Review: Beyoncé Brings Formation World Tour to Seattle
I attend a lot of shows each year (I mean a lot), but driving into downtown tonight and walking to CenturyLink Field for a mega concert was something I’ve never done before. Right away, you are stepping into a chaotic world surrounded by 65 thousand other people in a single venue. This can be done by very few artists each year and Beyoncé is one of the lucky few that has the privilege to do so.
Walking out to the floor, the first thing that I noticed was the huge monitor display shaped in a box that took most of the stage, lit up in white. This would serve as the main visual display for the show that split open a few times, showcasing dancers and visual props. The fans were so excited that when the smoke machines were tested they all stood up shouting, thinking it was time for her to start.
A little after, the lights turned off and it was time for the experience to begin, with the giant box displaying images of Bey herself in a stadium full of screams that were probably heard throughout downtown. She appeared wearing a giant black hat with dancers, starting the show with “Formation,” which followed with “Sorry” and “Kitty Kat” on the main stage, before she walked down the long catwalk for “Bow Down” after. She then went headed back to the stage to sing “Run the World” in perfect choreography, while flames shot into the sky from the back of the stage.
The theme of the live show focused heavily on images and art of Lemonade, which she released right before the tour started. Each intermission would show images of the release that allowed Beyoncé to run in the back and change her outfit for the next section. This one included “Baby Boy” and “Hold Up,” among others, with her stopping to chat right before “Me, Myself and I.” “Thank you for being by my side and letting me grow with you over the last 19 years. This next song is about the most important relationship you have, and that’s with yourself.” This section ended with her favorite song from Lemonade, “All Night,” as she noted because it’s all about redemption.
About an hour into her set, light rain started to fall down, but as it got a little stronger, it did not seem to bother Beyoncé and her dancers at all. They kept the show flowing at all times and had complete control of their movement and direction.It was really “Flawless” in this section as she played “Feeling Myself,” “Yonce,” and the timeless favorite “Drunk in Love,” ending it with “Partition.” More images from her celebrated record played on the screen as she went in the back to make a wardrobe change, another fashionable leotard.
The next section began with “Daddy Lessons,” followed by”1+1,” her favorite song to sing every night, which focused on her vocal range, ending with her on her knees while the whole stadium lit up from cell phone lights. She then moved on to “Love on Top,” which was another beautiful moment between her and the crowd, as she sang this one a cappella with the audience joining along. I liked this, because in that moment it actually felt that she destroyed all space between her and the 65 thousand people, making it feel that she was next to everyone. She covered “The Beautiful Ones” in memory of Prince and as she stepped in the back again, the screens lit up in purple and “Purple Rain” served as the break song.
The next part began with human-sized boxes coming forward on the main stage as “Crazy in Love” formed, while her and the crew danced in rhythm of the 2014 slow remix for the first part and exploding into a powerful dance routine for the faster second verse. This ended with samples of “Bootylicious” moving onto “Naughty Girl,” in the front part of the catwalk. This part ended with “Blow,” which had cool samples of “Nasty Girl”.
I counted 20 dancers at some point of her performance, which is no joke for a pop show, along with backup singers and mostly female musicians which she celebrated on the large screen through solos, toning her female empowerment belief. The final part of her show was the coolest of them all as the front of the catwalk was transformed into a water pool that became the best prop of the night.
The powerful “Freedom” started, and as the dancers splashed water all over in perfect timing, Bey stood firmly in the middle. The water show continued with another empowering song, “Survivor,” one of Destiny Child’s biggest hits. She played “End of Time,” and at the end, she sat alone on her knees for her final song. “I want you to think about someone you love, and want you to imagine their faces, and sing it to them, I’ll sing it for you.” “Halo” is the final moment we get with her as the emotional ballad is accompanied with fireworks and loud fan cheers.
It was my first time seeing the Queen and I can see what the fuss is all about. She is everything you want in a pop star and she is more. She makes you feel that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to, as she has done in her life through hard work and devotion. Her song list flowed seamlessly, and every intermission was perfectly timed with creativeness, which a lot lack. She projects strong emotions that are genuine and enough personal charisma to take over the world.
