Concert Review: Beyonce - Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour in Houston
- Jazz Williams
- Jul 3
- 7 min read
This ain’t Texas… Actually it is. I went to see Beyonce in Houston, Texas at NRG Stadium. I went to both shows. I also went to the Renaissance Tour. Same venue. Both shows. Both night 1s in the 100s. Both Night 2s on the floor. Every time I share that with people, they get upset. I can’t imagine why. If there’s a time to see Beyonce, it’s in her hometown. Regardless of the setlist or special guests or anything else, she performs her best shows in Houston. For the Renaissance Tour, we got Megan Thee Stallion as our special guest and they performed Savage together. We also got the Big 3: THIQUE, ALL UP IN UR MIND, and Drunk In Love. Night 2 won the mute challenge. (We will forever have bragging rights!) Now back to the Cowboy Carter Tour... The show started promptly at 7:50 pm. (Much to everyone’s surprise. Definitely the earliest concert start time I’ve ever been to.)
It's A Lot of Talkin' Goin' On
Before the show starts, the American flag is plastered on the screen. The screen starts flashing. Smoke is rising. Dancers are coming on stage. Queen Bey has arrived. Act 1: Requiem starts with “AMERICAN REQUIEM”, the perfect opener for both the album and tour. She continues with a cover of the The Beatles song, “BLACKBIRD”, “Star Spangled Banner” with Jimi Hendrix’s instrumental arrangement, “Freedom”, and “YA YA”/“Why Don’t Love Me”.
Favorite moment: I’m a sucker for Beyonce’s model/runway walk so I’ll give this one to the beginning of “Freedom” where she vigorously shakes her head and struts down the catwalk.
They Never Take The Country Out Me
Act 2: Revolution started with a series of clips known as the Propaganda interlude. The clips showed black musicians singing country, playing the banjo, and yodeling. Fast forward to present day and the hate spewed at her for deciding to make country music. America has a problem indeed! She stands at the podium performing “AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM” and continues on with “SPAGHETII”, “Formation”, “MY HOUSE”, and “Diva”.
Favorite moment: I loved the back and forth between ”MY HOUSE” and Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” lyrics serving as a transition into “Diva”.
Time Heals Everything. I Don't Need Anything.
Act 3: Refuge's Trailer interlude was like watching a Western film. Beyonce played the infamous Cowboy Carter. Cowboy Carter is the new gal in town. Tough as nails and colder than Titanic water. Those in her way best step out the way. This is what I like to call the ballad section. She performed “ALLIGATOR TEARS”, “JUST FOR FUN”, “PROTECTOR” where she brought out her youngest daughter, Rumi. Blue Ivy, her oldest daughter, was there as well, and she was owning the stage with her dance moves throughout the entire show. Clips of various moments with her twins came before "FLAMENCO".
Favorite moment: The tap dancer and guitarist at the end of “FLAMENCO” were chef's kiss!!
A-O-T-Y Who Ain't Win
Act 4: Marfa started with the Peep Show interlude where Beyonce is wearing different outfits and seems to be flirting with herself. I couldn't interpret this interlude as well as the others, but that's okay. I don't mind being wrong. Anyway, this section featured a slew of Cowboy Carter songs including “DESERT EAGLE”, “RIIVERDANCE”, and “LEVIl’s JEANS” and called back to Renaissance with “THIQUE”, “PURE/HONEY”, and “SUMMER RENAISSANCE”.
Favorite moment: She changed the lyrics during the BUCKIN’ segment from “A-O-T-Y I ain’t win” to “A-O-T-Y who ain’t win”. She did that because she won Album of the Year at the Grammy’s earlier this year. Speaking of the Grammy’s, did y’all see the new categories they created? One of them is Best Traditional Country Album. As we all know, Beyonce became the first black artist to win Best Country Album. That award has now been renamed to Best Contemporary Country Album. Bey's impact!
