Beyonce slays in area appearance with swag, brag and drag

Two storms rained over Met Life Stadium in New Jersey recently — one involved a meteorologist’s prediction of rain, the second furthered the reign of declared greatest of all-time pop singer Beyonce who breezed in for the NY/NJ version of her Renaissance Tour.

Following the after-effects from 95-degree weather conditions in the Garden State, a rainbow encircled the East Rutherford location as if to deliver a colorful welcome to the diverse crowd who seemed determined to slay, swag, and hail praises to their supreme music monarch.

Cooling tents provided relief for needy patrons overwhelmed by the temporary summer phenomenon but there was no respite for die-hard fans who braved inclement weather to witness the NY/NJ version of the world-wide tour.

Loyalists to the 41-year-old, they swarmed to represent the BeyHive as if the music monarch had issued a decree to meet in the Garden state. Hundreds arrived early with a sense of purpose that defines their united endorsement, fierce support and stinging defense of her reputation.

On the one-year anniversary of the release of her seventh studio album, “Renaissance” summoned crowds that waited patiently as convoys of transportation filled in one state, emptied -in another to deliver investors in the sold-out concert series.

Forming queues that snaked inside terminals at Penn Station and Port Authority to shuttle New Yorkers to trains and buses, many navigated long lines before gaining access to the 82,000 seat, open-air venue.

Restrictions prohibited bottled liquids, banners, thermoses, video cameras, pets, alcohol, ice chests, umbrellas, strollers, selfie sticks while allowing clear, transparent, see-thru bags measuring 12 inches and a one bag limit per person.

Anyone unwilling to shell out $55 for a T-shirt or $15 for a beer did not belong.

None of the deterrents disillusioned entrants, they seemed informed, determined and savvy subscribers to social media portals designed to provide instructions.

Needless to say, the BeyHive buzzed with glamor paying homage to the Texas, fashion-forward performer.

Dressed to impress in parody of the Queen Bee, her admirers donned variations of her cowboy aesthetics accented by silver metallic, crystals, pearls, spike heeled boots, disco balls’fabric, battery-lit hats, sequins, faux leather, corsets, fully-lit dresses, rhinestone-fringed jackets, shorter than-short Daisy Duke shorts, glittery hand-held fans and creatively designed eye-catching outfits to mirror songs from the CD.

Parking lots filled to capacity to accommodate sold out crowds who paid from $300 to $15,000 to sing along to a medley of hits recorded throughout her 25-year career.

Preceding her arrival onstage, an audio message thanked fans for donating $1 million to Beyonce’s small business initiative, which benefits entrepreneurs in the Tri-state area.

And although the sound-system blared loud applause for the gesture, the decibels amplified from the moment the superstar, wife and mother emerged wearing a hip-high slit, sleeve-less black and white to die for sequined gown.

The mere sight of the headliner and only billed attraction prompted fans to rise from their seats in order to acknowledge the arrival of the 32-time Grammy award winning female.

Ramped up elevated platforms provided ample viewing to a high-tech spectacle that followed.

Many stood for nearly three hours of a six segment set list dubbed to an Opening Act, Renaissance, Anointed, Motherboard, Opulence and Mind Control.

Each were identified by illuminated images projected from a video screen which simultaneously clarified the message of each lyric.

Thirty-two songs comprised the set list.

At a juncture, 11-year-old daughter Blu Ivy joined the lineup of Renaissance dancers and musicians on “My Power.”

At seeing the offspring of rapper Jay-Z and the avowed super-achiever, the crowd amped up cheers resulting with the headliner repeatedly enticing a chorus of echoed endorsements to “hey Miss Carter”

Miss Carter returned the gesture with a hand signal of appreciation. She danced in sync with seasoned professionals and throughout the tour has received deserved accolades proving the popular saying “the fruit does not fall far from the tree.’

Peak points of the production pays tribute to gay pioneers of house music, synchronized dance movements by Les Twins, spectacular dance routines, high-tech robotics, a tribute to music, legend Tina Turner –who she referred to as ‘my queen.’

Memories of her “Proud Mary” collaborator was recalled with a rendition of the singer’s “River Deep hit.

Towards the conclusion of the riveting treat, Beyonce also gave shout-outs to singer Grace Jones and her mother Tina.Knowles.

The Renaissance World Tour started last May with a private concert in Dubai. From there destination Europe kicked off concerts in Stockholm, Sweden, Brussels, Belgium, Cardiff, Wales, and other European cites ending in Warsaw, Poland two months ago before stopping into Toronto, Canada for two nights.

The US leg started last month on July 12 in Philadelphia with an allure of a traveling realignment of the Renaissance reign of the Queen Bee.

Prior to the two-night stopover in this area, Gov. Phil Murphy issued a statement proclaiming Beyonce “the queen Honey-Bee of the Garden state.”

Incidentally, according to publicist Yvette Noel-Schure the colored bands that decorated the sky prior to the spectacle signaled a message from slain Grenadian Josiah “Jonty” Robinson, an openly gay, model, singer and actor who she is grieving after his untimely passing on the Spice Island.

Along with media mogul Tyler Perry, the Caribbean national has posted an offer of $100,000 to find the culprit who lured the unsuspecting 24-year-old to the beach and strangled him on June 18.

The 56-show, concert tour is slated to end on Oct. 1 in Kansas City.

Catch You On The Inside!