After five years since her last performance in Detroit, Beyoncé’s show at Ford Field on July 26, 2023, was like a reunion for the Beyhive as the 41-year-old finally unveiled the stunning and eye-poppingproduction that is her “” to The Motor City.
On that rainynight, fans braved the elements to attend the show that had been the buzz of the summer. The arena’s doors opened at 5:30 p.m. and the show was slated to start at 8 p.m. Instead of an opening act or DJ to get the party started, the same sluggish techno music played repeatedly, and the 60,000 concertgoers for the sold-out showcould be seen becoming antsy as they waited for one of the biggest superstarsin history to hit the stage.
As I looked around, I couldn’t help but notice the glitzy cowboy boots, tailored jackets with Renaissance embroideries, and sparkling jumpsuits inspired by Beyoncé’s most recent album, Renaissance.
When Beyoncé took the stage at 9:30 p.m., the crowd erupted in cheers as magic happened.
She wore a shimmering cape jumpsuit from her own line as she kicked things off with her hit song “Dangerously in Love.” She then launched into a laid-back performance of five songs including, “Flaws and All,” and “1+1,” which made it seem almost like she was opening for herself. She even performed, “River Deep, Mountain High” during her set astribute to Tina Turner, who died earlier this year.
After 30 minutes of a calm, yet energetic, opening, the show transformed into a Renaissance affair. When the singer began “I’m That Girl,” “Cozy,” and “Alien Superstar,” the audience got up and started dancing as they sang along without missing a beat —and there were plenty of outfit changes throughout her sets, too. (I counted at least six).
Beyoncé brought the energy as she rode a silver, tank-like vehicle for many songs, beginning with “My Power.” During her hits “Energy” and “Break My Soul,” she and her dancers walked around the stage as a huge silverhorse came out of nowhere. She performed her hits “Plastic Off the Sofa” and “Virgo’s Groove” in a huge, raised clam shell, and pretended to be a newscaster as Les Twins danced above the Club Renaissance audience on what looked to be flexible dance poles during “America Has a Problem.”
Beyoncé’s 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy even had a chance to show the crowd her artistic abilities as she danced during “Black Parade,” “Partition,” and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage.”
The Texas native finished that portion of the show with a homage to Black Power, and also sprinkled Black music anthems like the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back,” Maze’s “Before I Let Go,” and Diana Ross’ “Love Hangover”throughout the performance.
At the conclusion of the show, Beyoncé made sure to introduce her band and dancers to the large crowd, and by the end, there was a vogue dance battle between her dancers that featured splits and drops — serving as a reminder that Renaissance is Beyoncé’s way of giving the LGBTQ+ dance community its due.
Bey thanked the audience before exiting the stage, and as she did, a burst of silver confetti fell around her.
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