Blue Ivy is Here to Stay
and Beyonce just added another 10 years to Netflix' lifespan
It was the Super Bowl when Cowboy Carter was announced, and it was the Beyonce Bowl when it solidified itself as one of the greatest albums released this year.
That Super Bowl Instagram announcement of the first two singles— Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages— was one of those pop culture moments where you remember exactly where you were. Right up there with the Oscars Slap (A Hilton Hotel Room), the announcement of the Eras Tour (A Planet Fitness), and the rise and fall of Flappy Bird (after-school daycare).
This performance— originally a Ravens v. Texans Christmas Gameday Special now the Beyonce Bowl— is likely to also be one of those moments. It was a show riddled with anticipation; One buffer or crash and the Beyhive would never forgive Netflix. That Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight, however, quickly became a thing of the past when she turned a 12-minute halftime slot into a set that was more elaborate than many recent Super Bowl halftime performances.
Riding through the stadium on a horse, Beyonce began on a high note with aforementioned lead single 16 Carriages. Dressed in a cowboy hat and riding past vintage cars, she established the Rodeo theme off the bat and set the tone that this wasn’t about to be just her and a mic.
She then moved into Blackbiird accompanied by Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell, Brittany Spencer, and Tiera Kennedy. The guest list, along with all details of this performance, had been kept under wraps and it was a surprise to see Post Malone and Shaboozey also join her.
Blue Ivy, her eldest daughter, was arguably the biggest surprise guest in this show. Her first appearance came from the stands in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot during My House. Though background for this part, she remained full out and even kicked off some sections in clips that weren’t shown on TV but were captured by fans in the stands.
Blue Ivy was most spotlighted during Texas Hold ‘Em where she stood right beside her mother and held her own in a line dance. The 12-year-old has been stepping into the spotlight in the last few years, first joining her mother in several Renaissance Tour stops and now voicing Kiara in 2024 film Mufasa. This performance showed her commitment to earning her spot as she looked visibly more confident and comfortable with the moves.
The rest of the debut Cowboy Carter performance was complete with Ya Ya, Sweet Honey Buckin, Levii’s Jeans, and Jolene. Despite a quick tease, she did not end up performing Tyrant.
Beyoncé was heavily supported by hundreds of dancers and Texas Southern University’s Ocean of Soul Marching Band. These performers completed every transition, march, and floor arrangement seamlessly and brought the whole run to Super Bowl caliber. Also in line with this entire country era, Beyoncé payed respect to rodeo culture by bringing out Mexican Cowgirl Melanie Rivera, Bull Rider Myrtis Dightman Jr, former Miss Rodeo Texas Nikki Woodward, and the first Black Rodeo Queen in Arkansas Ja’Dayia Kursh.
The commitment to always elevating from her last performance is unparalleled and one of the things that continually sets Beyonce above and apart from her peers. Even with nods to marching bands, country music, other artists, and even her past self (see Beyonce’s Homecoming also on Netflix) she’s consistently shown that there is not just one way for her to be, or present her music. Every time she’s going to give you a show, and every time she’s going to reinvent the wheel and go places no one expects.
Her Instagram post during the performance can also not go noticed. It was a simple video of her on a horse waving a flag that quickly jumped to a flash screen saying “1.14.25.” It’s yet to be announced what that day is but the internet is already full of suspicion. Some say a tour for Cowboy Carter while others say the metal-like font is alluding to a rock album to complete ACT III. As of now, it’s to early to tell, but Yvette and Giselle if you’re reading this my inbox is open.