What Netflix is calling Beyoncé Bowl took the country by storm on Christmas Day. Boasting a record breaking 27 million views, the Beyoncé halftime performance was undeniable. And although just a 13-minute set, there’s a lot to unpack. So buckle up for the ride as we cover it all here.
As previously reported in November, Netflix was to air the live Christmas Day Houston Texans versus Baltimore Ravens NFL game where Beyoncé would headline the halftime show. Fans and naysayers alike flocked to television screens to watch what we knew would be the first Cowboy Carter performance since the album’s March release. But of course, that was all we knew at the time due to Beyoncé’s infamously tight-lipped circle.
The show started off with a pre-recorded performance of “16 CARRIAGES,” one of the 2 singles she released in February in preparation for her latest country themed album. She rode a pristine white horse onto an American flag draped runway placed inside of the field entrance tunnel. Dressed in all white, Beyoncé was guided by a horse handler also dressed in white, as she sang her heart out with American flags, cowboys, cowgirls, and Cadillacs in her background. This was immediately followed by a performance of “BLACKBIIRD” which to our pleasant surprise included Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts. As they each sang and harmonized their parts of the song, they walked side by side leading Beyoncé to a heavenly white light exiting the tunnel that opened to her official live performance.
Standing on an elevated platform, she shed herself of her white fur coat to reveal a white diamond studded bodysuit with matching chaps. Once she did her “one, two, tre, four” countdown, cleverly referencing her beloved Houston Third Ward neighborhood, the real show began. “YA YA,” the live show opener was where we noticed a couple more surprises. Not only was her former dance captain, Ashley Everett,” (who was noticeably absent during The Renaissance World Tour) by her side, but Blue Ivy was there as well! She blended right in with the professionals so much so that fans had to do a double take. Playfully yet in perfect unison Beyoncé, her dancers, and her band did exactly what we expected. Killed it!
They all made their way to another section of the field where they stood in formation on bleachers as the Renaissance era song “MY HOUSE” started to play. As the cameras zeroed in on Beyoncé you notice Blue, dancing directly behind her once again blending in like a professional. Then the cameras zoomed out just to show the bird’s eye view of the field and the words “MY HOUSE” were formed in the audience behind her with an organized crowd stunt. Assuming these were fans who took part in the stunt, they understood the assignment and they deserve their flowers.
Next was a mash-up of “RIIVERDANCE” and “SPAGHETTII.” Surrounded by a marching band and followed by her dancers she made her way toward the center of the field on a white and red striped path to meet another surprise performer, Shaboozey! He performed his verse on “SWEET HONEY BUCKIIN’ providing Beyoncé enough time to get to her next dance break which eventually led to “LEVII’S JEANS.” She danced in front of a denim-draped pickup truck that to our surprise was hiding Post Malone who was there to perform his verse in the song.
With about 4 minutes left of halftime, she quickly made her way to her next mark while viewers saw a Cadillac drive onto the field carrying Hannah McNair, the Texans Foundation president, and Cal McNair, the Houston Texans chairman and CEO, as they waved to the crowd. They were followed by another Cadillac carrying Ja’Dayia Kursh, Arkansas’ first Black rodeo queen, and Nikki Woodard, 2015 Miss Rodeo Texas winner and current MRT State Director. You could hear the band playing the instrumental for “JOLENE” in the background right before Beyoncé appears in a Cadillac of her own singing her version of the song.
Finally, she ended the mind-blowing show with a performance of the first released single of the album, “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM.” This is where Blue reappeared front and center for a square dance routine with her mother. Blue’s was also the last face we saw right before Beyoncé was elevated by a platform to the top of the stadium for her final note. The word “Bang” was seen on a banner that fell from underneath the podium as she took her final wild west cowgirl pose.
The entire performance was a mash up of HBCU culture, Texan heritage, southern Black American history, a parade, a hoedown, and a concert. With traces of New Orleans bounce music, majorettes, and baton twirlers the entire performance embodied everything Beyonce loves about her roots. And if you’ve been on social media that means you’ve likely seen the posts of the performance from people who were in the NRG Stadium. Those videos show exactly how intricate and precise the performance was. What we saw on Netflix was the theatrical masterpiece. What fans saw in person was the technical masterpiece of what it takes to put on a show of that magnitude and caliber while utilizing every bit of square footage available.
Only about a year and a half after her performance debut at the Renaissance World Tour, Blue’s confidence, and joy for performing beside her mother have seemingly grown. Her personality shined through with playful smirks, kisses she blew at the camera, and the waves she directed toward the crowd.
Additionally, seeing familiar faces like the aforementioned Ashley Everett and Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour dance captain, Amari Marshall, felt almost familial for fans. And Beyoncé including the artists featured in her album in her performance was a huge nod to this major era of collaboration she has walked into. That being said, you can continue to witness this magic on Netflix as Beyoncé Bowl is streaming on the platform now. Enjoy!
