Beyoncé 2023 Dubai performance
Concert by Beyoncé
LocationPalm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
VenueAtlantis The Royal
Date(s)January 21, 2023
Attendance1,000–1,500[1][2]

On January 21, 2023, American singer Beyoncé was asked to perform for an invitation-only crowd at Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah to commemorate the unveiling of a new luxury resort hotel, Atlantis The Royal. This was her first live performance since 2018. Beyoncé was reportedly paid over $24 million for the show, making it the highest-paying private concert in history, according to Forbes.

The ballad-heavy show was part of a three-day launch event for the hotel, in which journalists, celebrities, and influencers were invited.

Despite having a no-phone policy, to prevent unlawful recordings, attempts to enforce these (and other) security measures largely went unnoticed, as many attendees filmed the concert successfully and uploaded the videos online. Parkwood Entertainment, Beyoncé's production company, subsequently released limited official photos and footage of the concert online.

Background

Beyoncé invites you to a weekend where your dreams become your destination. You and a guest are invited for epicurean feasts, beachside indulgences, and special reveal experiences including business class airfare, first-class ground transportation, and first-class accommodations at Atlantis the Royal.

—Pitchfork's invite.[3]

Beyoncé had first performed in Dubai in 2005, during Destiny's Child’s Destiny Fulfilled... and Lovin' It world tour, in which the trio performed at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre.[4] She then performed in the United Arab Emirates again as a solo artist, in 2009, during a pit stop on the I Am... World Tour at the Yas Marina Circuit for the inaugural 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi.[5]

On December 23, 2022, British tabloid newspaper The Sun broke the news that Beyoncé would give an hour-long private performance at Atlantis, The Royal, on January 21, 2023, for allegedly more than $20 million.[6] The concert was also noted as Beyoncé's first live appearance since the release of her seventh studio album, Renaissance, which came out just six months earlier.[7][8] According to Forbes, Beyoncé was reportedly paid $24 million to perform for Atlantis The Royal, making her the highest-paid artist—at a one-time, private performance—in history.[9]

Various publications were sent invites to a weekend in Dubai with courtesy expense and transport[3] and promised an unspecified "once-in-a-lifetime" performance.[10] Beyoncé reportedly underwent foot surgery before the performance.[11]

On January 18, three days before the concert, fans reported hearing soundchecks for several of Beyoncé's songs outside the hotel.[12][13] Security lined up around the area in preparation for the event.[14]

Performance

On January 21, Beyoncé gave the private performance in front of Atlantis The Royal hotel.[15] It was ballad-heavy[16] and her first concert since 2018.[17] There was a fireworks display and drone show.[18] Beyoncé performed seventeen tracks from her own discography while interpolating and incorporating elements of other songs. Companioning Firdaus Orchestra performed renditions of songs by regional musicians, including Algerian singer Warda's "Batwanes Beek", and Lebanese singer Fairuz's "Li Beirut".[19] Beyoncé performed "Brown Skin Girl" with her daughter Blue Ivy.[20]

The show incorporated Renaissance-era and Middle Eastern instruments like the oud (stringed lute), buzuq (a long-necked, fretted lute), riq (tambourine) and darbuka (goblet drum).[21] Beyoncé was accompanied by musical ensemble 1500 or Nothin', and Firdaus Orchestra, a 24-nationality, Dubai-based all-woman orchestra.

Beyoncé was backed by Lebanese all-female dance group The Mayyas. She was raised 16 feet into the air.[19]

Swedish House Mafia performed following Beyoncé at the opening's afterparty.[22]

Fashion and stage design

Beyoncé aimed to highlight emerging regional talent instead of those established. She did three costume changes, and was styled by frequent stylist collaborator KJ Moody. Two chosen up-and-coming designers included Mousa Al Awfi and Rayan Al Sulaimani[2] through the Dubai-based mother-daughter owned label Atelier Zuhra, and Chris Habana for a Nicolas Jebran piece. Al Awfi tailored a yellow gown with a high feathered skirt, Manolo Blahnik shoes,[16] a structured bare corset and a Marabou train resembling wings. Jebran tailored a full cape skirt linked to a red corset with gold stone embellishments, to which Beyoncé wore Lorraine Schwartz earrings and a Habana-styled Swarovski-crystal embellished "halo" headpiece. Beyoncé closed the show dressed in Malone Souliers shoes[16] and in a custom pink "firework-inspired" corset dress by Ukrainian designer Ivan Frolov, who created it in the brand's Kyiv workshop against a "backdrop of catastrophic circumstances," to pay homage to the people of Ukraine.[23][24]

