Formation World Tour comes to an end
November 10, 2016
“God is God. I am not.” This simple phrase appeared on the rotating rectangular cube screen that stood as high as the stadium and displayed the ethereal visuals that contributed to the life changing experience that is a Beyoncé concert.
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, simply known as Beyoncé, may not be God, but she certainly isn’t human. On Friday, Oct. 7, “Queen Bey” rocked Metlife Stadium for the last date of her Formation World Tour.
After the recent release of “Lemonade,” her politically engaging visual album that dropped without notice, Beyoncé had a lot of expectations for the messages she depicted through her actions and performances. Throughout the show she definitely delivered those messages, and then some.
Feminism was a main aspect of the show. Bey had a female band, backup singers and dance squad. Typically, inherent sexism and gender stereotypes restrain female musicians. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up only 26.9 percent of professional musicians, singers and related workers.
Beyoncé explained in an interview with Blogher why she chose to have an all female production.
“When I was younger I wish I had more females who played instruments to look up to. I played piano for like a second, but then I stopped,” she said. “I just wanted to do something which would inspire other young females to get involved in music so I put together an all-woman band.”
Although gender equality was a main aspect of the Formation World Tour, it wasn’t the only leading social issue. Racism and the strive for racial equality was also a substantial theme of the show.
“Freedom! Freedom! I can’t move / Freedom, cut me loose! / Freedom! Freedom! Where are you? / Cause I need freedom too!” Beyoncé sang in “Freedom,” a powerful anthem for black women.
Starting with the February release of her single “Formation,” Beyoncé has openly stood behind the Black Lives Matter movement. “Lemonade,” especially the song “Freedom,” is a call to action for women, specifically black women. On the album, Beyoncé opens the visual component to “Freedom” with the mothers of Eric Garner, Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin looking on with some of the entertainment industry’s most prominent black actresses and singers, from Winnie Harlow to Zendaya.
“I want to make this special for you all,” Beyoncé said in the beginning of the concert to a crowd of more than 50,000 people.
And she did. With her blatant messages of social activism combined with her stunning dancing and vocals, Queen Bey left the audience questioning her humanity by curtain call.