Beyonce’s “The Formation World Tour” sold out two shows in Chicago at Soldier Field. On the first night despite the heavy rain fall fans left Solider Field seeing Beyoncé at her best.
Back on tour for the first time since her ambitious “Mrs. Carter Show World Tour” in 2013. Beyoncé’s “The Formation World Tour” was announced following her appearance during Super Bowl 50. Receiving high acclaim for her latest album Lemonade, Beyoncé was praised for her boldest and craftiest work to date.
Beyoncé brought out Chicago’s and Roc Nation artist Vic Mensa for a surprise performance. Performing “U Mad” and “16 shots”, Mensa felt right at home. Mensa was well received for his notability and his authentic rap personal. Just performing two songs, fans missed out on some of Mensa’s best.
Opening for Beyoncé was Atlanta rap duo Rae Sremmurd with their energy filled favorites “No Flex Zone” and “Throw Some Mo”. These two easily are continuing to break the ‘one hit wonder’ chatter that has been following them since the beginning of their short career.
A 70-foot-tall rotating video screens were die center in the middle. Visually the stage was stunning, the video screens and THX sound system embodied everyone in the stadium. Video from Beyoncé’s Lemonade teased fans as it spun three times bringing out Beyoncé and her dancers.
Performing majority of her set from her hit Lemonade album. Beyoncé brought us back in time with songs “Baby Boy”, “Crazy in Love’, and Destiny Child’s “Survivor”. She also performed covers of Nicki Minaj’s “Feeling Myself”. For the full set list view below.
The track history of hit records from Beyoncé was visited with songs that fans grew up on. A nice touch to that history was a video that showed a just turning 16 year-old Beyoncé explaining what she would do to someone who disrespects her.
Near the end of her performance Beyoncé paid tribute to the fallen legend Prince. Using the video screens, nothing but the color purple was on while Prince’s “Purple Rain” played. A tribute that felt even more touching as light rain was coming down at that time.
Literally singing in the rain, Beyoncé didn’t disappoint while setting the bar high for future shows. The term “rain or shine” will now be looked at differently as if Beyoncé could give this stellar showcase of her incredible talent so should everyone else.
It’s important to note Beyoncé’s status while on her “The Formation World Tour”. Hearing her last night was a pure pleasure for many reasons. The obvious one is the huge block party feeling that came with a community of fans dancing together singing word for word every song while in the rain. The underlining reason is the heavy meaning she brings in songs like ‘Formation’.
Beyoncé’s voice was one of the many highlights of the night. A typical backtrack was missing making Beyoncé the only things fans heard that night. This created a unique experience for music lovers especially when it came time for her acapella song “Love on Top” and her blues renditions of “Daddy Lessons”.
Fans who attended the sold out stadium show left feeling a sense of familiarity with the mega star. With that connection Beyoncé fans left the first night of her tour in Chicago with the feeling of knowing her on a personal intimate level through her stellar performance.
Beyoncé’s setlist Friday:
- Intro (with samples of ‘No Angel’ and ‘Formation’)
- Formation
- Sorry
- Kitty Kat
- Bow Down
- Run the World (Girls)
- Superpower
- Mine
- Baby Boy
- Hold Up
- Countdown
- Me, Myself and I
- Runnin’ (Lose It All) (Naughty Boy cover)
- All Night
- 6 Inch / I Care / Ghost
- Don’t Hurt Yourself
- Ring the Alarm
- Diva
- Flawless (remix)
- Feeling Myself (Nicki Minaj cover)
- Yoncé
- Drunk in Love
- Rocket
- Hip Hop Star / Freakum Dress
- Daddy Lessons
- 1+1
- Love on Top (Acapella)
- The Beautiful Ones (Prince cover)
- Purple Rain (Prince song)
- Crazy in Love
- Naughty Girl
- Party
- Blow
- Die with You / Blue
- Freedom
- Survivor (Destiny’s Child song)
- End of Time
- Halo