As Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour concluded on October 1 in Kansas City, Missouri (a show that I was honored to go to), news broke that this tour was recording-breaking. Not only did this tour become the highest-grossing tour by a female artist, but it also ranked amongst the top ten highest-grossing tours.
Despite getting to hear one of the best singers of all time live, what makes this tour so special?
Beyoncé uses stunning visuals to capture the pure essence of her album, Renaissance. Throughout the songs, you can see beautiful visuals and props that correspond to the music. For example, cathedral visuals along with a gospel-like dress for the performance of “Church Girl.” These visuals go beyond the songs as Beyoncé showcases a variety of clips, including behind-the-scenes as well as documentary clips, that give context to each segment of the concert.
Along with the visuals, it is key that we recognize the various costume changes Beyoncé does, not only throughout the show but throughout the tour as well. One of her most famous and adored outfits was the variety of bee-coded outfits she displayed as a nod to her fanbase, the Bey Hive. These outfits gave fans something to look forward to as they were constantly changing. She even commented on the eagerness fans had surrounding the costumes as a fan showed off a replica of a recent outfit she wore.
“I want to know, how do you guys get these outfits together so fast? I just wore that!” Beyoncé says to a fan in the crowd at her Kansas City show.
What is the “Renaissance?” This album and tour pairing has been an ode to Black, queer, and drag culture; cultures that shape the music Beyoncé makes. Through stunning visuals, outfit changes, and performances, she provides a space for these cultures that often get overlooked and discredited. This tour was not just about the music, but about the cultures and communities that craft the things we enjoy, and that is why the Renaissance World Tour touched many and broke records.