You Must Not Know 'Bout Me
Act 5: Tease began with the Outlaw interlude where Beyonce was a 400 foot cowboy walking through all the cities she performed at on this tour. She didn’t technically show the city of Houston. Instead, she picked up a baby alligator in an oil town surrounded by the desert. This is most definitely inspired by East Texas. (Think Midland or Abilene) It was the perfect transition into “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM”. This portion of the show was the longest and featured a string of songs from various albums. She performed iconic pop hits including “Crazy In Love” and “Single Ladies”, some more country songs such as a cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" and “Daddy Lessons”, and more from Renaissance like “CUFF IT” and “HEATED”.
Favorite moment: Our surprise song for both nights was a cover of Maze’s song “Before I Let Go”. It was permanently on the setlist for the Renaissance Tour as well. You can tell she loves that song and we love singing it back to her.
Been Off. Been On. Been Back. What You Know About That?
Act 6: Renaissance's interlude was called Holy Daughter. Various images of Beyonce in the bathroom of a night club, in a veil holding flowers, and smoking a cigarette spread across the screen. The acoustic guitar kicks in as she sings “DAUGHTER”. Then, she brings us back to the Renaissance with “I’M THAT GIRL”, “COZY”, and “ALIEN SUPERSTAR”. This is what I wanna see! Renaissance is my favorite album and the tour was amazing. I'm so happy she peformed some of the songs again, specifically "COZY" as that's a top 5 song from that album.
Favorite moment: During “DAUGHTER”, her dress was lighting up, glitching, and changing colors. That was really cool!
Them Old Ideas Are Buried Here
Act 7: Reclamation kicked off with the Legacy interlude. This series of clips showed the different versions of Beyonce including dancing in the living room growing up, performing as a member of Destiny’s Child, surgery on her knee, winning awards, and so many more milestones that led to her to this moment. At the end of the show, she sings the final two songs, “16 Carriages” and “Amen”. For “16 Carriages”, she flies around the stadium in a red car holding onto the American flag. On Night 1, there was an incident where the car was tipping too far to the right as you can see in the picture below. She said stop three times and thanked us for our patience, but was slowly brought down from the car. She walked to the stage and finished the rest of the song there. She skipped the song completely on night 2. She finished the legendary performance with “Amen”, the closer on both the album and this tour. She vehemently thanked us and took multiple bows. Lights shut off. She gone!
Favorite moment: I wish the car hadn't malfuntioned and she could've done it safely, but her singing in the car was a cool concept. Only Bey could pull up in those clothes, look so good, and have fantastic vocals before, during, and after a serious malfunction!
I'm One of One. I'm Number One. I'm The Only One.
Yes B. Yes you are. Earlier, I chose my favorite moment from each act, but I have to choose my overall favorite moment and that is… the entire show! It’s too hard to pick one moment because she played so many of my favorite songs. From fashion to vocal ability to choreography to personality to stage design to setlist design to visuals to celebrating black culture, she gave us everything. She’s also very stunning! I grew up listening to Beyonce because I was surrounded by people who loved Beyonce so this has been a lifelong journey for me and a dream come true to see her perform live. If you’ve never seen her live, you should definitely go when you have the chance. I'm done savin' this money, tonight we gon' ball out! That’s exactly what I did and I don’t regret it!
I’d like to praise her even further. She is the Queen of Incorporation. The way she interpolates/adds elements of her own songs and other artists’ songs into her setlist that contribute to the story she is telling is something that needs to be studied. She always pays homage to Texas! It is truly remarkable to see a black woman performing country music and breaking records. The album and tour are pivotal moments in music history. History can't be erased! (I promise that's the last lyric reference.) If I had to rate her performance, I would give it 10 10 10s across the board! (Okay. Now, I'm finished!) When we look back on Beyoncé’s legacy, it’ll be filled with times like this where she withstood unfair criticism and discrimination to create iconic moments! She is an inspiration to me and so many others. I could go on and on about how phenomenal Beyonce is because it’s true and her level of talent is extremely rare. In simplest terms, Beyonce equals legend.
Beyonce inspired me to write an article about country music's black roots. If you’re interested in that, it will be released later this month so be sure to check it out. Tour film? Visuals? Act lll? (My theory is contemporary and traditional rock with sub genres such as soft rock, new wave, blues, and even heavy metal.) Whenever Beyonce releases something, I will be reviewing it. Until then… A good night! (Tips hat)
Written By Jazz
*copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.