True Life Mom Confession :: “I’m A Member Of The Beyhive”
It all started back in 1998 when I first saw the music video for Destiny Child’s “No, No, No (Part 2).” The catchy hip hop beat, the lyrics and the four young sirens singing them had teenage me hooked from that point on. While the group line up changed over the years going from four girls to “DC-3,” the standout star was always Beyoncé. She was beautiful but also down to earth with a cute country accent that was relatable to Southern girls like me.
Before I knew it, I was a member of the Beyhive!
Not in the obsessive Swarm kind of way, but I’ve followed her career from her girl group days, to going solo, to her foray into fashion design and acting. Like a true hive member, I’ve celebrated her big life events as well – her marriage to rapper Jay-Z, the reveal of her first pregnancy and then the announcement of the twins Rumi and Sir. It’s almost as if I’ve grown up with her. I mean, we are basically the same age, and so are our first-born daughters.
As a member of the Beyhive, it’s a must that I see Queen Bey live in concert whenever I can. My first live Beyoncé experience was actually her last tour with Destiny’s Child, Destiny Fulfilled, in 2005. At that point of my life, I had graduated from college but I’d yet to have the responsibilities of marriage and motherhood. I clearly remember attending this concert with a group of girlfriends and in that moment feeling we had reached the end of an era as well. Our extended adolescence was fading, and we were moving into adulthood.
The next two Beyoncé concerts I attended were from her joint tours with husband Jay-Z, On the Run in 2014 and On the Run 2 in 2018. By the time those tours rolled around, I had become a mom and then a wife, respectively – and so had Beyoncé. Seeing her successfully manage motherhood, marriage, and an amazing career inspired me then just as much as it does now.
Renaissance World Tour
Having yet to see the Queen perform solo, I was beyond excited when my bestie (and fellow Hive member) invited me to join her to witness Beyonce’s long-awaited Renaissance World Tour – and then surprised me with floor seat tickets! Floor seats at a Beyoncé concert with your best girl is the ultimate girls night for sure!
Leading up to the show we went back and forth planning out our concert outfits like two giddy schoolgirls. Beyoncé asked that her fans wear silver, and we would never disappoint the Queen! In return, the Queen did not disappoint her Hive, wearing a stunning array couture designer looks and costume changes throughout her two-hour performance.
Renaissance felt like a chance to relive our young adult years for just a moment in time. Beyoncé gave the elder hive members just that, performing many of her early hits from “Dangerously in Love” and “Diva” to “Single Ladies” and “Formation.” It was so nostalgic to dance with my long-time bestie and sing along to some of our favorite Beyoncé songs that have become must-haves on our playlists over the years.
The highlight of the show was seeing Blue Ivy perform alongside her mom.
I felt like a proud auntie and by the reaction of the crowd, the entire Beyhive felt the same way. You could see the pride beaming on Beyoncé’s face as she watched her daughter perform. It was as if she was passing the torch to her offspring and to the next generation.
Renaissance simply means rebirth
How fitting, as those of us who have grown up with Beyoncé are entering a new phase of our lives – again. If you’ve been rocking out to Renaissance the album, you already know it is definitely an ode to queer culture, but you can’t deny the grown woman vibes with songs like “Thique,” “Church Girl,” and my favorite “Cozy” where she proclaims, “She’s a god, she’s a hero, she survived all she been through, Confident, damn, she lethal!” Beyoncé is finally comfortable in her womanhood and on this album, she’s encouraging all women to tap into that confidence for themselves.
I’m a self-proclaimed member of the Beyhive – not only because Beyoncé is obviously beautiful and an amazing performer, but because I also admire her as a mother, wife and business woman. Her work ethic is out of this world, and you can also see that she puts just as much energy into her marriage and in raising her children.
To see Beyoncé perform is not something I take for granted. She is one of the greatest artists of our lifetime. I am honored each and every time I have the opportunity because let’s be honest, the tickets are not cheap! Many are speculating that Renaissance may be Beyonce’s farewell tour. After all her career spans over 30 years and she has done just about all that an artist can do.
Whether the rumors are true or not, as a loyal member of the Beyhive, I will be patiently waiting to see what our Queen has in store for the next phase of her reign!
