On the Run Tour: Chicago

By Sarah Nolan on July 31, 2014

Image Courtesy of Beyonce.com

Last Thursday Beyoncé and Jay-Z graced center stage at Soldier Field for the couple’s On the Run Tour. The set lasted close to three hours and was packed with a staggering 43 songs that included “03 Bonnie & Clyde,” “Crazy in Love” and “Drunk in Love” as well as a wide array of their own music, such as Jay-Z’s  ”Public Service Announcement” and Beyoncé’s “Run the World.”

The stadium was absolutely packed from top to bottom with a star-studded guest list that included Oprah, the Obama gals, Dwayne Wade, Gabrielle Union and Steven Tyler. I may be biased because I count myself as a die hard J & B fan, but they certainly did not disappoint.

Throughout the two and a half hour spectacle the couple shared the stage and then took turns belting out their own hits. Every three or four songs a black and white film montage would play across three giant screens portraying B and J as a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. Rarely did dancers or musicians make an appearance on stage. Rather than take away from the show, it only illustrated the sheer talent and power that is Beyoncé and Jay-Z and solidified their place of dominance in the music industry.

I was reading Greg Kot’s review in the Chicago Tribune the following day and found myself agreeing with him as he recalled the first half hour of the concert saying that “the lack of smiles and the professional detachment kept the screaming fans at arm’s length — not that any of them seemed to particularly mind. At one point, Beyoncé commanded the stage with a sullen stare, and the cheering only grew wilder and more appreciative.”

But hey, when you’ve been as wildly successful as Beyoncé, I think you’re allowed to stare off into a packed football stadium and think to yourself, “bow down bitches.” That being said, Beyoncé and Jay-Z are extremely private individuals and have kept fans at an arms-length for years. With rumors of an apparent divorce running rampant as of late, I’d be sure to keep my cards close to my chest as well.

Beyoncé added fuel to that fire as she sat down and sang “Resentment” dressed in a white suit and draped in a wedding veil. The song first debuted on her B-Day album six years ago and was believed to be about Jay-Z’s affair with another woman. Thursday Beyoncé sang “I know she was attractive but I was here first, been ridin’ with you for twelve years why did I deserve to be treated this way by you?” Every single woman in the building sang that song with Queen B as the men awkwardly stood there. It was vulnerable, heartbreaking, but most of all relatable. Hopefully this divorce rumor is a cunning marketing scheme by the two. Fingers crossed.

All in all, the concert was the time of my life. B and J kissed and hugged a few times so I left feeling content about the state of their marriage. I danced my ass off and sang like I actually could. Also as an added bonus, I’ll share my star encounter. After the concert my cousin and I were walking down Lake Shore Drive like the lost idiots that we are and one of Beyoncé’s back up dancers walked past. I only knew it was him because I stalk her life on Tumblr, Instagram, etc. So like the creep that I am, I ran up to him, grabbed him by the arm, stared him straight in his eyes and said “You’re one of the dancers.” He said “Yes” and proceeded to walk as fast as he possibly could in the opposite direction.

My biased opinion aside, Beyoncé is one of the most remarkable performers I’ve ever seen. A bucket list must.

Image Courtesy of Beyoncé.com

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