Beyoncé's daughter Blue Ivy was dressed in a red sequin jumpsuit designed by her grandmother Tina Knowles and Timothy White.[17] In coordination with Beyoncé's wardrobe team and the event's general theme, the Firdaus Orchestra wore red sequined gowns and jumpers, designed by Arshia Alam of Emirati brand Arshys, who has worked with the orchestra since their debut performance.[21]

The stage backdrop was inspired by Ancient Greece as a reimagined version of Raphael's "The School of Athens" painting, with Black phenotypical features and hair textures of white stone sculptures, instead of those originally painted of white people.[25][16] The Firdaus Orchestra studio staff and Adi Modi created the stage monitors for the orchestra and concert.[26]

Audience

No photography or video is permitted for this private Beyoncé performance. We ask that you enjoy this once in a lifetime show and therefore no photography or videography will be permitted. We request that you put your phone in the pouch provided to respect the privacy of the artist. We will be messaging you towards the end of the show to let you know when you can capture the grand reveal moment.

—Memo circulated to all guests, titled "The Royal Reveal"[14]

The performance was invite-only[27] and the concert had a no-phone policy. Attendees were asked to put their phones or any other recording devices in locked pouches to stop them from filming the performance.[28][29] Despite this and other security measures, many videos of the concert quickly surfaced online.[30] Some non-invitees livestreamed the concert online as it happened from across the waterbody surrounding Atlantis The Royal.[29] American singer Lizzo watched one of these, tweeting "I have seen Beyoncé perform live 10 times in my lifetime... and today the 11th time was on [an Instagram] live across a body of water of a hotel."[31] Beyoncé's production company Parkwood Entertainment then made a small number of official concert images and clips available to the public.[32][33]

Launch event

Atlantis The Royal was originally set to open in October 2022 but was rescheduled for 2023.[34] The resort became open to the public and available for reservation on February 10, 2023, and the launch event lasted three days.[18] Journalists, celebrities, and influencers were invited,[7] given accommodation at the hotel and given first class airfare on Emirates.[10]

January 22

Beyoncé hosted a fashion show to showcase an Ivy Park collection titled "Park Trail". Models displayed items at Nobu by the Beach (one of the eight restaurants at the resort). Some items of clothing worn from the collection included jackets, coats, blazers, hoodies, sweat suits and jersey dresses. The pieces were "inspired by the resilience of the outdoors, the spirit of the streets, and the possibilities of the future". Beyoncé did not attend but instead her music was DJed by her creative director Andrew Makadsi. Songs included "Break My Soul," "Cuff It," "Cozy" and "Heated", all from Renaissance. Also played was Janet Jackson’s "What Have You Done for Me Lately" and Madonna’s "Vogue".[35]

Public response

Leaked clips from the performance went viral on social media.[36] Beyoncé's new vocal arrangements for "Drunk in Love" sparked vocal challenges online, especially on TikTok,[37] in which fans attempted to recreate them. Some of the hashtags included #DrunkInLoveChallenge and #BeyonceInDubai.[38]

Controversies

Some journalists called into question the ethical implications of invited journalists' expenses being covered by Beyoncé. Kristal Brent Zook said that this was unethical because it defied the code of ethics set out by the Society of Professional Journalists. Yanick Rice Lamb, professor at Howard University, said that journalists should have denied the invitation, as they would be more inclined to cover the event positively because of the "once-in-a-lifetime experience" being offered to them.

Beyoncé was criticized for performing in Dubai due to the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) criminalization of homosexuality.[39] According to the BBC, Beyoncé's most recent album Renaissance celebrated and honored black queer culture and paid tribute to "dance music that emerged out of the gay community." In an interview with BBC Newsbeat, music journalist Abigail Firth said that Renaissance was "indebted to LGBT culture" and the performance "seem[ed] like a really misguided choice."[40] Human rights advocate Radha Stirling said that the concert sent people a "mixed message" of the United Arab Emirates as a "tolerant country" and "whitewash[ed]" the reality of its laws. She said "fans who follow their favorite singer to Dubai could face extreme human rights violations if accused of infringements of the UAE's strict homosexuality, offensive behavior and alcohol consumption laws."[41] The controversy sparked a larger conversation as to whether or not popstars should perform in countries where homosexuality is illegal.[42]

