Expect a fine-tuned Beyonce and Jay-Z performance
A few things have changed for Beyonce and Jay-Z since the last goround ofthis globe-trotting mega tour. In 2016, Beyonce released Lemonade, a global smash concept album about infidelity and revenge. In 2017, Jay-Z dropped 4:44, his 13th studio album, which debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200. M any saw it as something ofa response to Lemonade.
Jump ahead to 2018 and the two, now recording as The Carters, release Everything Is Love.
Guess we know how all this back catalogue questioning resolved itselfnow, don’t we? Time to, as the title ofthe first single from the Carters’ title suggests, go Apes--t. Truth is, between the two ofthem there is such alegacy ofgreat modern pop and hip-hop music that it would be next to impossible to play everything you want to hear. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be trying.
Here are five things to know about OTR II:
1.
Beyond a well-oiled machine Both Beyonce and M r. Beyonce are famed for putting on fantastic high-energy performances. M any local fans will recall how fierce the M s. Carter Show World tour was or Jay-Z owning the first Pemberton M usic Festival. The OTR tour has been going for afew years and the two came offtours when it started. Expect a very fine-tuned concert experience.
2.
Career-spanning set list
The typical set list for the tour has run 37 songs. You want 99 Problems, you want 03 Bonnie and Clyde or Crazy in Love? You’ve got them. And awhole lot more as well. The Carters album is not being ignored, with about halfofit making the set too. Reports are there will be agood deal ofmixing it up too, as 60-plus tunes were rehearsed pre-tour.
3.
Bells, whistles, explosions, etc. Writing about the OTR II opener in Cardiff, Wales, the Guardian’s Rachel Aroesti gave the gig four out offive, noting how the show
focused in on the singers’ undying devotion to each other. Nineteen dancers, four backup singers, full backing quintet and more make for abig event.
4.
Should we be putting Beyonce before Jay-Z?
While nobody is questioning M r. Beyonce’s considerable success, many reviewers have noted that his material has been getting favoured over her hits in the set lists and wondering ifthat might be to put some new shine on his diminishing star. There is no doubt that Lemonade was bigger than 4:44, by far. And the Carters’ album flows on her increasingly seamless raps, vocal chops and mega-star appeal.
5.
Fun in the covers
It wouldn’t be a tour by two of music’s biggest stars without them throwing in some oftheir favourite tunes. Among the covers that turned up earlier this month in Houston were Nicki M inaj’s Feeling M yself, Kanye’s Clique (OK, it had Jay-Z and Big Sean on it), J. Balvin’s M i Gente, and some recorded interludes. Come prepared to be surprised.