In a rousing end to her concert Cowboy Carter Tour stop in London, Beyoncé’s end-of-the-night closing act was more than just high notes and world-class dance moves but was history, heart, and homage.
Sir Paul McCartney (a Beatle, for crying out loud) wrote the song after being influenced by the American Civil Rights Movement and first performing the tune at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2009. Before an audience of thousands looking on awestruck, Beyoncé turned a stage into a place of reflection and reverence, paying homage to a song loaded with deep meaning across generations.
Following the performance, Beyoncé hit up IG with a heartwarming thank-you message to McCartney, saying, “Thank you, Sir Paul McCartney, for writing the most beautiful song ever written. And every time I sing it, I’m just so honored. Beyoncé also paid a fashionable tribute to McCartney’s daughter, fashion designer Stella McCartney, whose costume she wore for the performance. “It’s such a full circle moment; it’s just incredible to be wearing your beautiful daughter’s dress,” she said, wrapping music, legacy, and style together in one elegant tribute.
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This date in London was the last of six tour dates in the city, flashing some gratitude to her UK following before moving on. “Thank you, London, for making me and my family feel at home. Holla at ya when I come on tour again! she wrote, leaving the door open for another round of international magic.
The show was something of an extended, if one-off, tribute. Earlier this year, Beyoncé reenvisioned “Blackbird” on her Cowboy Carter album, titling it “Blackbird” and tapping an all-star slate of Black female country artists, including Brittney Spencer and Reyna Roberts, to reimagine the song through a contemporary, soulful perspective. The remake infuses fresh air into the 1968 original, though it does so against the backdrop of today’s cultural climate while paying tribute to its origins in the civil rights era.
Even Paul McCartney has complimented Beyoncé’s version, calling it “magnificent.” He added that fans should listen: “I think Beyoncé has done a great version, and I would encourage anyone who hasn’t heard it to listen. You are going to love it.”
In Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé continues to disrupt genre boundaries, paying homage to those who made pathways while clearing those pathways for other voices to rise. Her version of “Blackbird” and her homage to the McCartney family is more than a cover; they’re an extension of a dialogue that continues to feel current now.
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