Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live

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Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live
Residency by
Revel Atlantic City
Associated album4
Start dateMay 25, 2012 (2012-05-25)
End dateMay 28, 2012 (2012-05-28)
No. of shows4
Beyoncé concert chronology

Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live (also called Back to Business) was the third

behind-the-scenes
footage on her official website.

The stage included several

Ralph and Russo, Swarovski, Dolce & Gabbana, David Koma and her mother, designer Tina Knowles
. Critics praised the costumes and Beyoncé's look during the shows.

Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live received positive reviews from music critics who praised Beyoncé's vocals and dance abilities during the concerts calling it her post-pregnancy comeback show. Commercially, the shows were also successful with the tickets for all three shows being sold out in one minute on April 6, 2012, after they were made available for purchase. Later, when the fourth show was announced, it eventually sold out as well. Footage of the concert was used in Beyoncé's 2013 HBO documentary Life Is But a Dream; a concert recording, Live in Atlantic City, was included as part of the home video release of Life is But a Dream.

Background and development

Revel Atlantic City
(pictured) to celebrate its opening.

On March 19, 2012, Beyoncé's publicist Yvette Noel-Schure announced that the singer would perform three shows (May 25–27, 2012) at

Revel Atlantic City to inaugurate the resort and its Ovation Hall, a 5,050-seat concert venue.[1][2] The concerts were noted as the singer's first performances since giving birth to her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, in January of the same year and her first shows since the 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé residency in August 2011.[3] Rehearsals began in March, two months prior to the date of the concerts as Beyoncé had to lose sixty pounds for the show after her pregnancy.[4][5] James Dinh of MTV News wrote that it was further expected from the concerts to be "much more of a grand spectacle" in comparison with 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé, with high-tech LED display, intense choreography and video backdrops.[4]

"Getting this show together and learning choreography and directing something so huge... For me to do all of this four months after giving birth, I feel like I went from zero to ten and it was really hard, but I did it so I'm hoping that somebody out there can be inspired by that."

—Beyoncé Knowles in Making of Revel, Behind the Scenes (Part II)[6]

On March 20, 2012, several

Halo".[9] In it, Beyoncé stated that she is excited, yet nervous about the shows.[8] She said "[Performing at Revel is] like going back to my old job and it's a little strange."[8] She continued saying that it was vital for her not to lose herself and still have her own passion even after she became a mother, something she was accomplishing with the shows.[8] Director/Choreographer Frank Gatson Jr. said that the show had the potential of being the greatest show of Beyoncé's career.[8][10] The second behind-the-scenes video detailing the event premiered the next day, on May 25, 2012.[6] During the video, Beyoncé stated that she tried to bring back to life her alter ego Sasha Fierce for the show.[6][11] She further said that she is anxious about the show as her team was doing it in two weeks, unlike her previous shows which were prepared in two months.[6] Beyoncé further revealed the concept of the show saying, "What I'm trying to say with the show ... yes, I had a baby, but it just made me more grounded".[12] The concert was also called Back to Business referencing Beyoncé's song "Run the World (Girls)".[13]

Stage and set list

Onstage, Beyoncé was backed by her all-female band consisting of eleven members, background vocalists and ten dancers including the French duo Les Twins.[13][14][15][16] The stage included several LED screens on which grainy-color videos were shown as well as several black and white geometric patterns.[13][15] Video interludes with voice-overs recorded by Beyoncé were also shown.[17] Dawn Fallik of The Wall Street Journal noted that the stage set offered "a seemingly endless number of screens and levels" for Beyoncé's all-female band.[17] Jim Farber of the Daily News praised the look of the graphics saying that they were elegant and classic like a zebra's stripes.[18] The light shows during the performances were "modest" as described by Ben Ratliff of The New York Times.[13]

The show featured covers of "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston (left) and Donna Summer's "Love to Love You Baby" as a tribute to the singers following their deaths.

