If You Are Going To The On The Run Tour At AT&T Park

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Expect quite a treat. I was lucky to be at the show for night one in San Francisco, and I am still mesmerized by what I saw.

Beyonce as a solo artist is powerful beyond words, so is Jay-Z, but together … well, together they are DYNAMITE on stage. One thing everyone noticed was that the rumors on their possible divorce could be palpable on how they delivered certain songs of the repertoire.

Bey got emotional when she performed “Why Don’t You Love Me,” oh and when she belted out JT’s part of “Holy Grail” – EMOTION GALORE! “It's amazing I'm in this maze with you; I just can't crack your code. One day you screaming you love me loud, the next day you're so cold. One day you're here, one day you're there, one day you care, you're so unfair…” Beyonce also delivered out of this world performances of "Ex-Factor" (by Lauren Hill), and when she performed “Resentment” everyone was glued to their seats, letting Queen Bey get sentimental.

Jay-Z was a bit less effusive, but when “Song Cry” came on, that’s when you knew he was letting it all out… “I can't see 'em comin down my eyes so I gotta make the song cry…” He even changed part of the lyrics to say “I can’t see ‘em coming down HER eyes so I gotta make the song cry…”

Photo Credit: Robin Harper / Life And Times

There were two key moments from the show, one was how throughout the time that they were on stage together you could sense the tension. But, the most heart-breaking moment was the encore-medley of “Forever Young” and “Halo." The giant screens on stage showed clips of their (private) wedding, as well as clips of Blue Ivy from where she was born to now that she is a toddler. Jay-Z embraced Bey as they were both singing, and looking at the screens. Their feelings were noticeable, Bey was teary-eyed, and Jay-Z looked slightly somber. 

Listen, I witnessed their 2010 Coachella performance of “Forever Young” and it was nothing like what I witnessed at the On The Run Tour. No lie, I started crying! You could tell what a beautiful family and marriage they used to have, and how it was crumbling right in front of our eyes – the rumor mill is most certainly true.

The music aspect and the production were incredibly impressive – both Beyonce and Jay-Z are quite the performers/business/money makers. As a friend said: “Beyonce gave Jay-Z class, and Jay-Z gave Beyonce the hustle and street cred that she needed.”

 

Because If Yonce And HOVA Are Over…

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Then there is really no hope left for us single mere mortals.

The universal consensus amongst most of my single friends is that we look to "successful" relationships or marriages as a typical guide as to what we want in our own personal lives. Yes, sometimes those come our way via famous people (possibly a terrible example), while others come via other friends or family members.

A friend and I will be going to the On The Run Tour in two weeks, and we could not be more excited – sadly a gray cloud dumped on us a few days ago as rumors surfaced on how Jay-Z is "allegedly" cheating on Queen Bey with designer Rachel Roy (reason behind Solange going cray-cray on him at the Met Gala), and how he is also "supposedly" keeping singer Mya as his side chick. 

"They are just rumors Azu," says my friend. But, as with all high-profile couples, there is always some truth to the rumor mill.

I have always been fascinated with Beyonce and Jay-Z, not only as artists (their music have influenced the younger generation of up-and-coming artists), but their private life has also been fascinating as well. From the moment they started dating, their romance has been on the limelight, and they somehow managed to be coy about it, and that in itself has brought a mystery as to how, when, why, where their romantic and financial empire was built.

I mean, how can Jay-Z cheat on Beyonce? This is a legitimate question people! Aside from physical beauty, she is a savvy business woman, a devoted mother, family oriented, and quite the talented singer as we all know. As another friend told me, there could be a million possibilities as to why he is "cheating." Obviously, if true, we the ordinary folks will never really know.

And so, that begs the question – if someone as beautiful, smart and talented as Beyonce gets cheated on, what hope is there for us single "girl next door" women of the world? A few weeks ago I was telling my friend how over the moon I was to be going to the show, to see them both live, to literally breathe Yonce's air. In an alternate universe, I honestly believed that her and her amazing love story could bring some good "dating juju" (if you would) to my ill-fated and often pathetic dating life. 

I remember when I saw them both at Coachella in 2010, their rendition of "Forever Young" was short of pure magic. You could see their love magically transpire through their harmonious voices, the love was felt in the way he looked at her, and she looked at him. For the duration of that performance, I got a glimpse of what a real and legit love looked like. I was there, front row, being crushed by the masses who wanted to make it to the front of the stage and experience what I was feeling.

If they do split after the tour is over, then what? Sure, there is a lot of money at stake. They both have managed to build a joint empire of unimaginable proportions. But, aside from the financial aspect, there is a baby girl who will have to grow up with her parents being divorced (as someone coming from divorced parents, IT SUCKS!) 

And, for us single ladies who semi looked up to their fantasy-perfect relationship – our idea of love will be forever crushed. If them being successful, and so in love couldn't keep their marriage together. Then, the common folks are doomed! Relationships and marriages take time, understanding, communication and trust. The lack of one, two or all of the mentioned most definitely break a twosome.

One thing I know, in order to protect my already disastrous dating karma, the day of the concert I will be carrying my invisible oxygen tank which will be the perfect accessory to the HOT outfit I already plan on wearing - lord only knows that I don't need the bad "dating juju." In the words of the great poet Jay-Z… all I need in this life of sin is me, my friends and my hot outfit. 

Photo Credit: Yosra El-Essawy / Life And Times