As the lights dimmed, anticipation filled the arena; the night that everyone had been waiting for had finally arrived. The one and only Beyoncé Knowles would be working the very stage that was less than 20 feet away from my friends and I.
The backdrop on the stage lit up. It was a video of her from the ‘I Been On’ music set, in which her outfit mimics a Queen with the symbolic jewelled crown, to make reference to what many fans refer to her as ‘Queen B.’ The Mrs Carter Show had well and truly begun.
Screams echoed throughout the MEN Arena in Manchester, there she was on stage in a gorgeous white and gold playsuit, singing the track ‘Run the World.’ Dancers joined her, the crowd joined her, all in sync with the popular dance moves that we know and love. This then continued into another well-known title, ‘End of Time.’ Thousands of fans continuing to sing their hearts out, my friends and I dancing like no tomorrow, this show was proving to be better than I ever imagined.
Beyoncé slowed down the pace, with the number one single from 2008, ‘If I Were a Boy,’ which was teamed with a leather ensemble, including knee-high leather boots as well as a leather hat that was a glamorous finishing touch. A single white spot light hit the stage with Beyoncé in the centre. It did not require anything else. The song was effortless and was pitch perfect throughout, with the lights rising; Beyoncé sat on a glowing box to complete the song.
She then fired things up further, mashing together her earlier hits including ‘Baby Boy, Diva, Naughty Girl.’ Each song got the crowd pumped up even more, with everyone still singing along with their favourite pop star.
She then hit the stage after a costume change with a fabulous, flowing, bright red gown, along with the dancers who had matching dresses to Beyoncé but sported different colours. This went with the feisty song ‘Freakum dress.’ Beyoncé gave her all, with her impressive dance moves and the attitude to match, encouraging the crowd to dance to the beat and sing along. The song ended with a blackout.
The back drop then burst with colour and began to play a video to the tune, ‘Why Don’t You Love Me?’ It featured Beyoncé in the 1950’s style clip attempting to fix a smoking airplane propeller, which gives homage to the music video that went with this popular song, as she plays the role of a housewife.
The lights became brighter and the back drop to the stage began to show a short film which was named ‘Chime for Change’ which is a Global Campaign which focuses on girls’ and women’s empowerment. It was founded by GUCCI and Beyoncé is a supporter of this charity, which serves to raise funds for non-profit organisations pursuing change. This deep but inspiring footage grasped everyone’s attention and the feeling of empowerment was infectious.
Beyoncé then elevated from under the stage whilst sat on a piano in a dazzling purple body con that complemented her luscious curves. She sang the divine ‘1+1’ which is a love song that gave me shivers listening to her beautiful tone.
If you thought it couldn’t get any better, Beyoncé then floated across the crowd onto another stage which had seats in the middle of it, filled with adoring fans eagerly waiting to be up close to her. I was inches away from her too, as she sang “to the left, to the left,” waving her microphone in the air so that the crowd could repeat the words back to her and continued to sing the hit ‘Irreplaceable.’
‘Love on Top’ was the next song on the agenda and again another fabulous dance routine covered the whole of the circular stage. As the crowd was enjoying all their favourite Beyoncé songs, she sang an old Destiny’s Child favourite (she was a member of this trio group for over ten years) ‘Survivor.’ Everybody put their fists in the air and sang their hearts out to the much loved song.
The rest of the set finished back on the main stage followed by another video back drop that played footage of bohemian, reggae images and colours to link with the hit ‘Countdown.’ This then remixed out into the very successful song, not only in the UK but most of the world, ‘Single Ladies.’ The famous dance move with the moving of your hand to represent ‘putting a ring on it’ was simultaneously carried out by the whole of the room.
Beyoncé ended the show with the successful hit ‘Halo,’ with everyone in unison singing away to another favourite song. She showed off her amazing vocal skills and proved that she is a true pop star with real talent, as presented in her concert.
‘The Mrs Carter Show’ which the concert was titled, proved to be everything and more than I expected. Every little detail had been thought about down to the lighting and the positioning of dancers. If you haven’t been to watch Beyoncé, then I highly recommend that you do as it was one of the best live concerts I have watched.
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