As soon as I heard the lead singles, Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages, I knew Cowboy Carter was going to be that Beyoncé album for me. It has been described as a reimagined exploration of Americana that draws attention to the black pioneers within the genre. Indeed, the album has had a huge social and cultural impact (consistent with Beyoncé’s central role in pop culture), with Stevie Wonder referring to it as a masterpiece that is “changing music and culture”. It has sparked a lot of debate and discussion surrounding the gatekeeping of the country genre. Michael Cragg from The Guardian argued that it’s an album that “takes country music by its plaid shirt collar, holds up its (mainly) male, pale and stale status to the light and sets it on fire” and made it more accessible to new audiences, with studies showing that more Gen Z audiences started listening to country music following Cowboy Carter’s release for example.
Since its release in March 2024, the album has been a hit with both audiences and critics. The album recently won Best Country Album (a historic win that made Beyoncé the first black artist to win this category) and Album of the Year (after being nominated in the category four times) at the Grammy Awards. The album also broke several records. After Cowboy Carter debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, Beyoncé became the first woman to debut her first eight albums at number one.
Grammy day was a big one for another reason: Beyoncé announced the Cowboy Carter Tour on her Instagram page that morning, posting a video of a neon sign with the words Cowboy Carter Tour flashing, followed by a striking promotional photo of her sporting platinum braids, bleached eyebrows, and bold red lipstick. So when tickets went on sale shortly thereafter, I signed up for all the presales I could to secure tickets to one of the dates at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The show was, in a word, flawless: her outfits (featuring designs by Mugler, Burberry, Moschino, Cavalli), her vocals, the choreography, the stage, the projections, the theatrics (flames and confetti, a flying car and a robot serving whiskey); it was a rodeo extravaganza where camp meets cuntry with everything from cowboy hats and rhinestone jumpsuits to floating horseshoes and gold mechanical bulls. Her children also made cameos in certain segments, with Blue Ivy owning the stage at the tender age of 13 much to the delight of the audience. Besides performing most of the songs from Cowboy Carter, she also gave fans hits from her early days to Sasha Fierce (my other favorite Beyoncé era) to the critically acclaimed Renaissance.
Some of my highlights were:
- The socio-political commentary in the interlude videos which tie together the narrative of the show
- Beyoncé riding the aforementioned mechanical bull while performing Tyrant
- The denim print projection across the stage during Levii’s Jeans
- Singing Texas Hold ‘Em with 80 000 people
- “The Attack of the 400 Foot Cowboy” interlude featuring a giant Beyoncé making her way through various parts of the United States
- Beyoncé performing Jolene while flying around the stadium on a giant horseshoe
- The custom LED dress by Anrealage, made in collaboration with MPLUSPLUS, that projected different patterns which spilled onto the LED stage
- The encore featuring Beyoncé performing 16 Carriages while in a car flying above the crowd
The complete setlist was as follows:
ACT 1: REQUIEM
AMERIICAN REQUIEM
Blackbird
The Star-Spangled Banner
Freedom
YA YA / Why Don't You Love Me
ACT 2: REVOLUTION
AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM
SPAGHETTII
Formation
MY HOUSE
Diva
ACT 3: REFUGE
ALLIIGATOR TEARS
JUST FOR FUN
PROTECTOR
FLAMENCO
ACT 4: MARFA
DESERT EAGLE
RIIVERDANCE
II HANDS II HEAVEN
TYRANT
THIQUE
LEVII'S JEANS
SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN' / PURE/HONEY / SUMMER RENAISSANCE
ACT 5: TEASE
TEXAS HOLD 'EM
Crazy in Love (Homecoming version)
Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
Love on Top
Irreplaceable
If I Were a Boy
DOLLY P
Jolene
Daddy Lessons
BODYGUARD
II MOST WANTED
CUFF IT
SMOKE HOUR
HEATED
Before I Let Go
ACT 6: RENAISSANCE
DAUGHTER
I'M THAT GIRL
COZY
ALIEN SUPERSTAR
ACT 7: RECLAMATION
16 CARRIAGES
AMEN
Comments
Post a Comment