Glenn Gamboa of

Philadelphia Media Network
wrote,

"Beyonce's name might have been the one on the ticket for the two-hour, 27-song program, but those responsible for its design and staging deserve as much credit as anyone. The show's visual centerpiece was a stage-spanning video display screen offering an endless array of multi-hued shapes and geometric patterns, not to mention crystal-clear wide shots and close-ups of the star. The result was a dramatic presentation befitting a performer of Beyonce's magnitude."[22]

The

Iris" (1998) during "If I Were a Boy" and Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor" (1998).[23] Caryn Ganz of Spin magazine noted that Beyoncé's up-tempo songs were performed at the beginning of the concert.[15] Fallik of The Wall Street Journal noted that the show "relied too much on lesser-known, slower songs that lulled the crowd into their seats instead of bringing them to their feet" and added that "only a couple songs called for much movement".[17]

Fashion and wardrobe

The shows featured

Vogue, saying, "I absolutely love to work with Beyoncé and her team and I'm very happy that she is back... She looks more beautiful than ever and it's always a pleasure to work with her!".[27] Co-designer Michael Russo further described his collaboration with Beyoncé, "Beyoncé always delivers energetic performances... It was an absolute pleasure to work with her to create exquisite pieces that dazzle on stage."[24]

Beyoncé changed costumes five times during the show.

Philadelphia Inquirer noted that her "barely-there" outfits were designed to call attention to Beyoncé's physique "from the derriere down".[28]

Concert synopsis

Beyoncé opened the shows with a performance of "

Crazy in Love" she wore a cropped, spangled top and a mini skirt.[14][15] During the performance of the song, pre-recorded vocals by Jay-Z who is featured on it were played.[28] "Diva" was performed as the sixth song of the set.[19] Prior to the performance of "Naughty Girl", a spoken-word segment about female sexuality was shown with Beyoncé saying "Harnessing the power of your body requires responsibility".[13] During the performance of the song she also included a sample of the groans and coos from Donna Summer's "Love to Love You Baby" and sang a snippet of it as a tribute to the singer following her death.[28][29] During the performance of the eighth song, "Party", confetti were dropped on stage from the roof and dice-shaped beach balls were being tossed through the crowd as dancers in large feathered headdresses performed a choreography in the aisles.[29][30] During "Dance for You", Beyoncé did not sing live but was accompanied vocally by her three backup vocalists and performed a choreographed bump and grind dance.[28] She was wearing a black leotard during the performance of "Freakum Dress" which featured a strut-heavy footwork.[28][30] During the performance of "I Care", Beyoncé matched the notes of her guitarist's solo and "Schoolin' Life" followed.[20][28] "1+1" saw her singing the song seated on top of a piano and the performance focused on the singer and individual members of her band.[14]

Dancing duo Les Twins performing during a concert of Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live

The ballad "

Why Don't You Love Me" followed.[15] During the end, the song's beat got transformed into an extended outro.[29] Prior the end of the show a home-video sequence showing Beyoncé biking, drinking a pint of Guinness, going whale-watching and holding her daughter Blue Ivy Carter with a voice-over was shown. Referencing her song "I Was Here" which was played in the background, she said "When I leave this world I'll leave no regrets. I will leave my mark, so everyone will know I was here".[13] Beyoncé went on to perform "Halo" in a red dress which she opened with a performance of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" as a tribute to her following her death.[15] The show ended with a performance of "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" which featured a Bob Fosse-inspired choreography and a singalong with the crowd.[14][28]

Critical response

The concerts received positive response from music critics who praised Beyoncé's post-pregnancy performing abilities. A writer of Rap-Up described the show as a "triumphant" return to the stage.[32] Adelle Platon of Vibe magazine described the show as post-pregnancy comeback to the stage and added that "it was her amazing set of throwbacks that cemented the fact that Bey[oncé] still runs the game."[33] The Village Voice's Maura Johnston wrote that the Revel concerts showed how serious Beyoncé was about picking up her career exactly where she'd left it pre-maternity leave.[29] Melinda Newman of the website HitFix praised Beyoncé's "incredible" performance even after she gave birth to her first child.[34] Cathy Rainone of WVIT commented that Beyoncé was "fiercer than ever" during the shows.[35] Glenn Gamboa of Newsday described it as her "most ambitious live show yet" and noted that "the reason for the shows... was to test herself, as a new mother and an artist."[19] USA Today's Elysa Gardner praised the show, saying that "The singer was all business — that is to say, warm and gracious, glamorous and relentless. Backed by an all-female band and a tireless posse of dancers and backup vocalists, Beyonce reasserted her unique pop persona; she was at once angel and seductress, cool diva and woman of the people."[14] She noted that with the performance of the concerts, Beyoncé reaffirmed "her solidarity with all her fans" and confirmed that she plans on "sticking around for a good long time."[14]

