Review: Beyoncé & Jay Z On the Run Again at Soldier Field

When it comes to music legends, only a few names come to mind. Michael, Prince, Whitney and of course Beyoncé.

Unfortunately, I never got the chance to see Michael Jackson, Prince or Whitney perform live before their untimely deaths, but I did get the opportunity to see the incomparable former Destiny Child frontwoman this past weekend.

To be clear, I saw Beyoncé in concert 15 years ago when she joined Tamia, Alicia Keys and Missy Elliott for Verizon’s Ladies First Tour in 2003. Sure, I saw Beyoncé, but not THE Beyoncé we know and love today. At that time, she was coming into her own as a solo artist beyond the confines of the quartet-turned-trio pop group that made her a household name. Oh, and Miss Knowles wasn’t even the tour’s headliner. Hard to imagine, right? Well, a lot has changed in 15 years.

Fast forward to today and she’s Mrs. Carter, a mother of three selling out stadiums with her husband, Jay Z. The power couple joined forces a second time for their “On the Run II,” tour—making stops around the country following their international leg of the show.

Although I live in Brooklyn, as a native Chicagoan, I wanted to see the show in the Windy City with my cousin and am glad I did. Seeing the powerhouse duo take the stage together at Soldier Field with the city’s gorgeous, gleaming skyline in the background was an unforgettable experience.

Chicago’s breathtaking architectural beauty was the perfect backdrop for what would be a phenomenal, music-filled night.

With scores of hit songs between them, it’s a difficult feat squeezing two Grammy-award winning catalogues into one show, but they did.

From Beyoncé’s chart-topping songs like, “Formation,” “I’m Sorry,” and “Crazy in Love,” to Jay Z’s “Song Cry” and “The Story of O.J.,” the couple performed songs that got the crowd going well, apeshit.

But nothing got the audience more excited than when they performed together. That is what people paid to see, right? The superstar singer and the hip-hop legend make music magic for loyal, enthusiastic fans. And magic was made. When they graced the stage performing renditions of their classic duets like, “Me and My Girlfriend,” “Drunk in Love,” and “Déjà vu” the crowd went wild.

Throughout the night, the pair took audiences on a musical journey — essentially, it was a love story set to song. Like every love story, there are ups and downs and it just so happens that their story has been in the spotlight for years, spawning subsequent musical masterpieces. Hello, “Lemonade” and “4:44.”

The nearly two-and half-hour show was filled with amazing costume changes, energizing music and love. The bond between Beyoncé and Jay Z is palpable. Like most relationships, they’ve been through a lot, but seem to still have “Love on Top.”