She came onstage in a black leotard and a black hat with a huge brim. She and her backup dancers walked in sync. A digital screen the size of a house rotated onstage, playing almost-trippy video footage of the queen herself closing her eyes and facing the sky. It was raining and it was cold, but it felt ethereal. My heart pounded. She opened her mouth, and she began to sing. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter is an icon. That fact alone is irrefutable.
Not only is she a rare talent, she stands for #BLM (Black Lives Matter), 23 causes, 31 charities—American Foundation for AIDS Research and CHIME FOR CHANGE, to name a few. (Big thanks to Look to the Stars for the statistics.) The soulstress is inspirational, and if I didn’t know that already, seeing her live really opened my eyes even more. So yeah, if you can’t already tell, I really love Beyoncé.
This isn’t a review, but rather a reflection on the strength this woman possesses, because it is truly remarkable. I went to the Formation World Tour on September 29th at the Lincoln Financial Field, and damn, was it life-changing. Sort of.
Her wardrobe was magnificent, her hair was on fleek despite the fact that everyone else’s hair was frizzing from the spitting sky, and their dance moves were incredible. As a dancer myself, just watching them GET IT onstage made me feel alive. It was amazing.
Now, I know some people are tired of hearing about Queen B, because she’s always in the news, a pop culture queen. Rumors fly in Hollywood, and the public hears stories through a somewhat bastardized version of Whisper Down the Lane. I, myself, had had enough of Bey before I really listened to her music, and before I understood what she stood for. Beyoncé is all over the place, and I’ve been told by members of my own family, “I know how much you love her, but I just don’t like her.”
Well, everyone’s entitled to their own opinions, and it just so happens that their opinions are wrong.
…Okay, I’m totally kidding. But the point is, I judged her by her fame, and now I appreciate the way she handles it. When people compare you to God, you have to learn how to deal with it.
And, make sure they know it’s not true.
I know life as a multimillionaire is certainly not terrible, but all of the Greats™ have their own personal troubles. See: Presley, Elvis; Jackson, Michael; Brown, Chris; Mathers, Marshall (Eminem); Monteith, Cory; (I could go on, but it’ll get real sad, real quick). Even Kanye West, who recently asked fans for help because of his $50,000 debt. Life in the limelight isn’t easy, and that’s part of the reason why I find Beyoncé to be such an impressive model. In a way, she’s taken over the world— and she handles it well.
To me, and millions of her other fans, Beyoncé resembles something of a beacon: she sheds light on important issues, is a great role model for young women (and everybody else, who are we kidding?), and is an all around badass. What else could you want in an idol?
I lost myself in the flurry of this article, talking about all of my Beyoncé love, but the bottom line is this: Beyoncé is incredible. I went to her concert not knowing what to expect, but when I left, I loved her even more. Her skill, her voice, her stature, and her pride… She’s out of this world, but as humble about it as one can be, when you’re Mrs. Carter.
As she was closing the concert with her song “Halo,” she blew off confetti cannons and the purple confetti reached us all the way at the top of the mezzanine. I reached for pieces of it, and one landed on my shoulder, so I pocketed it. When I left the Formation World Tour, the rain slowed, and my friends picked me up with pizza and hot tea. I think about that night, after I taped the piece of confetti in my journal, and it makes me happy. The entire experience is something I’ll never forget, and she slayed my life. Beyoncé herself is a friendly reminder to stay woke, stay beautiful, and if you ever doubt yourself, don’t worry, Be Yoncé.
