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Why is Beyoncé in Edmonton?
Article Comments KATHERINE O'NEILL
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
March 27, 2009 at 11:38 AM EDT
Beyoncé
At Rexall Place
In Edmonton on Thursday
Why Edmonton?
Even die-hard Beyoncé fans were asking that question on Thursday night before the American pop superstar kicked off her world tour here in support of her third solo album, I am … Sasha Fierce.
During Beyoncé's last visit to Alberta's capital city in 2007, the 27-year-old singer-songwriter only attracted 7,800 fans. This latest effort went only slightly better, with about 8,000 seats being filled. The concert promoter even declined to offer press passes for the show.
Was this meant to be a so-called soft launch to fine-tune the production before it hits bigger cities later this year?
Nevertheless, Beyoncé proudly introduced her latest musical efforts, along with her alter-ego, Sasha Fierce, a tougher, ier, more sensual version of herself. She was supported by 13 female band members and backup singers, and a troupe of dancers, all of whom were decked out in often fantastical, power-glam creations by French designer Thierry Mugler. There was lots of tight leather, leotards and sequins.
Gold confetti fell on the crowd as Beyoncé launched her first show with the supercharged, fast-paced Sweet Dreams and Crazy in Love.
Throughout the evening, the former Destiny's Child lead singer travelled back and forth between her two personas, the sweet, vulnerable Beyoncé and the aggressive, edgy Sasha Fierce. At times, it all seemed a bit tired, even hokey.
During her ballad Ave Maria, Beyoncé's backup dancers transformed the Houston-born singer into a bride, complete with a veil.
There was also the inevitable "meeting" — where Beyoncé talks to Sasha, who appears on large video screens.
"I think you could be a lot more fierce," Sasha tells the singer.
"Sasha isn't the only one [who is] fierce," an unimpressed Beyoncé says to the crowd.
Theatrics aside, Beyoncé's chart-topping music — from Bootylicious to Irreplaceable to Halo — thrilled the audience. She offered up more than 30 songs, performing for two hours and 15 minutes, save tiny breaks for costume changes. (Be prepared for one metal and leopard-print number that sees Beyoncé's private parts light up like a Christmas tree.)
There was her tender and memorable version of Etta James's classic ballad At Last, which Beyoncé sang in January at one of President Barack Obama's inaugural balls in Washington.
Beyoncé also creatively reworked some of her music to include lines from songs such as the Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams and Sarah McLachlan's Angel.
The audience, which included Mr. Beyoncé — rap legend Jay-Z, went wild when the singer mixed lyrics from her new release If I Were a Boy with Canadian songstress Alanis Morissette's rock anthem You Oughta Know.
Beyoncé saved some of her most popular material for last, including the monster hit Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It). Cameras panned several times into the audience and showed women of all shapes and sizes happily dancing away.
Before leaving the stage, Beyoncé tried clearing up any confusion about who she actually is.
"Edmonton, I am … yours. Good night," she said.
Beyoncé performs at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg Saturday evening and in Vancouver at GM Place on Tuesday.
)
...I'm still watching "Diva" 
in If I Were a Boy, the latter seeing Beyonce decked out in some armour-plated get-up like Aunty Entity in Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome. Like I said, she's the new Tina Turner.
^