Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the middle of her set, the US superstar only seemed to become even more empowered, smiling brighter, singing sweeter, then mounting a giant gold mechanical bull and executing a sassy, seductive dance routine in a slinky skin-tight costume as if there was nothing she liked better than a cold shower at the rodeo. Well, I guess she knew she had a veritable war zone's worth of pyrotechnic explosions to warm her up later. We hear a lot about soft power these days, but in terms of cultural heft and sheer firepower, American superstar Beyonce hit Britain soft and hard. It was a show of spectacle and seduction, of bone-rattling volume and heart beating musicality, of surprisingly hard-hitting politics and uplifting emotion. It was American to the core, with no quarter give for local concerns, draped in a visually dazzling array of classic American iconography, from a huge LED stars and stripes to the star posing as a blindfolded statue of Liberty, but certainly not a vision of American greatness that the current US regime would care for. Beyonce gave us a version of the Star Spangled Banner set to Jimi Hendrix's coruscating Woodstock deconstruction of the US national anthem, and punched out a hard-hitting demolition of endemic racism whilst dressed in a newsprint outfit decorated with the slogan America Has A Problem. Bruce Springsteen recently stirred President Trump's ire with a British tour full of fiery speeches and passionate polemical rock but Beyonce arguably made just as compelling a statement about America's fading dreams whilst dancing around a stage in cowboy chaps and a slinky leotard. The UK audience did not seem to object to this US focus at all, having arrived dressed in enough cowboy hats and boots to stage a re-enactment of How The West Was Won. Beyonce landed in London for the opening of a six-night stadium residency, which will see her perform to about a quarter of a million people. It may not be quite a match for Taylor Swift, who entertained over a million fans (1.38 million) in the UK last year, but in terms of scale, chutzpah, choreography and sheer bravura vocal pyrotechnics, Beyonce absolutely bossed it. It is a bombastic spectacular attack on so many levels, but at base level she knows she can out-sing almost anyone on Earth, delivering a stripped back version of her song Daughter that would have had them tossing bouquets at the Royal Opera House. There may be bigger-selling pop stars but it's hard to argue that there's any more talented and charismatic right now. Her latest tour is based closely around her latest album, which is a bold move for a stadium show. Beyonce squeezed in snippets of all her monster hits but played 17 songs from last year's warped country masterpiece, Cowboy Carter. And her audience knew every lyric and sang along like it was their perfect set. 'I love being closer to you all,' she beamed, whilst flying around the stadium on a glowing horseshoe. Spoken like a true Queen.
The Hill
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
5 takeaways from Trump's day in Saudi Arabia
President Trump made his first stop on his Middle East swing in Saudi Arabia Tuesday, where he received a warm welcome from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and top U.S. and Saudi business leaders. Trump secured hundreds of billions in investments from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and took steps to reframe relations with the Middle East, including taking a softer tone – while still offering a stern tone – in Iran following the regime change. Here are five takeaways from the president's day in Saudi Arabia. Trump walked off of Air Force One to a lavender carpet rolled out at King Khalid International Airport and entered the royal terminal with the crown prince. While Air Force One was approaching Saudi Arabia, about a half hour from landing, Saudi F-15 fighter jets appeared on both sides of Air Force One and escorted the plane at close proximity to landing, according to reporters traveling with the president. The crown prince later greeted Trump again when he arrived at the Royal Court, where another lavender carpet was rolled out. Trump's motorcade was escorted by riders on Arabian horses and horns were playing as he got out of his car. The Star Spangled Banner played and then the Saudi anthem played before Trump and the crown prince went inside for the coffee ceremony with the hundreds of other attendees. When Trump arrived at the state dinner at Diriyah At-Turaif, a world heritage site, a row of men with Arabian horses lined the road and others held alternating U.S. and Saudi flags. Trump and the crown prince looked over the site, which was illuminated with golden yellow light and Trump admired a model of Diriyah while inside. 'Amazing job,' Trump said. Musk was at the Royal Court for a coffee ceremony, followed by a lunch as well as the state dinner at Diriyah alongside top Trump officials. Trump introduced Musk to the crown prince, patting his ally on the back while the three men chatted for a few minutes. It's unclear if Musk will join Trump on other stops on his trip, when the president travels to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates starting Wednesday. Musk has been at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and has been a constant presence by Trump's side in the early months of his second term, joining him on Air Force One and in Cabinet meetings. His special government status is set to end May 30, and he has faced pressure from Tesla board members to return to the helm of his company. More than 30 major business and technology leaders also joined the lunch, underscoring the focus on investment and financial deals during the trip. Other top business leaders at the Royal Court included FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. The gathering was a sign of both Trump's focus on securing business deals and investments in the U.S., and of Saudi Arabia's vast wealth and influence. Trump used a major foreign policy speech in Riyadh to offer an 'olive branch' to Iran, a longtime U.S. adversary, amid discussions about Tehran's nuclear program. 'I want to make a deal with Iran. If I can make a deal with Iran I'll be very happy,' Trump said at a U.S.-Saudi investment forum. 