5 Best Moments From Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium

Early in the concert, Bey announced to the audience that “it’s not about perfection – it’s about enjoying your life.” Wise words, but pretty funny considering what happened next. After a “1+1” performance full of vocal acrobatics (rest assured, her mic is on during this show), she segued into a bluesy, raw cover of “I’m Going Down,” a Hot 100 hit for Rose Royce in 1977 that Mary J. Blige took to No. 22 on that same chart two decades later. The entire opening segment of the show is basically a live-vocal victory lap, so while it was nice of her to tell us mortals that perfection isn’t everything, she kinda-sorta proved otherwise.

Despite being just 11 years old, Blue Ivy Carter has become a regular presence and reliable spotlight stealer on her mother’s Renaissance Tour. During “Black Parade” at Sunday’s show, Blue – wearing an orange, blue and white jersey with “IV” emblazoned on the front in camouflage (yes, Beyoncé has a matching one) – executed some impressive choreography that was several levels above what you would expect from someone her age. Beyoncé, standing atop a metallic vehicle during the number, beamed with pride while the audience lost their minds.

It was possibly coincidental, but there were some serious Barbie movie vibes at MetLife during the July 29-30 Renaissance shows. First, Greta Gerwig, the film’s director/co-writer, was spotted at the Saturday night show. Secondly, there was pink aplenty. Obviously, Barbie does not own this color — and a year before the flick dropped, Bey implored us to “paint the world p—y pink” on “Cozy” — but plenty of folks pointed out the confluence on social media. Third, Bey’s black-and-white striped dress, paired with 1950s sunglasses, for the “Anointed” portion of the show seriously evoked the zebra-striped swimsuit of the first-ever Barbie doll, which debuted in 1959 and features prominently at the top of the 2023 film. Queen Bey, who got her own Barbie doll in 2005, even dressed up as that original Barbie during Halloween 2016, so it’s possible the look was a wink to the Barbie moment the world is having.

Speaking of outfits, the BeyHive got the memo that the category was Bad B-tch at MetLife when it came to threads. Tapping into the Renaissance album visuals, silver hot pants, disco-sequined skirts and mirrorball cowboy hats were everywhere, in addition to other outfits evoking the Harlem ballroom culture that informs the album. And in a nod to “Alien Superstar” (and perhaps the potential presence of interstellar visitors alluded to during a recent Congressional hearing), there were more than few plastic earrings of little green men dangling from fans’ ears. “I want to say thank you for all your beautiful outfits,” Beyoncé said at the top of the show. “It’s my favorite thing to see.”

While singing her Hot 100 top 20 hit “Love on Top,” Bey invited the audience to take an a cappella crack at the key-changing climax of the song. Obviously, few can match her vocal abilities, but the BeyHive made up for that in earnestness and enthusiasm, belting the chorus of the song over and over until Beyoncé, clearly touched by the roar of tens of thousands singing her music back to her, cut in to thank everyone. After that, she busted out “Crazy in Love” – and reminded us why it’s a little more fun to hear her sing.