Written and photographed by Reginald Allen for Musically Speaking South (except where noted)
There’s a moment toward the beginning of the show where Beyonce proudly sings “ They can never take the Country out me” sans music before flashing a cocky smirk to the audience. The song in question is from “ Formation”, where she proudly declares that she carries hot sauce in her bag and dispels rumors that she is part of the Illuminati.
The track comes from her critically acclaimed album “ Lemonade”, a record which recently turned ten-years-old. Suffice to say the message hasn’t changed. The chart-topping artist said it best. She’s been Country.
Despite the naysayers, it’s clear Beyonce isn’t backing down one bit. Though she hails from Texas, Atlanta welcomed her with open arms as she descended to the Peach state.
The Houston native brought her Cowboy Carter Tour to Atlanta for a four-night stint at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Beyhive was truly in attendance with over 76,000 fans adorned in their best western ware. Cavalcades of cowboys and cowgirls flooded the stadium with ten gallon hats, chaps and boots with the spurs. One thing is for certain. This isn’t a Country show, it’s a Beyonce show.
Even a western theme couldn’t dilute the energy that Beyonce is known to bring. Great vocals? Check. Amazing choreography? Check. The list goes on. However, fans had to work a little harder to secure a ticket for Queen Bey.
Unlike her previous tours, this one came with limited stops and less dates. Modeled after the rodeo and chitlin circuits, the 9-city trek previously hit Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., Paris, Dallas and now Atlanta. The show is slated to close out in Las Vegas at the end of the month.
The sold-out concert was also a star- studded gathering with celebrity sightings from everyone from R&B royalty Usher to media giant Tyler Perry.
Musically Speaking South was able to catch night 2 of the Georgia residency. Though it was her 7-11 show, we regretfully inform that the Houston native didn’t perform her eponymous 2014 hit.
However, she did grace fans with a near 90-minute set list culled from her almost three-decade career while heavily promoting tracks from Cowboy Carter. Kicking off the show with the emotional ballad “ Ameriican Requiem”, a spiritual sequel to ”Formation”, she once again proudly reclaimed her Southern heritage. This was followed by a chilling performance of the National Anthem and Kendrick Lamar-less “ Freedom.”
It didn’t take long for the show to pick up speed with a crowd interactive performance of “ Ya Ya”. It was an emotional rollercoaster hearing her going from dance heavy hits like “ Single Ladies” to the operatic “ Daughter”, but it was the perfect balance.
Between outfit changes patrons were treated to cinematic-quality visual interludes featuring saloon shoot outs, a 40-foot Beyonce and rare family footage from the Carter family vault.
It was indeed a family affair for the Carters. In addition to the Houston headliner, she was joined by her daughter Blue Ivy ,who captured everyone’s hearts during the Renaissance tour and her youngest, Rumi Carter ,who made a brief appearance during an emotional poignant performance of “ Protector.”
While husband Jay Z was in the house, he wouldn’t make his onstage debut until night 3 and 4, respectively.
Ivy Carter, who was subject to online scrutiny during the first leg of the Renaissance tour, was a highlight of the three-hour concert, assisting her mother with stellar choreography to hits like “ America’s got a Problem”, “ Sweet Honey Buckin’” , “Texas Hold Em”, and her parent’s classic hit “ Crazy in Love.”
There wasn’t a bad seat in the house. Throughout the concert, Beyoncé’s energy reached every crevice of Mercedes Benz.
BLAIR CALDWELL
“ Can I get closer to ya’ll?” she asked before gliding across the venue on a large horseshoe for songs “ Heated” and the Dolly Parton cover “Jolene.”
Before closing the show, the single ladies singer revisited her Renaissance era with back-to-back performances of “ I’m That Girl”, “ Cozy” and “ Alien Superstar”.
The show also marked the return of her performance of “16 carriages”, which she initially cut due to a potentially life-threatening malfunction in Dallas. After debuting Chardoneigh, a Golden mechanical steed, during her opening night performance, the equine automaton returned for a secondary cameo. “Sometimes when you’re scared all you have to do is get back up on that horse,” the recent Album of the year recipient said Thursday night.
As the tour takes its final bow in Las Vegas, fans at least have something to look forward to in the coming years. Cowboy Carter is only the second of three acts in Beyonce’s planned trilogy. We can only imagine what she has up her sleeve. I, personally, can’t wait to see it onstage.
BLAIR CALDWELL