CONCERT REVIEW: Beyoncé and Jay-Z Excite an Adoring CenturyLink Field Crowd
Entertainment’s largest power couple, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, were back on tour this year with On the Run II, and excited fans gathered at CenturyLink Field to be a part of the last stop of their run. The follow up to 2014’s OTR tour was nothing less than spectacular as the massive production lit up the beautiful night. The joint performance was full of hits from their successful solo careers as well as their shared collaborations in theme with their latest album Everything Is Love.
A huge projection screen spanning the width of the stadium was positioned directly behind the stage and when it was time for the show to start, an intro video played, portraying moments from the couple’s lives together. After a moment, the screens split down the middle and the Carters appeared on the fourth level of the structure coming down a lift holding hands tightly.
Queen Bee was wearing a sparkly one piece with a large hat to match and Jay-Z was wearing a white suit with a large medallion and bandana wrapped around his head. He followed that same style while changing many times, mostly his coat, to match his wife’s outfits. They opened with “Holy Grail,” and “Part II,” as Jay led the way before the first video interlude played.
The floor section had two long catwalks and the couple split off during “Bonnie & Clyde” to get closer to the devoted fans standing around them. After the interlude Beyoncé returned with the hit “Drunk in Love,” as noise filled the stadium in excitement.
It was a great mix of each other’s hits and the night flowed very seamlessly as the fans worded every song by the couple. The 40-plus song setlist brought hit after hit, while visuals, dancers, musicians, pyro, synchronized in perfect harmony to provide an unforgettable show. Jay-Z covered his classics, “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” “Big Pimpin’,” “Run This Town,” “99 Problems,” among others, while Bey entertained with “déjà vu,” “Sorry,” “Baby Boy,” and “Crazy in Love.”
The enormous screen provided the visual effects while also splitting down the middle and showing dance routines and countless musicians all wearing red. Past the midpoint of the show, while fans thought they had seen most of the effects, the middle of the stage elevated as they stood on it. Making it even more interesting. The elevated stage moved towards the back of the floor as the fans in the middle stood in awe.
We got a little reminder of Beyoncé’s last tour as she fearlessly stood on the raised platform with a number of dancers and perfectly executed “Formation,” and “Run the World.” They all moved in flawless coordination and reminded all of us why she is where she is today.
The couple ended the insane production with “Perfect Duet,” and “APESHIT,” as the adoring crowd cheered them on. They stood in the middle of the stage thanking everyone for being there and that this was a special show as it ends the long tour. They took a moment and thanked their hard working crew and gave each other a sweet kiss. A reminder that only a few artists can carry such a large show and it’s incredible to witness the ones that can do it.