"But right now Beyoncé is owning her brilliance like a boss. The Revel show highlighted how she's become an accomplished multi-instrumentalist — her arsenal includes her powerhouse voice, her toned thighs, her whipping hair, her Vaudevillian eyes, and of course, her wind machine. And now she's become even more adept at playing our emotions, too, eliciting Beatlemania screeches by revealing a mere glimpse of Blue Ivy during a video montage. She's unlocked the secret to balancing her super-human talent with über-humanizing rhetoric like another megastar who only requires one name: Oprah."

-Caryn Ganz, Spin[15]

Caryn Ganz of

Black Entertainment Television described the concert as "phenomenal" further praising the high-energy performance of her up-tempo songs and adding that she "dazzled" her fans.[23] The journalist added that "Though she made it look easy, keeping up to the beat of the vibrant tunes was no easy task" and marked it as "[the] pop queen's return to her throne".[23] Dawn Fallik of The Wall Street Journal praised Beyoncé's dancing and voice during the show saying that they were in "enviable form".[17] Rebecca Thomas of MTV News described the performances as a "spectacular fitting her [Beyoncé's] rising icon status".[30]

Erika Ramirez of

Madonna who used "sartorial extremism" to call attention to themselves, "It is testament to Beyonce's star-power that her stage incandescent presence never allowed the visual pyrotechnics behind her or the hyperkinetic dancers beside her to rise above the peripheral."[22] Praising the feminism showcased during the show, Tris McCall of The Star-Ledger wrote in his review that Beyoncé gave everything she had for the concert pulling them out as vigorously as she could. He further added "The star gave Ovation Hall exactly what it wanted, and left the new theater smoking. The problem for Revel now: following it up."[20] In another review, he described the concert as "spellbinding", wrote that everything onstage was perfectly choreographed, down to the "goofy mid-song mugging" that added so much character to her performances. He concluded that no other pop artist sounds "quite as awake" as Beyoncé does.[21]

Beyoncé's performance also received positive response from celebrities and fans. US First Lady

Complex magazine further discussed his statements, "Sure, he's married to her... But upon further reflection, he just might have a point. What other artist out there gives the type of live performance she does on a nightly basis? Who can give you that incredible voice singing power ballads and up-tempo dance cuts—while dancing?... In a world with hotshots like Lady Gaga, legends like U2, and even Jay-Z and Kanye West's The Throne bodying stages worldwide, is Beyoncé best performer on earth?".[39]

Commercial performance

Tickets for the concerts were made available on April 6, 2012, 10 a.m. EST through Ticketmaster after an exclusive pre-sale one day earlier on Beyonce.com, Beyoncé's official website.[40][41][42] Within one minute, all three shows were sold out.[citation needed] On May 7, 2012, an additional concert was scheduled for May 28, 2012 because of high demand. Tickets were sold in a similar fashion, with an exclusive pre-sale on Beyonce.com and a Ticketmaster general sale taking place on May 11, 2012, 10 a.m. EST and May 14, 10 a.m. EST respectively.[43][44] The fourth date would eventually sell-out as well.[14] Listed for sale at $95 – $495, ticket prices took a hike up to $1,700 through ticket resale companies like StubHub.[45] According to Jim Farber of Daily News, the tickets were sold for high prices because the Revel Presents: Beyoncé Live was the only show by Beyoncé announced that year.[45]

Broadcasts and recordings

Main article: Live in Atlantic City (Beyoncé video)

A sixty-second preview of the performance of "End of Time" at Revel, premiered online on Beyoncé's website on May 27, 2012.

