Amid Mexican Independence Day celebrations and Hispanic Heritage Month, Becky G lit up the United Palace in Washington Heights, N.Y., on Saturday (Sept. 16).
It was her second of two nights at the 3,330-capacity venue as part of the artist’s first headlining national tour, Mi Casa, Tu Casa, which launched Sept. 14 in Boston. Upcoming dates include Atlanta (Sept. 21), Hollywood (Sept. 23), El Paso (Oct. 3), and concludes in Phoenix (Oct. 14).
“Mi nombre es Becky G y bienvenidos to the Mi Casa, Tu Casa tour,” she said in Spanglish. “New York, I’m not even going to sugar coat it, okay? Soy muy dulce a veces, pero otras veces un poquito picosa (“I’m sweet, at times, but other times, I’m a little spicy”), she said shortly after opening her show with her hit song “Mayores,” which features Bad Bunny.
Donning baggy Mexican pink cargo pants, with a long silver chain, a matching sparkly bikini top and a cowboy hat, the Inglewood native’s alluring performance included an invigorating live band, a crew of dancers, an exciting DJ set and beautiful home videos of the artist (born Rebecca Marie Gomez) played on the screen behind the stage.
“There was so much inspiration of the 200% for me — I knew that I wanted to make a statement representing two cultures, two flags, two languages,” Becky G told Billboard Español in August in preparation for her tour. “From the color scheme to the way that we played out the setlist, and having the whole middle set of the show be dedicated to música regional was the essence of the tour. We are bringing Casa Gomez to everybody on Mi Casa, Tu Casa and it’s going to be really awesome.”
And Becky G truly delivered — her charming stage presence, her combination of “sweet and spicy” energy, her vulnerability, her connection with her fans, and deep appreciation for her foundations made this entire night very special one.
Here are five highlights from Becky G’s first headlining tour at United Palace in the Heights on Sept. 16.
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Her Genre Versatility
Seamlessly spanning through reggaetón, merengue, and regional Mexican music, Becky G’s musical versatility took a spotlight. She opened up with her early breakout hit “Mayores,” a pop-reggaetón number with cumbia undertones. But one of the biggest highlights was when she segued into the música mexicana segment midway through her set, delivering corridos songs like “Chanel,” which stars Peso Pluma, “La Nena,” featuring Gabito Ballesteros, and her recent heart-rending single “Querido Abuelo,” as well as unreleased songs from her upcoming album, Esquinas. During this segment, she was backed by. a full música mexicana ensemble, consisting of trumpets, a tololoche, guitars, and a requinto. A costume change later, Becky arrived belting out the merengue song of “Arranca.”
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A Proud 200 Percenter
As a proud 200 percenter, she embraced her Mexican heritage throughout, while never forgetting her American foundations with what kicked her off to stardom, a rap career with 2013’s “Becky from the Block.” But the night was extra special as we celebrated Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16.
“Of course, I’d be crazy not to acknowledge that today and yesterday we are celebrating something very important. If you are Mexican, you already know,” she said in Spanglish, and Mexican flags lofted high. “I want to hear that grito mexicano!,” she shouted, and she wrapped around a Mexican flag she borrowed from a concert-goer.
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Family Tribute
As soon as she completed some corridos to the delight of those in attendance, she also included a heartfelt tribute to her late grandfather, who immigrated from Mexico to Southern California to provide his family a better life. And there was a lot of emotion in the crowd. The audience began to chant “Becky, Becky” in unison, which turned on the waterworks for the performer. “I love you too,” she said shakily. “So now I’m crying and I don’t know how to stop!” she added before sharing encouraging words about how to celebrate a loved one’s life after their passing, like in the case of her grandfather, who she sang a song to called “Querido Abuelo.” Meanwhile, home videos of young Becky displayed as a backdrop singing with her cowboy hat-donning grandfather.
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Selena Medley!
The Cali performer has long embraced her fandom for the Queen of Tejano Music. Fun fact: Becky G even impersonated the late, great Selena when she was just 10 years old in Sábado Gigante, and headlined the Selena Quintanilla Music Festival five years ago. On Sept. 16, the star shined bright, as she belted out the emotional lyric of “Como La Flor,” with utter respect and immense talent. Becky G and her backup band also performed “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “La Carcacha,” and “Baila Esta Cumbia,” and it was magnificent.
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Fan Engagement
There were plenty of emotional highs and lows when it came to the performer conveying her deep appreciation to her fans. She spoke to plenty of attendees, thoughtfully read the signs they crafted for her, and even invited a 13-year-old girl to the stage to share some dance moves, who said on stage she dreams of becoming a professional dancer.
“I don’t know if you guys know this, but I made a mailbox for this tour so you guys can leave me letters. But I really wanted to feel closer to you guys,” she said at one point.
In another moment, she reads a sign that says: “Shout out José’s birthday.” “That’s you right there with the brown jacket? Oh, there might be a lot of them [José’s], actually,” she said as the crowd chuckled. Becky proceeded to sing this mysterious José “Happy Birthday.” “Do you know what we do on our birthday?” she said. “It’s shot time … We’re taking a shot girlfriend, you better come over here,” she told a fan who’s wearing Treslúce merch, Becky G’s brand. “This one’s for you. Pa’ arriba, pa’ abajo, pa’l centro y pa’ dentro!”
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