Only 8,000 Turn Out for Beyonce Tour Launch

If Beyonce and her camp needed any indication that her ship has sailed — they got it when she walked out on stage in Edmonton, Canada last night — and heard only crickets.

It seems they couldn’t give the tickets away!

From ONTD:

When it comes to Beyonce, Edmontonians should perhaps consider themselves very lucky.

Lucky that the “bootylicious” superstar even decided to grace an Edmonton stage again after her last turn at Rexall Place in 2007 only drew a crowd of 7,800 people, but even luckier that Beyonce would actually launch her brand new tour supporting her latest album, I Am … Sasha Fierce, in the City of Champions.

Whether it was a momentous occasion or just an opportunity to test out the show and work out the kinks in front of a “modest” audience — because, once again, only 8,000 fans turned out — will be left for those that attended to decide.

If Beyonce’s first outing on her I Am … tour was no major disappointment, it was still a somewhat muddled affair, one that didn’t really clear up where the line between Beyonce and her supposed “alter ego” Sasha Fierce is drawn.

Krysi J

UUUUUggggh! SANDRA!!
mimi08

Aint nobody but loser azz women with low self esteem and and fat women who think beyonce is their hero is even checking for her anymore. She has faded, only being kept alive by her die hard fans..but they will always be there for her. Nobody really cares about her now, she’s almost 30 and married, all the mystique is gone. The last nail gone be when she have a baby, then it’s gone be a done deal, and she knows that, that’s why she’s getting all she can now..

P.S. that mic look like it’s screaming cause her breath is probably straight fiyah.
MUNCHOSGIRL

Re: OFFICIAL YOUTUBE TOUR VIDEOS NRTH AMERICA & EUROPE / UK
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2009, 06:53:58 AM » Quote

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REVIEWS

http://www.edmontonsun.com/Entertainment/Music/2009/03/27/8901816-sun.html

Beyonce puts a ring on Rexall
By MIKE ROSS, SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA

Why on Earth would Beyonce choose Edmonton to be the first date of her new world tour?

Two words: Paid rehearsal. If something went wrong at Rexall Place last night, who cares? It’s Edmonton. Work out the kinks in the hinterland before upcoming dates in places like Vienna, Prague, Paris and London. Makes sense, doesn’t it? It may also explain the “no media” rule in force at the show last night. You wouldn’t want some kind of bootylicious wardrobe malfunction on the front page of the Edmonton Sun, would you? Or maybe you would.

Well, anyway, media ban or not, we can still buy a ticket – lots were available – and review the show. One word here: Spectacular.

I don’t know what she was worried about, if indeed she was. There were no kinks, not a single bad note or missed cue was evident. Drawing just 8,000 fans, the show had all the high-production bells and whistles you’d expect from the African-American queen of all media. As with her tour in 2007, there was also the extra-large all-girl band, the phalanx of backup dancers drilled in the latest artful choreography, songs spanning a remarkable career – solo and with Destiny’s Child – in a wide range of musical styles, not to mention a remarkable vocal range, and of course the riveting presence of the star herself.

The tour is called I Am … to support her latest double album I Am … Sasha Fierce. So in addition to seeing Beyonce’s alter-ego (that would be Sasha Fierce), which as far as I can tell is just the uptempo side of this ridiculously gifted artist, we can fill in the blanks in that loaded ellipsis at will. I Am … the new Tina Turner. I Am … one hell of a singer. I Am … blessed with a great butt. And so on. Sure, it’s a bit of a self-centred title for a tour, but in what was basically a celebration of all things Beyonce, who else would you want in the spotlight the entire time? Her image – in one revealing costume after another – filled the video screens. Her voice filled the arena. The extra-large all-girl band filled the spaces between, buying time for costume changes.

There was little that was subtle about this show, but some of the Canadian musical homages were appreciated – like a snippet from Sarah McLachlan in her a version of Ave Maria, or a blast from Alanis Morissette’s You Oughta Know in If I Were a Boy, the latter seeing Beyonce decked out in some armour-plated get-up like Aunty Entity in Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome. Like I said, she’s the new Tina Turner.

You might also quibble with some of the robotic wrinkles that weighed down the second half of the concert, though the flying through the air routine was entertaining in a Cirque du Soleil sort of way.

Beyonce can sing traditional R&B if she wants. She proved it late last night – wailing on the Etta James classic At Last, which she performed for the inauguration of U.S president Barack Obama.

There weren’t a lot of traditional R&B moments like that last night. Based on the new material, she seems more interested in reinventing the wheel and doesn’t seem clear on which way she’s going to go. With talent like this, it could be anywhere. It just doesn’t have to be everywhere.

The audience, which was forced to wait in the concourse for a full half hour while the band finished its soundcheck, got shafted on the opening act. It was just a mere four songs from 2006 Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila. She even seemed to forget the words to her own latest minor hit, from her second, album: Damned, as in “damned if I do, damned if I don’t.” There’s a message in there somewhere.
jazi65

She’s a great performer but eventually everyone gets tired of the same ole wind blown weave swinging, booty poppin skits that is bey/sash/whoeva she is this week. I peeped some of the outfits and I sure hope that was a trial run cause those costumes were ri – dam – diculously ugly!
http://myspace.com/thegameoncw Bird

Obviously she wasn’t expecting a huge crowd since she didn’t have one the last time yet still she went which is a good thing. She has fans and she is giving them what they want.

