There's a lot to be learnt from being under the influence. Decisions made in such circumstances always allow the inevitable get out of jail clause to be used alongside the 'perception' of hindsight, but sometimes the truth of the matter is that inebriation can offer judgement more astute than the conscious mind. That explaining the reason I found myself at a Beyonce gig, the scepticism was left at the proverbial door.
Granted I didn't really 'get' quite a few of her songs, the screaming kids or incessant military policing of said 14 year old's, but that aside I found her show a thorough masterclass for others to aspire to. Comparing dishcloths to cravats isn't always helpful, but the last ever [question mark] gig of Oasis' at the V Festival that I witnessed left me feeling that even as an aspiration Beyonce was just too ludicrous to even contemplate.
My expectations admittedly were low; a Kylie-inspired dance-a-thon and upmarket karaoke perhaps? It didn't even enter my mind there may be a costume change! (I stopped counting at 10) and as for singing live......? My ultimate feeling was that I wasn't sure what a singer such as Beyonce could offer that was worth the cost of attending. I found out.
The dance routines alone were worthy of commendation and the live singing flawless but the enegry and execution at which they were both seamlessly combined left me feeling very humbled. Not that I can properly comment having only seen it on YouTube out of curiosity, but Cheryl Cole's 'live' performance on the X Factor leaves so much to be desired.
Beyonce sang for a full two hours, with the occasional song's rest to accommodate costume changes. Her ballads had a air of Whitney Houston about them, thankfully minus the contemporary tendency to 'over-blow' (she avoids screaming merely because her voice can) and offers genuinely lyrical melodies that even in a huge reverberating stadium are fantastic to experience. The more up tempo numbers are delivered with a commanding control that belies the rigour of the dance routines and are appreciated beyond belief by a hugely energetic, shrilled audience.
Her band was the single most impressive band I've heard since (and I almost dare not say) some of the latin numbers executed so exceptionally by the Strictly Come Dancing house band! (Both bands really are that good!). The fact Beyonce employs an all female band is secondary to their talent and the only worthy observation on the subject is other musician's reluctance to follow suit. They were tight, dynamic and played a range of different styles. For all the dancing her Trumpet player indulged in whilst performing, I would have had to mime!
Stevie Wonder aside, I can't think of an artist currently performing who could achieve the same level of success and produce quality in so many different areas: vocals, dancing, style, stardom, humility were all on show in abundance and you left feeling privileged to have experienced them. A gentle dig into her background and upbringing suggest a Michael Jackson-esque talent nurtured and guided from an early age that involved primarily hard work and talent. Whatever the cost of such upbringing it has paid untold dividends.
A hugely likeable personality with a show second to only the legend who is Stevie Wonder. It was not what I was expecting but I'm extremely happy it's what I got!
[YouTube clip is taken from Tara Welsh, shot at a Beyonce gig in Liverpool and chosen virtue of the only clip I could find of any quality and primarily to showcase live vocals]
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