Beyoncé fans, brace yourselves because Queen Bey is finally back with her first solo tour in seven years. Her long-awaited Renaissance world tour kicked off in Sweden last week and it's safe to say that she's not holding back. From the extravagant staging to the stunning visual elements, this show is everything fans have been waiting for and more.
Those lucky enough to attend the opening night told BBC Newsbeat that it was "the most expensive show and the craziest show I've ever been to in my life". And based on the visuals we’ve seen, we can’t say that we're surprised. The 43-date run is expected to gross almost £2 billion, and it's easy to see why. The show is almost three hours long, but thankfully Beyoncé has about 20 years' worth of material to pick from - and boy, does she deliver! The setlist features 36 tracks, including classics from albums like Crazy in Love, I Am... Sasha Fierce and Drunk in Love, so there's no way you'll be disappointed. But it's not just about the music. Queen Bey is known for her epic wardrobe changes, and this show doesn't disappoint. She switches up her futuristic wardrobe a whopping nine times, including a shimmering gold bodysuit covered with black opera gloves, which left fans in awe.
And let's talk about that visual element! Beyoncé hasn't released any music videos for Renaissance, making this tour the first chance for fans to experience the tracks with a visual element. She brings the heat, delivering outstanding visuals that are futuristic and mind-blowing. Critics are raving about the show, too. The Guardian gave the "dizzying spectacular" a five-star rating, while Rolling Stone said that Beyoncé makes breezing through her back catalogue and costume changes “look easy” as everyone else is left to keep up.
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But it's not all about the music - Queen Bey also made a statement about equality by making some bathrooms gender-neutral, something fans really appreciated. Grecia De la Paz and Alicia Colak, who travelled across Europe to be at the show, said, "She's paying tribute to the LGBTQ+ community." It seems that Beyoncé is using her massive platform to celebrate black and queer dance culture and promote inclusivity, and fans are loving it. If you're lucky enough to have snagged tickets to this jaw-dropping tour, get ready for an unforgettable experience. And for the rest of us, we'll just have to live vicariously through TikTok videos - but if the opening night in Sweden is anything to go by, we’re in for a treat!