Some Emiratis in the LGBTQ community did not share negative sentiments. A queer Emirati woman spoke to Newsweek detailing surprise from her native circle, saying "the outrage comes from an international audience with little knowledge of the UAE and the type of events that periodically take place here." She referenced musicians who are LGBTQ or LGBTQ allies who have performed in the region before, such as Lady Gaga, Elton John, Adam Lambert and Boy George.[41] The Guardian referenced the London School of Economics' research into western gay men and their ability to evade punishment in the UAE, by "us[ing] their economic, social and cultural privileges to create communities where they can meet and socialize."[28] Newsweek also featured a gay Emirati man who communicated that he viewed the real issue was the private nature of the performance, and expressed frustration at western notions of the Emiratis' experience in the UAE as a "super harsh" experience.[41] In an interview with TMZ, Beyoncé's father Mathew Knowles defended the performance, saying that the concert "united a diverse audience", and that she gave and received respect to the UAE. He described the criticism as "narrow-minded" and referenced Beyoncé's history of support for the LGBTQ community, how she "would never deliberately hurt someone" and always stood for inclusiveness.[43][44]

Set list

The following songs were performed at the concert.[45][46][16]

  1. "At Last"
  2. "XO"
  3. "Flaws And All" (includes an instrumental interpolation of Camp Lo’s 1997 single "Luchini AKA This Is It")
  4. "Ave Maria"
  5. "Halo"
  6. "Brown Skin Girl" (with Blue Ivy) (includes interpolated lyrics from India.Arie’s 2001 single "Brown Skin")
  7. "Be Alive"
  8. "Spirit of Rangeela" (performed by Firdaus Orchestra with a dance set from The Mayyas)
  9. "Otherside"
  10. "Bigger"
  11. "Spirit"
  12. "Freedom"
  13. "I Care"
  14. "Beautiful Liar"
  15. "Batwanes Beek" (performed by Firdaus Orchestra with a dance set from The Mayyas)
  16. "Crazy in Love" (containing elements of the Fifty Shades of Grey remix)
  17. "Countdown"
  18. "Naughty Girl" (containing elements of Jay-Z's 2002 Mundian To Bach Ke remix)
  19. "Drunk in Love"