Complex magazine wrote that Beyoncé "prove[d] she's still got it" during the footage of the performance.[48] A writer of Rap-Up commented that "Sasha Fierce busts out some ferocious moves with her female dancers".[49] Footage of the concert was also used in Beyoncé's HBO documentary film, Life Is But a Dream, that aired on February 16, 2013.[50][51] Gerrick D. Kennedy of the Los Angeles Times described the performances included in the film as "dazzling".[52] A DVD from the concert titled Live in Atlantic City was released as a bonus disc with the home media release of the documentary on November 25, 2013. The DVD was available for pre-order on November 1, 2013.[53][54]

Opening act

Set list

  1. "End of Time"
  2. "Love On Top"
  3. "Get Me Bodied" / "Baby Boy"
  4. "
    Crazy in Love
    "
  5. "Diva"
  6. "Naughty Girl"
  7. "Party"
  8. "Dance for You"
  9. "Freakum Dress"
  10. "I Care"
  11. "Schoolin' Life"
  12. "1+1"
  13. "I Miss You"
  14. "
    Resentment
    "
  15. "If I Were a Boy" / "Ex-Factor"
  16. "Flaws and All"
  17. "Irreplaceable"
  18. "Countdown"
  19. "Jumpin', Jumpin'"
  20. "Run the World (Girls)"
  21. "Why Don't You Love Me"
  22. "I Will Always Love You" / "Halo"
Encore
  2. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"

