I Am... (Beyoncé tour): Difference between revisions

The I Am... World Tour received rave reviews from critics. Mike Ross of the website [[Jam!]] gave Knowles' "spectacular" performance 4.5 out of 5 stars stating that she proved she could sing [[Rhythm and blues|traditional R&B]] if she wanted with the cover of [[Etta James]]' "At Last".<ref name="jam!">{{cite web|title=Rexall Place, Edmonton|date=March 26, 2009|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/B/Beyonce/ConcertReviews/2009/03/27/8904821-sun.html|last=Ross|first=Mike|publisher=[[Jam!]]. [[Sun Media]]|accessdate=June 13, 2013}}</ref> He further noted that the show had "high-production bells... a wide range of musical styles... a remarkable vocal range, and of course the riveting presence of the star herself."<ref name="jam!" /> Stephanie Classen of ''[[The Star Phoenix]]'' remarked, "Beyoncé doesn't really need the bells and whistles of a big stadium show, but it sure makes for an unforgettable concert."<ref name="sp"/> Additional praise was received from Randall King of the ''Winnipeg Free Press'' who graded her "lavishly produced" performance 4 stars out of 5, saying, "In Sasha-mode... Knowles is raw energy convincingly expressing a live hard/work hard ethos with every shimmy and nimble vocal trill... But Beyoncé... showed feeling ... with more ballad-y numbers" further noting that her split-personality "bounces back and forth" throughout the show.<ref name="press">{{cite web|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/entertainment/music/part-vamp-part-demure----all-beyonce-42072442.html|title=Part vamp, part demure – all Beyoncé|date=March 29, 2009|accessdate=March 31, 2009|last=King|first=Randall|work=[[Winnipeg Free Press]]}}</ref> Alice Jones of ''The Independent'' noted that whether Knowles performed power balladry, dancehall or electro songs, "she sings her heart out" and further praised the "astonishingly high-energy show, the ambitious choreography barely grazing her perfect, lung-busting vocals which run from caramel smooth to honeyed foghorn".<ref name="independentuk" /> She concluded her review by saying, "Watching Beyoncé sing and strut her stuff can feel at best overawing, at worst, alienating. She takes her role as entertainer so seriously she's almost too good."<ref name="independentuk">{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Alice |title=Beyoncé, 02 Arena, London:Diva who answers the call of booty |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/beyonc-02-arena-london-1691069.html |work=[[The Independent]]|date=May 27, 2009|accessdate=May 23, 2009}}</ref> Ben Ratliff of ''The New York Times'' writes, "there is a breathtaking elegance in her acute desire to entertain" further saying that "the whole point of the dazzling show was to make you ask how she does it. Not just physically, but organizationally."<ref name="nytimes" /> Ratliff also praised Knowles' "hollering voice, her imperious movement, her costume changes and the show's crush of concepts with their long tails of reference."<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|last=Ratliff|first=Ben |title=Flash, Concepts and, Yes, Songs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/arts/music/23beyonce.html |work=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 22, 2009|accessdate=May 23, 2009}}</ref> Deborah Mcaleese and Lauren Mulvenny of ''[[The Belfast Telegraph]]'' described the show as "incredible... mind blowing... [and] electrifying".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/in-pictures-beyonc-in-belfast-28496556.html|title=In Pictures: Beyoncé in Belfast|work=[[The Belfast Telegraph]]|first1=Deborah|last1=Mcaleese|first2=Lauren|last2=Mulvenny|date=June 1, 2009|accessdate=June 15, 2013}}</ref> A writer of ''[[Evening Chronicle]]'' wrote that Knowles proved she was the best entertainer "with a two-hour set packed with bling, glamour and, most importantly, enthusiasm", further praising her for singing the songs live "hit[ting] every note" while dancing to her choreography.<ref name="chronicle" /> The writer further chose the performances of "Ave Maria", "At Last" and "Listen" as highlights during the show describing Knowles' vocals as "incredible".<ref name="chronicle">{{cite news|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/review-beyonce-newcastle-metro-radio-1454916|title=Review: Beyonce at Newcastle Metro Radio Arena|work=[[Evening Chronicle]]|date=May 23, 2009|accessdate=June 15, 2013}}</ref> Similarly, Jay Hanna of ''The Sunday Times'' chose the same songs as highlights during the show, further saying that "Halo" was the most memorable moment of the night. She also praised Knowles' "enviable" dancing skills, compared her with [[Dionne Warwick]] but noted that, "Her brilliant performance, which was only let down by weaker, less melodic songs such as Get Me Bodied or Upgrade U, was matched by spectacular production and audio visuals."<ref name="perth" /> Jay Lustig of ''The Star-Ledger'' also wrote that "At Last" and "Listen" were as "riveting as anything that had come before", further choosing the performances of "You Oughta Know" and "Halo" as other highlights.<ref name="nj.com" /> Lustig described the show as a "[[Good faith|bona fide]] pop spectacle" noting that many of the songs which were performed had futuristic themes.<ref name="nj.com" /> Jim Farber from the ''Daily News'' viewed the tour as "a huge upgrade in charm, humor and chops" and added that "Beyoncé's presence punctuated her singing like an exclamation point".<ref name="farber" />