'We're going to make your region and the world a safer place. But if Iran's leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive, maximum pressure.' Officials from Iran and the U.S. have been engaged in talks in recent weeks around Tehran's nuclear program. Trump during his first term withdrew the U.S. from the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, which had offered sanctions relief in exchange for limits on its nuclear program. Trump used his remarks on Tuesday to offer an optimistic outlook about the future of the Middle East. He announced that he would be open to easing sanctions on Syria at the urging of allies, saying, 'we want to give them a fresh start' following the fall of the Assad regime and years of civil war. Trump also agreed to say hello to the new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa while in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, according to a White House official, signaling an openness to the new government. Trump secured a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the U.S., which the crown prince first announced days after the inauguration. The deal struck on Tuesday includes a $142 billion defense and security deal that equips Saudi Arabia with state of the art war equipment provided by dozens of U.S. firms. 'Are we doing a good job so far for America? They're only putting in a trillion dollars,' Trump said to reporters on the trip. As part of the deal, Saudi Arabian DataVolt is moving forward with plans to invest $20 billion in AI data centers and energy infrastructure in the U.S. and top companies like Google, Oracle, Salesforce and Uber, among others are investing $80 billion in technologies in both countries. Also included in the deal are infrastructure projects American companies Hill International, Jacobs, Parsons, and AECOM are taking on in Saudi Arabia, including at King Salman International Airport to total $2 billion in U.S. service exports. And, other exports will include GE Vernova's gas turbines and energy solutions, worth $14.2 billion, and Boeing 737-8 passenger aircraft for AviLease, worth $4.8 billion, according to the White House. Additionally, health care company Shamekh IV Solutions, LLC will invest $5.8 billion, including through a plant in Michigan to launch a high-capacity IV fluid facility. Other sector-specific funds will be created through the investment partnership, including a $5 billion energy investment fund, $5 billion New Era Aerospace and Defense Technology Fund and $4 billion Enfield Sports Global Sports Fund. Trump kicked off his speech at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum on Tuesday by praising the crown prince and the country of Saudi Arabia for their hospitality and friendship. 'He's an incredible man, known him a long time now. There's nobody like him,' Trump said of the crown prince. 'If I didn't like him, I'd get out of here so fast. You know that, don't you? He knows me well. I do, I like him a lot. I like him too much, that's why we give so much, you know? Too much, I like you too much. Great guy,' Trump added, while the crown prince smiled and clapped in response to much of his remarks. He also committed to keeping the U.S. partnership with Saudi Arabia strong, telling the crowd to applause, 'we don't go in and out like other people.' Ahead of their bilat at the Royal Court, the president called the crown prince a friend and said they have developed a good relationship, joking that $600 billion investment could be a trillion. 'I really believe we like each other a lot,' Trump said. Trump's first call to a foreign leader after his swearing-in was to the crown prince, who also has a personal relationship with Trump's son-in-law and former senior adviser, Jared Kushner. But the crown prince has faced major controversy for his human rights record. U.S. lawmakers have been particularly outspoken about the case of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident and a columnist for The Washington Post who was killed inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. Trump during his first term largely defended the crown prince amid scrutiny over Khashoggi's death. The CIA has assessed that the crown prince ordered the killing of Khashoggi.
The Hill
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Crown prince greets Trump for elaborate Saudi welcoming ceremonies
President Trump was treated to an elaborate royal welcoming to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia early Tuesday where he was greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and hundreds if not thousands of military, government and business officials. Trump walked off of Air Force One and onto a lavender carpet rolled out at King Khalid International Airport and entered the royal terminal with the crown prince, who also greeted Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. While Air Force One was approaching Saudi Arabia, about a half hour from landing, Saudi F-15 fighter jets appeared on both sides of the president's plane and escorted it at close proximity, according to a reporter traveling on the plane with the president. The crown prince greeted Trump again when he arrived at the Royal Court, where another lavender carpet was rolled out. Trump's motorcade was escorted by riders on Arabian horses and horns were playing as he got out of his car. The Star Spangled Banner played as did the Saudi national anthem before Trump and the crown prince went inside the palace for the coffee ceremony along with hundreds of attendees. They include FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Boeing CEO Arvind Krishna, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. A delegation of U.S. and Saudi journalists are also in attendance. The president greeted all the Saudi Arabian guests and other attendees spotted at the coffee including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Chief of staff Susie Wiles has also joined Trump on the trip. Later in the day, Trump is expected to attend a Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center and attend a state dinner at Diriyah At-Turaif, a world heritage site. Saudi Arabia is the first stop on Trump's Middle East trip. Later this week he will travel to the United Arab Emiterate and Qatar, which both border Saudi Arabia.