References

  1. ^ C. McKinley Jr., James (March 19, 2012). "Beyoncé to Resume Performing in May". The New York Times. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  2. MTV Networks
    . Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  3. ^ "Beyonce Announces First Live Dates Since Giving Birth". Rolling Stone. March 19, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Dinh, James (May 25, 2012). "Beyonce's 'Back To Business' With Memorial Day Concerts". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  5. ^ Finlayson, Ariana (May 27, 2012). "Beyonce Celebrates 60-Pound Weight Loss: "I'm Getting Chocolate Wasted!"". Us Weekly. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d "The Making of a Concert Part 2 of 2". Beyonce.com. Parkwood Entertainment. May 25, 2012. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  7. ^ Grant, Katrina (March 20, 2012). "Beyonce Debuts New Billboard In Times Square: 'Back To Business' After Blue Ivy Carter Birth [Video]". International Business Times. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d e "The Making of a Concert Part 1 of 2". Beyonce.com. Parkwood Entertainment. May 24, 2012. Archived from the original on December 14, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  9. ^ Makarechi, Kia (May 25, 2012). "Beyonce, Revel: Singer's Atlantic City Concerts Mark First Return To Stage Since Blue Ivy Carter Was Born". The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  10. ^ "Beyoncé Rehearses for Atlantic City shows". Rap-Up. May 24, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  11. ^ "Beyoncé Prepares for Revel Concerts [Part 2]". Rap-Up. May 25, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  12. ^ Dinh, James (May 25, 2012). "Beyonce's 'Back To Business' With Memorial Day Concerts". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i Ratliff, Ben (May 26, 2012). "Beyoncé: Coming Back and Catching Up, Then Conquering". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gardner, Elysa (May 26, 2012). "Beyonce wows in first post-baby performance". USA Today. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ganz, Caryn (May 29, 2012). "Run the World (Showgirls): Beyonce Gets Back to Business in Atlantic City". Spin. Spin Media LLC. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  16. ^ a b "Beyoncé Covers Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill at Comeback Concert". Rap-Up. May 26, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g Fallik, Dawn (May 27, 2012). "Beyonce Returns to Stage As Michelle Obama Watches". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  18. ^ a b c Farber, Jim (May 26, 2012). "Beyoncé shows maturity as she dazzles with depth in her first live performance after giving birth". Daily News. Daily News L.P. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  19. ^ a b c d Gamboa, Glenn (May 27, 2013). "Beyonce roars back from maternity leave at Revel". Newsday. Cablevision. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  20. ^ a b c McCall, Tris (May 29, 2013). "Beyonce opens Revel with fanfare". The Star-Ledger. Advance Publications. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  21. ^ a b McCal, Tris (May 27, 2012). "Beyonce spellbinding at Revel". The Star-Ledger. Advance Publications. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  22. ^
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  23. ^
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  24. ^ a b c McIntyre, Samantha (May 25, 2012). "Exclusive First Look: Beyoncé's Atlantic City Concert Costumes". People. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  25. ^ "Beyoncé – Revel Fashion". Beyonce.com. Parkwood Entertainment. May 30, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  26. ^ a b c d L. Smith, Celia (May 29, 2012). "Beyoncé's Revel Concert Costumes". Essence. Essence Communications. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  27. ^
    Vogue
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  28. ^
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  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Johnston, Maura (May 27, 2012). "Live: Beyoncé Brings The House Down At Atlantic City's Newest Casino". The Village Voice. Village Voice Media. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  30. ^ a b c d e f Thomas, Rebecca (May 27, 2012). "Beyonce Serenades Michelle Obama, Cements Comeback In Atlantic City". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  31. ^ "Michelle Obama, daughters attend Beyonce concert". Associated Press via USA Today. May 26, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  32. ^ a b "Beyoncé Returns to the Stage at Atlantic City Concert". Rap-Up. May 25, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  33. ^ Platon, Adelle (May 26, 2012). "Beyoncé Brings Back Lauryn Hill and Whitney Houston at Revel Concert, Jay-Z Tweets His Support". Vibe. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  34. ^ Newman, Melinda (May 29, 2012). "Watch: Beyonce performs at the Revel... She had a baby?". HitFix. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  35. ^ Rainone, Cathy (May 26, 2012). "Beyonce Dazzles in Her First Post-Baby Concert". NBC Connecticut. WVIT. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  36. ^ Ramirez, Erika (May 29, 2012). "Beyonce Returns to the Stage in Atlantic City". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  37. ^ Anderson, Kyle (May 29, 2012). "Beyonce's post-baby concerts: Whitney Houston tribute, Goo Goo Dolls and Lauryn Hill songs". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  38. ^ "Michelle Obama Praises Beyoncé on 'GMA'". Rap-Up. May 29, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  39. Complex
    . May 28, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  40. ^ "Beyonce Returns to the Live Stage for Revel Premiere on Memorial Day Weekend" (Press release). PR Newswire via American City Business Journals. March 19, 2012.
  41. ^ Donnelly, Matt (March 19, 2012). "Beyonce announces post-baby concerts for Memorial Day weekend". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  42. Sony Music Entertainment. April 5, 2012. Archived from the original
    on April 7, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  43. ^ "Beyoncé Adds Another Date at Revel's Ovation Hall". Beyonceonline.com. Sony Music Entertainment. May 7, 2012. Archived from the original on May 13, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  44. Advance Internet
    . Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  45. ^
    Daily News
    . Daily News L.P. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  46. ^ "60 Seconds – End of Time". Beyonce.com. Parkwood Entertainment. May 27, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  47. ^ "Beyoncé performs "End of Time" at Revel [Official Footage]". Rap-Up. May 27, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  48. ^ Moore, Jacob (May 27, 2012). "Watch Beyonce Perform 'End Of Time' Live In Atlantic City". Complex. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  49. ^ "Beyoncé Performs 'End of Time' at Revel [Official Footage]". Rap-Up. May 27, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  50. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (March 13, 2013). "Beyoncé's 'Life Is But A Dream' documentary to air on BBC One". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  51. ^ "Beyoncé + HBO = A New Documentary Film". Beyonce.com. November 26, 2012. Archived from the original on March 7, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  52. ^ D. Kennedy, Gerrick (February 14, 2013). "Beyonce offers rare personal glimpse in 'Life Is but a Dream'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  53. ^ "Beyoncé – Life is But a Dream [DVD + UV Copy]". Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  54. ^ ""Life Is But A Dream" To Be Released On DVD On November 25 Worldwide". PR Newswire/Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. November 1, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  55. ^ Rani, Taj (May 25, 2012). "Luke James Opening for Beyonce, Prepping 'Made to Love'". Billboard. New York. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  56. ^ Thomas, Rebecca (June 5, 2012). "Beyonce Opening Act Luke James Motivated By Her 'Drive'". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved June 5, 2012.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Revel_Presents:_Beyoncé_Live&oldid=1204109937"