NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Beyonce offers female empowerment themes at Philadelphia show

PHILADELPHIA

Beyonce sang her usual hits, changed multiple times and hit high notes at the Budweiser Made In America music festival in Philadelphia.

She also pulled more than ever from her Destiny’s Child catalog, interpolated inspirational words from Maya Angelou and UFC fighter Ronda Rousey and told the feverish audience near the end of her 90-minute set : “I am so, so happy to celebrate my birthday with y’all.”

Beyonce, who turned 34 on Friday, headlined the first night of her husband’s two-day music festival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Though Jay Z didn’t join the pop diva onstage Saturday night, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams’ presence was felt.

“Shout-out to my girl Kelly, I love you. My girl Michelle, I love you,” she said. “If you survived bad relationships, if you survived illnesses. When it gets tough, that’s when you work harder.”

Beyonce offered words of encouragement and empowerment, per usual, to the crowd of screaming fans. She took it to a new level when a background dancer moved beautifully to the words of Angelou’s classic “Phenomenal Woman” in between songs, and the audience screamed loudly as recent words from Rousey blasted from the speakers about girls who fall under the category of “do-nothing chicks.”

Associated Press