There’s a buzz in the air in Tiger Bay as Beyoncé’s fans – known as her Bey-hive – descend on Cardiff in glitter and sequins, having all picked up the singer’s unspoken memo to wear silver.
It’s the first night of the UK leg of her Renaissance tour and fans have travelled from all over Europe to be here among the 70,000-strong crowd at the Principality Stadium.
And boy, was it was worth the effort. The dancing is impeccable and the costumes are mesmerising as the biggest star on the planet puts on a show.
She kicks off by applauding all the cowboy hats she can see in the crowd before launching into a three-hour disco extravaganza of 40 of her greatest hits.
She starts with a slow number, which is unusual for a stadium gig, but it’s Beyoncé, so it works. Dangerously in Love and 1 + 1 get the audience warmed up.
Then, she plays the latest, crowd favourite Renaissance album in its entirety, as well as her hits from over the decades, including Crazy in Love and Run the World (Girls).
She fuses a riff on Madonna’s Vogue with Break My Soul, which includes a shout-out to Lizzo and her former bandmate Kelly Rowland, to the crowd’s delight.
She has so many hits that there is a giant screen placed in the middle of the stadium showing her lyrics, should she require it. Even if she didn’t, it helps the crowd sing along.
The gig is split into different phases, with Renaissance kicking off the second with I’m That Girl.
It features a futuristic robotic Beyoncé on screen before the real thing bursts out of metal shackles and walks down a few steps to an eruption of cheers.
Yes, Beyoncé literally gets celebrated for walking down some stairs – but, in fairness, she even makes that look like art.
Her outfits are certainly artistic triumphs.
She wears Tiffany jewellery, a shimmering, sequinned suit by Alexander McQueen, a beautiful bodysuit adorned with arms by Loewe, and holographic designs by David Koma.
And, of course, there’s a bee-inspired corset dress by Mugler, in homage to her hive.
She looks incredible and she sounds phenomenal.
And, with apologies to all those who didn’t manage to get a ticket, it’s just a brilliant show.
