Tens of thousands poured into AT&T Stadium Tuesday night to catch the brilliantly orchestrated magic of New York rap god Jay Z and Houston pop superstar Beyoncé. The couple’s On the Run Tour offered nearly three hours of nonstop hits.
Forget all those cinematic video interludes showing the pair in a crime spree – the action on stage trumped any big-screen thrill. Here’s our rundown of one of the summer’s biggest shows.
Stadium scene: Getting to the gargantuan Arlington venue is a hassle that requires considerable time and patience for most; long lines and aimless flocks of people abounded. Even the “good” seats seemed farther away from the stage than they should be, and many gave up and stared at the giant TV above instead.
Yet a tour of this magnitude -- featuring a double shot of musical royalty -- probably couldn’t be jammed into a smaller space without a multi-night stand. Nearly every section of the stadium seemed full on Tuesday once the Carters took the stage. At points during the show, the back of the house’s singing created an eerie echo effect.
The unstoppable duo: Jay Z and Beyoncé were individually and jointly larger than life in the big tent. Anyone who caught her Super Bowl performance likely knows she’s capable of unparalleled stadium showmanship, and Beyoncé flirted with perfection again at AT&T on Tuesday. She slayed those vocal runs, nailed the dance steps and created audience frenzies with mere facial expressions. When she’s on stage, you can’t focus on anything else.
Her husband enjoyed an equal if not greater connection with the fans. Whether rapping on one of his wife’s singles or giving new life to his many career highlights, he seemed to have as much fun as the hand-waving masses before him. Funny to think he attempted to retire years ago.
The Carters’ joint performances revealed the ups and downs of their relationship in ways that no salacious tabloid rumor can touch. When she sang the Justin Timberlake verses on “Holy Grail,” the lyrics suddenly became her diary entry. At the end of “Drunk in Love,” he leaned down and kissed her neck. “Part II (On the Run)” found them both dressed to the hilt, completing the “ride or die” message that began with concert opener “’03 Bonnie and Clyde.”
More about those songs: The show packed in more than 40 songs and yet fans remained on their feet. After an exultant opening run including “Upgrade U,” “Crazy in Love” and “Tom Ford,” Beyoncé and Jay Z traded the spotlight until the end.
The provocative songs from the surprise 2013 Beyoncé album were all crowd favorites – particularly the I-woke-up-like-this confidence of “Flawless.” She mashed up “If I Were a Boy” with a soulful cover of Lauryn Hill’s “Ex Factor.” And when she poured her heart out on the infidelity-themed “Resentment,” a couple of ladies to my left were reduced to tears.
While Beyoncé moved effortlessly from celebration to melancholy and back in her selections, Jay Z kept spirits consistently high with his. Early on, the house went wild to “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” and “Big Pimpin.” “99 Problems,” “N in Paris” and “Hard Knock Life” also inspired full fledged rap-alongs.
The takeaway: We saw the best sides of Jay Z and Beyoncé at AT&T Stadium. He’s the people’s rapper, she’s a work of pop art in motion and their On the Run Tour showcased their undeniable chemistry. The good news for those who didn’t make the trek to Arlington? The show (to be filmed in Paris) will air on HBO in September. Get your popcorn ready.
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