References

  1. ↑ Bloom, Madison (January 22, 2023). "Beyoncé Gives First Performance Since 2020 at Dubai Hotel Opening". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  2. 1 2 McKinney, Jessica (January 23, 2023). "7 Highlights from Beyoncé's Exclusive Dubai Performance". Complex. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Beyonce Invites Journalists and Influencers to Dubai for Luxury Weekend". Pitchfork. January 20, 2023. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  4. ↑ Saeed, Saeed (June 27, 2019). "From Bieber's antics to Beyonce's work ethic: UAE music promoter Thomas Ovesen spills his best celebrity tales". The National. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Beyonce, Aerosmith To Play Abu Dhabi". Associated Press. September 28, 2009. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Beyonce in Dubai: Singer to play $24m gig at Atlantis The Royal in January". Arabian Business. December 24, 2022. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Legaspi, Althea (January 21, 2023). "Beyoncé Performs in Dubai, Her First Full Concert in Four Years". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  8. ↑ Malone, Chris (January 24, 2023). "Beyoncé's Dubai Concert Didn't Feature Any Songs From 'Renaissance'". Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  9. ↑ Washburn, Emily (January 23, 2023). "Beyoncé Reportedly Pocketed At Least $24 Million For Private 'Atlantis The Royal' Performance — Here's Where She Lands In The Top 10 Most Expensive Private Performances". Forbes. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  10. 1 2 Abraham, Mya (January 23, 2023). "Beyoncé Reimagines Classic Hits For Atlantis The Royal Grand Reveal In Dubai". Vibe. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  11. ↑ Oatman, Alexis (January 21, 2023). "Beyoncé Was Reportedly Recovering From Foot Surgery Before A Private Show In Dubai". Uproxx. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  12. ↑ Shutler, Ali (January 21, 2023). "Fans criticise Beyoncé's involvement with luxury Dubai weekender". NME. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  13. ↑ Armstrong, Megan (January 18, 2023). "Beyoncé Was Seemingly Overheard At The Sound Check For Her Upcoming Dubai Concert". Uproxx. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Atlantis The Royal: No Photographs or Videos Allowed During Beyoncé Performance". Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Beyonce performs in first concert since 2018 for luxury hotel launch in Dubai". January 22, 2023. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Ruff, Rivea (January 22, 2023). "Beyoncé Returns To The Stage After A 5-Year Hiatus For The Grand Reveal of Atlantis The Royal in Dubai". Essence. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Nnadi, Chioma (January 22, 2023). "The Story Behind Beyoncé's 3 Epic Dubai Performance Looks". British Vogue. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  18. 1 2 Cullinan, Charlotte (January 23, 2023). "Watch Beyoncé perform at the opening of Atlantis The Royal". TTGMedia. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  19. 1 2 Melendez, Miguel (January 21, 2023). "Beyonce's First Concert in Four Years Features Blue Ivy Onstage in Dubai". ET Online. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  20. ↑ Shutler, Ali (January 22, 2023). "Watch Beyoncé perform her first concert in four years". NME. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  21. 1 2 "Expo City Dubai's Firdaus Orchestra accompany Beyoncé to deliver stunning performance at opening of Atlantis The Royal". Expo City Dubai. January 23, 2023. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Swedish House Mafia live at Dubai's Atlantis The Royal opening". January 22, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  23. ↑ Blair, Olivia (January 23, 2023). "Beyoncé champions emerging designers for first performance in four years in Dubai". Harper's Bazaar. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  24. ↑ Chris Habana [@chrishabana] (January 26, 2023). "@beyonce wears a Custom CHRISHABANA Halo inspired Crown embellished with @Swarovski crystals for her recent live performance at the grand opening of Atlantis The Royal Dubai @atlantistheroyal". Retrieved February 18, 2023 – via Instagram.
  25. ↑ Betancourt, Bianca (January 22, 2023). "All About Beyoncé's Exclusive Dubai Concert". Harper's Bazaar. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Beyonce and Orchestral Girl Power". The New Indian Express. January 31, 2023. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  27. ↑ "See Nia Long, Halle Bailey, Chlöe, Rebel Wilson in Dubai for Beyoncé's secret concert". USA Today. January 23, 2023. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  28. 1 2 Snapes, Laura (January 22, 2023). "Beyoncé makes controversial live return at exclusive Dubai concert". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  29. 1 2 Vassell, Nicole (January 22, 2023). "Beyoncé gives first live concert performance in more than four years in Dubai". The Independent. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  30. ↑ Truffat-Wong, Olivia (January 22, 2023). "Beyoncé Said No Phones, Fans Disobeyed". The Cut. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  31. ↑ Gonzalez, Alex (January 21, 2023). "Noted Beyhiver Lizzo Revealed She's Seen Beyoncé Perform 11 Times, And In Some Surprising Places". Uproxx. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  32. ↑ Sisavat, Monica (January 22, 2023). "We Have an Exclusive Look at Beyoncé's Private Performance at Dubai's Atlantis The Royal". PopSugar. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  33. ↑ Melendez, Miguel (January 21, 2023). "Beyonce's First Concert in Four Years Features Blue Ivy Onstage in Dubai". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Dubai's Atlantis The Royal grand opening: Massive fireworks, Beyoncé, Swedish House Mafia". Arabian Business. January 18, 2023. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Beyoncé Previews Park Trail, Newest Adidas x Ivy Park Collaboration, in Dubai". Hollywood Reporter. January 22, 2023. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  36. ↑ Katira, Kirtika (January 22, 2023). "Beyonce breaks the internet with her first performance in 4 years". WION. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  37. ↑ Pearson, Emerson (January 26, 2023). "Maren Morris Flexes Vocal Range While Singing Beyoncé's 'Drunk In Love' In TikTok Challenge". ET Canada. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Beyonce's EPIC Dubai Concert Finale Sparks Social Media Frenzy As Fans Join #DrunkInLoveChallenge". January 25, 2023. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  39. ↑ Okundaye, Jason (January 25, 2023). "Beyoncé's Dubai performance isn't just an affront to LGBTQ+ fans, but workers' rights in the UAE". The Guardian. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Beyoncé divides fans with Dubai Atlantis Royal live show". BBC. January 23, 2023. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  41. 1 2 3 Power, Shannon (January 27, 2023). "Beyoncé LGBTQ Fans in Dubai Speak Out Over Concert Backlash". Newsweek. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  42. ↑ Prance, Sam (January 24, 2023). "Beyoncé sparks debate among LGBTQ+ fans after performance in Dubai". Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  43. ↑ Richards, Will (January 26, 2023). "Beyoncé's father hits out at "narrow-minded" criticism of Dubai gig". NME. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  44. ↑ Adejobi, Alicia (January 25, 2023). "Mathew Knowles insists Beyonce wouldn't 'deliberately hurt someone' amid LGBTQ+ backlash over Dubai show". Metro. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  45. ↑ Hepburn, David (February 2, 2023). "Beyonce Tickets Presales: Here's how to get a ticket for Beyonce's Edinburgh Murrayfield show before the general online sale – and the likely setlist". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  46. ↑ Gillett, Katy (January 23, 2023). "Mayyas and Firdaus Orchestra speak of 'honour' to perform with Beyonce in Dubai". The National. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
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