These 8 Reviews of Beyoncé's Formation Tour Will Give You Major FOMO
Beyoncé's hotly anticipated Formation World Tour kicked off with a bang in Miami, Florida on Wednesday night. It had everything: gorgeous costumes, epic dance numbers, Beyoncé literally walking on water, guest stars, a Prince tribute, and a shout out to her "beautiful husband" Jay Z. Here's a handful of the first reviews so far:
1. "She sings it alone on stage in her bare feet,hair wet from a previous number, and seems to know, as the crowd does too, that neither she nor the moment can be improved on. We don't even need one final blast of white fireworks from the front of the stage but here they are, soaring off, as she tells us she loves us. Four women around me wipe away mascara trails as they stand looking." - The Guardian
This was, of course, about Bey's "Halo" dedication to Jay Z. The Guardian was also impressed by Bey's ability to "snap from mane-tossing snarl to still, seraphic smile in a disarming distance."
2. "At either side of the stage were smallish pens that held several dozen of Beyoncé's loudest fans. From time to time, she would give one of them a long glance, share a laugh or offer the microphone for a shared song.
But for someone who excels at spectacle, and who conducts and executes grand-scale group activity with military precision, Beyoncé made the striking decision to spend large parts of this show alone, unvarnished under the night sky." - The New York Times
I mean, she does have a song called "Me, Myself and I."
3. "The Formation Tour show is laced with songs and Southern Gothic imagery from the hour-long "visual album" video for "Lemonade," and powered by the rage that runs through the project. But Wednesday's concert ran a gamut of emotions– anger, defiance, sex, self-empowerment and celebration –impeccably choreographed and staged for overpowering impact. (Although husband Jay Z, who inspired it all, only appeared in snatches of video.) It was a masterfully constructed pop concert - with elements of pop opera and billboard sized performance art. (Disciplined on every level, too – in contrast to some other pop divas, Beyoncé started right on time. Or maybe she just couldn't wait to get onstage for the first show of this sold out stadium tour.)" - Miami Herald
The Miami Herald also applauded Bey's decision to do it alone: "She sang 'Drunk in Love' alone on the platform in the middle of the crowd, wailing with passion, the women in the audience singing hysterically along."
4. "Those expecting a heartbroken or angry Beyoncé to take the stage were very wrong. The Formation concert is celebratory and uplifting and its setlist is eclectic, with classics like "Survivor" and "Bootylicious" alongside surprises like a Eurythmics cover of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)." It's classic Beyoncé, choreography tight and stunning, a visual masterpiece. But like everything Mrs. Knowles-Carter does, the show's main goal is to make you leave loving yourself just a little more than you did before you walked in the door." - Miami New Times
Really looking forward to loving myself a bit more after watching Beyoncé do the same thing on stage.
5. "Not every song suffered. Indelible hits such as "Crazy in Love," "Survivor" and "Flawless" powered through the obstruction, and the new "6 Inch" lost none of its smart, seductive groove. "All Night," a lovely, subdued "Lemonade" track that Beyoncé revealed is her favorite on the album, sounded as intimate when performed in front of some 30,000 people in a baseball stadium as it does coming through headphone speakers. And nothing could have weakened the steely, anthemic "Single Ladies," during which Beyoncé invited two obviously thrilled fans to dance with her on the catwalk stage. If not for their lack of costume, they could have disappeared into the ranks of Beyoncé's backup dancers." - SouthFlorida.com
There were sound problems but hey, it's the first night of the tour and not every stadium has a retractable roof (good luck to all of you). According to the reviewer, an open Marlins Park caused some bass-heavy tracks to push the music "earthbound, only to keep picking it up and slamming it back down."
6. "If act one of Formation was something of a heartfelt plea, act two was decidedly full of vigor. The sequence included a guitar solo (from a woman who many thought was Beyonce herself…she was not), loud pumping bass, a powerful rendition of "Drunk in Love," and the first props of the evening – an acrobat in a hanging box, a sculpture of sorts that Bey danced on, and a silver throne for the queen herself." - Billboard
My only question is, why wasn't the throne decked out in gold?
7. "For a trio of some of her most empowering hits - Lemonade's liberating "Freedom," the aggressive "Survivor" and "End of Time" - Beyoncé was, for the most part, soaked. It was the closest thing I've seen to an onstage baptism since that time Bieber performed in the rain, a powerful image of the themes of redemption and forgiveness in Lemonade's second half.
But for the most part, the more introspective moments of Lemonade were rare. Maybe that's why this isn't called the Lemonade World Tour. Like "Formation," it's for slaying." - Mashable
Perhaps the only time you'll hear Beyoncé being compared to Bieber. Both water-related situations are fine, though.
8. "Her opening anthems were fueled by red lights and hot fireballs shooting into the night sky to punctuate her rage - and the angrier she got, the more excited the crowd grew. At one point, Beyonce donned a sequined bodysuit studded with red flames as she sang about her plans to "smack that trick" as a tempestuous lightning storm raged on a screen behind her and later a red, she-devil-esque number." - Jacksonville.com/The Florida Times-Union
Always here for angry Beyoncé.
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