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Beyoncé opens 'Cowboy Carter' tour with songs about America, including the national anthem
Beyoncé opens 'Cowboy Carter' tour with songs about America, including the national anthem LOS ANGELES — Beyoncé made a grand entrance during the debut of her "Cowboy Carter" tour, opening the show with "Ameriican Requiem" before serenading the crowd with her Beatles cover "Blackbiird" and the Star Spangled Banner. Then she kicked the energy up a notch with her anthem "Freedom" and "Ya Ya." The 35-time Grammy winning singer wore an all-white getup paired with a cowboy hat and chaps as she entered the stage. Before she walked onstage, singers dressed in all red sang to the lively crowd. "Oh Beyhive, it feels so good to be on this stage," she said at the end of her first song. "I want to thank all of those who came before me that allowed me to be on this stage today. I want to thank you to my fans for allowing me to make this album. Thank you giving me the creative liberty to challenge myself." Live updates: Beyoncé kicks off her 'Cowboy Carter' tour Beyoncé tour set list: Every song played in first 'Cowboy Carter' concert Find Beyoncé concert tickets The night marked Beyoncé's first of 32 stadium shows on her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour. The nine-city tour will span the U.S. and Europe with the grand finale taking place in Las Vegas on July 26. She's set to make history with her scheduled tour dates, including playing SoFi Stadium more times than any other artist. Beyoncé first announced the tour the night before the 2025 Grammy Awards, where she took home the award for best country album and the night's top prize album of the year for "Cowboy Carter." Of course, she first released the 27-track project in March 2024. It has since made history and broken multiple records. As Beyoncé's first country album, she deliberately featured country legends and emerging Black country artists alike. Beyoncé last toured in 2023 for her record-breaking Renaissance World Tour. It began May 10 in Stockholm, Sweden, and concluded Oct. 1 in Kansas City, Missouri, with Beyoncé performing a total of 56 shows. The tour followed the release of her seventh studio album, "Renaissance." The 2022 project earned her four Grammys including best dance/electronic music album, making her the most decorated artist in the awards' history. She later announced the album was the first part of a three-act project, making "Cowboy Carter" the second.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republicans invoke cloture, passing bills in both Alabama chambers
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Both chambers invoked clotures yesterday. It's a way for lawmakers to limit how long a debate can go, and it requires a vote of 3/5. Some Democrats say regardless of how those rules are used, they're going to make their voices heard. Senate Democrats didn't have an opportunity to speak after Republicans invoked a cloture, and used up all the debate time on their own bills. One of those would require schools to play the Star Spangled Banner once a week. But, Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) said there are more important issues to address. 'Put jobs in our communities, like the black belt,' said Sen. Singleton. 'Building better schools in our community… but we're talking about putting the National Anthem… something that nobody paid attention to. We all know we are Americans.' Sen. Robert Stewart (D-Selma) said he will always advocate for his community, inside and outside the chamber. 'That cloture process, while it limited debate, it will not silence our voices,' said Stewart. 'It will not silence the constituents in which we represent.' As Alireza Doroudi faces deportation, his soon-to-be-wife clings to their life together, with or without the 'American Dream' In the lower House, lawmakers invoked cloture on a bill renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America.'' Parties went back and forth for hours about tourism on the coast. Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover) said debate was great on the floor. 'There were a lot of controversial bills. But, the good news was, there was a lot of respectful debate,' she said. 'And I love that. You know everybody needs an opportunity for their voice to be heard.' Voices were also heard on a bill that would require the Ten Commandments to be posted in schools. DuBose said the rest of the session would be business as usual. 'I don't see any problem going forward. You know, I think it's going to be well planned and strategic the way the bills are placed on the calendar. And, I anticipate our legislation moving through as it should.' There are seven days left in the legislative session for lawmakers to pass bills. Before gaveling out, they must pass the education and general fund budgets. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
