Well, it’s official. Beyoncé has completed the first show of her world tour in support of latest album Renaissance, and by all accounts the performance was nothing short of unmissable.
Beyoncé’s first stop took place in Stockholm, Sweden, launching what will be the pop star’s first solo headline tour in seven years, and taking her to 57 stadium dates across the globe from May to September.
Beyoncé marked the occasion with a three-hour debut show at Stolkholm’s 50,000-seat Friends Arena. In between renditions of Renaissance favourites like I’m That Girl, Cuff It and America Has A Problem, Beyoncé enlisted her most lavish set pieces and stage designs to date. Among a host of other surprises was her opening performance of “Dangerously In Love“, a track she hasn’t performed live since 2009.
Elsewhere, the singer donned a bee-looking costume seemingly pulled from the set of Guardians of the Galaxy, and performed alongside robotic arms that framed her face. The kooky futurism of that look was seen all throughout the opener, as she elsewhere delivered news on KNTY TV and sung within a giant shell for Plastic Off the Sofa.
Meanwhile, during “Summer Renaissance“, Beyoncé soared through the air on a glittery white horse reminiscent of her album cover, and dangled an enormous disco ball from the rafters while singing “Crazy in Love”. As to be expected, fans rushed to social media to praise the Stockholm show, with one Twitter user dubbing Beyoncé “the best performer alive.” Others commended her supposed quip at Donald Trump, as well as her vocal runs during “Drunk In Love.”
Among other moments, fans applauded Beyoncé’s interpolation of Britney Spears’ “Toxic,” and her celebration of queerness through a vogue ballroom sequence. With such a hectic first performance under her belt, you almost wonder whether there’s anywhere left for Beyoncé to go. And yet, with more than 50 tour stops ahead of her — and a rumored Australian leg in the wings — there’s little doubt that she’ll pull off the feat with finesse.
