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July 19, 2007

Online Exclusive

Concert Review

An Unforgettable Experience

Beyoncé puts on a show complete with costume changes, dancing

Story by: Anthony Williams

The Shorthorn editor in chief

The Shorthorn:Anthony Williams

Beyoncé sings her hit "Baby Boy" from her first album Dangerously In Love at American Airlines Center in Dallas Friday.

DALLAS — Shut. Down.

That’s how all the Beyoncé haters should feel after witnessing “The Beyoncé Experience,” the singer’s world tour, which stopped at the American Airlines Center on Friday.

During the more than two-hour show, the Houston native wowed about 15,000 fans, with 25 songs and several costume changes. And with an intermission that lasted less than half an hour between the opening act, Robin Thicke, and hers, one can either assume Beyoncé keeps a tight schedule or that she was just pumped to be back in her home state.

“It feels so good to be home in Texas!” she said after entering the stage in a long dress amid fog and pyrotechnics.

After the music for “Crazy in Love” began, Beyoncé immediately started dancing and, surprise, stripped down to a shorter, more danceable outfit.

The song had a Gnarls Barkley twist midway but still included the Josephine Johnny part and the “Uh Oh” near its end. Beyoncé mixed it up several times with various covers, including Jill Scott’s “He Loves Me” during the more ballad-heavy portion.

The Shorthorn:Anthony Williams

Beyoncé performs her most famous ballad, "Dangerously In Love," at Dallas' American Airlines Center Friday.

The singer’s supporting cast — her entirely female band, background singers and dancer entourage — were outstanding. While each group had its requisite moment to shine during breaks, it also had several moments going back and forth with Beyoncé. The background vocalists were reminiscent of the singer’s most recent film, Dreamgirls, and helped B out during the Destiny’s Child medley. The band members were urged on individually at certain times, doing tricks with drumsticks and dancing alongside the singer.

Beyoncé got quite a workout during her sets, going back and forth between her current album, B’day, and her first disc, Dangerously In Love. She got a much-needed breather during “Irreplaceable” by letting the audience sing most of the song. And sing they did — the entire packed house.

The stage worked wonders, with a big screen and stairs both able to display visuals. Many of her performances looked like the songs’ video counterparts, i.e., the loud, neon ’80s visuals to go with her Robert Palmer-inspired dance moves for “Green Light.”

One of the night’s biggest surprises happened during “Flaws and All,” when tears started to fall down Beyoncé’s face. It was moving and slightly startling, and made you think, “She really is happy to be here.” But apparently she’s having that “moment” everywhere, so maybe it’s not Texas.

The Shorthorn:Anthony Williams

Beyoncé and her male dancers perform their routine to "Upgrade U" Friday during her Dallas concert at American Airlines Center.

The costumes were as expected, except for the nude suit with rhinestones on the singer’s butt. Most outfits were tight, and her midriff was bare for some of the “hotter” songs. One of the night’s best performances was “Get Me Bodied,” where Beyoncé did the entire extended-version, complete with dance moves like “the scissor leg,” “the Naomi Campbell walk” and more.

Another thing worth mentioning is that crowds today still aren’t cognizant of the fact that 99 percent of artists today don’t close out a show when they say they will. Much of the crowd started exiting after “Irreplaceable,” missing the singer’s return, in a bright orange dress, to perform “Deja Vu” as her encore.

Beyoncé fans got all they wanted and more, and anyone who left the show still doubting the singer’s talent would be outright lying. You have to give it to her, she is the hottest act out today.