Beyonce is one touring fool. Someone is working that child to death. It seems like just yesterday she fell down the steps while on tour.
iscream

Nobody has money to spend on concerts that you will likely see for free on HBO in a few months.

MiMi that comment about who goes to see Bey show was so out of order.
Kat

8000 out of how many did the place hold?
anti-PC

LOL That Obama toilet tissue is hilarious on the other post!!!
Charles

I love beyonce she is fake and wears butt pads but she has agenuine ability to sing aandd I like it. Plus she’s never everr sold well in the uk don’t know why
Daisy

My gfriend thought I was fittin (yes fittin) to pay to see Beyawnce at Essnce I was like umm no I am only going to Essence to see Maxwell. I just got my tickets and they are great seats on the floor LOVE him! I would go to west hell to see him perform..lol I just saw him in Nov. can’t ever get enough.
iyonah

I wonder what the posters on this site look like that don’t have pics up ….
iscream

@ Daisy how many vacation days do you get a year?

Every other day you are going somewhere.

Did I read you were going to Paris just last week.

Is your job hiring?
MUNCHOSGIRL

IYONAH HAVE YOU SEEN THE TOUR CLIPS? SOME ARE ON YOUTUBE, BUT SONY AND MUSICWORLD ARE SNATCHING THEM DOWN. YOU KNOW WHERE YOU CAN FIND THEM.
Daisy

@Isc the 4th is a holiday so I dont need a vac day..lol I have never been to NO so I am looking forward to it outside of the HEAT I sweat easy..lol

Yes I am going to Paris in Sept. can’t wait!! I need to pay my gfriend my dep. Sun at church actually.

@Iyonah pics or no pics it won’t change anybodys opinion. I scrolled through the comments I dont recall anybody taking shots at her looks. I could have missed that though.
Daisy

@Isc I am up to 3wks vac now forgot to answer that. God is GOOD! I only went to Miami last yr and I am making up for it this yr.

@Iyonah I am feeling Keris cd
MzDetermined

8000 iz alot…I wouldn’t be made…son’t stadiums normally hold 10,000. 8000 is better than none.
MzDetermined

I meant “mad”
MUNCHOSGIRL

DAISY, I THINK IYONAH WAS REFERING TO THIS COMMENT FROM MIMI ABOUT APPEARANCES OF OTHER PEOPLE.

mimi08 Says:

Aint nobody but loser azz women with low self esteem and and fat women who think beyonce is their hero is even checking for her anymore.
Daisy

Thanks Munch-Sidebar I would put up a grav. or pic if I knew how..lol
candycane

8,000 isnt alot?
http://myspace.com/thegameoncw Bird

Daisy

New Orleans is THA BOMB!!!!! Love it love it love it. I have never been there when there were black events going on so it should be even more fun for you. Be sure to check out the fabulous art galleries in the French Quarter. But at night be prepared to have folks just stop what they are doing to vomit in the street and then go right back to partying. It is beyond fun.
MUNCHOSGIRL

WHETHER 8,80,800,8000 WAS THERE SHE PUT ON A SHOW WHERE IT LOOKED LIKE THE CROWD ENJOYED THEMSELVES, NOT TO MENTION HER HUSBAND WAS THERE TOO. SHE HAS OTHER SHOWS WHERE SHE HAD TO ADD MORE SHOWS, IT’S NOT TO HARD TO GRASP, EVERYONE DOESN’T LIKE BEYONCE, SO SHE WILL NOT HAVE SOLD OUT AFTER SOLD OUT SHOWS WORLDWIDE.
SMALONE

trust me it will get bigger watch sandra..
iscream

@ Daisy I wish u were in/near NY. I collect shot glasses. You would help fill my bar up.

I’m hating right now I would love to go to Pari, lol.

@ Munch & Iyonah have they added USA tour dates? Last I heard there were none or very little.
keely107

LMAO @ Iyonah! Dats my dawg! Anyway…just a question….so does changing your mind and opinions, after reading Sandra’s , classify you as a “loyal reader”? Im just saying, if that’s YOUR opinion regarding the POTUS fine, but why do you need side emails to validate your thoughts?
MUNCHOSGIRL

NO US DATES AS YET, THEY SAID THEY WILL ANNOUNCE THEM IN APRIL.
MUNCHOSGIRL

ISCREAM AND IYONAH SHE DID A PORTION OF ALANIS MORISSETTE’S “YOU OUGHTA KNOW” AS THE INTRO FOR “IF I WERE A BOY, CRAZY!”
Daisy

I love that song by Alanis
alexander

I can’t wait for Bey to come to Atlanta. I am going to have my Kettle in one hand and my other hand in the air party hard as hell. And I’ll bet she fills Phillips…how much you got on it?
masonmom

bey is gonna fill ANYWHERE she goes! just cuz canada aint caught on to it. she’s most DEFINITELY gonna sell out in DC! i cant wait…to win tkts off the radio cuz i dmn sure aint buying it. if not ill just buy it on dvd for $10 like her last tour!
http://thechoklitfactory.wordpress.com/ ChokLitFactory

I am from Edmonton, and I attended Beyonce’s last concert there. Edmonton is nicknamed Deadmonton for a reason…unless you are Britney Spears or NickelBack, you will NOT sell out in Edmonton. And I heard there were quite a few glitches and Ms. B was almost 2 hours late! So yes, it was def a paid rehearsel…

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