The pop icon brought her career-spanning show to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, where she was named honorary mayor for the day, on Wednesday, Aug. 30, for some 50,000 members of the Beyhive, the “Cuff It” singer’s faithful fans. Many of them came prepared for an audience with Queen B, queuing for hours outside the venue, swarming the merch stands and bedecked in their finest chrome wares in tribute to the multi-talented star.
Ahead of the concert, Beyoncé put out a call asking anyone coming to the show to help celebrate her upcoming birthday on Monday, Sept. 4, by wearing something sparkly.
“Virgo season is upon us,” the singer wrote on Instagram. “This tour has been such a joy and as we approach the last month, my birthday wish is to celebrate with you wearing your most fabulous silver fashions to the shows 8.23-9.22! We’ll surround ourselves in a shimmering human disco ball each night. Everybody mirroring each other’s joy. Virgo season together in a house of chrome. See you there!”
The diva’s devotees did not disappoint.
Jalen Coleman, 25, of San Francisco, arrived with bedazzled gloves and a hat adorned with dangling crystals. Tahisha Victor, 36, of Oakland, wore a sequined dress and held an oversized fan emblazoned with the word “Shade.” Sierra Cook, 25, of San Francisco, was in an immaculate recreation of one of Beyoncé’s signature looks.
Johan Casal, 22, of Union City and a recent graduate from San Francisco State, meanwhile, wore fringed silver platform boots and a metallic chest plate. “This is a graduation gift to myself,” Casal said.
Quaniko Franklin, 46, of Oakland and a fan since the singer’s Destiny’s Child days, was looking forward to celebrating with the star.
“My birthday’s on Saturday. Beyoncé and I are two days apart,” Franklin said. “Virgos in the house!”
Sitting on a chrome piano on the side stage to sing “1+1,” the singer expressed her joy at the effort people put into their outfits.
“Bay Area, I love you,” she said.
Beyoncé is touring behind her Grammy-winning album, 2022’s “Renaissance,” with a futuristic stage design and set list that spans 20 years of solo material. With such an elaborate production planned for her one-night stop, Beyoncé has been permitted to perform until 11 p.m. Her concert is one of only five non-NFL events at Levi’s Stadium to receive a reprieve from the city’s strict 10 p.m. curfew during weeknights.
“As one of the most decorated artists in history, we are thrilled to have Beyoncé back here in Santa Clara as she contributes to the economic vitality of our city,” Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor said in a statement.
Check back for a recap of the concert.
Chronicle photographer Yalonda M. James and Arts and Entertainment Editor Mariecar Mendoza contributed to this report.
Reach Aidin Vaziri: [email protected]
