On July 9, a small yet impassioned group of Daily writers took the 6 p.m. D2A2 bus to downtown Detroit to see one of pop music’s biggest names: Madison Beer. Being a fan since she was “supposed to be in the video,” I oozed with excitement to see an artist I watched growing up. When Madison finally took the stage, we were captivated, unable to pick our jaws up off the floor. Safe to say, we are glad to have stuck with her all these years and are amazed to see what an incredible artist and performer she has become.
The concert officially started at 7:30, with an opening set performed by indie pop artist Lulu Simon and a another act by pop-R&B singer Thủy. Both openers were incredible and perfectly matched the locket tour vibe with their playfulness and romantic air. Madison’s set began at 9:30 with a video trailer displaying her in an amusement park of sorts, riding on a carousel and ferris wheel. The trailer encapsulated the joyous energy of the album and also introduced a swan motif that would be present throughout the rest of the show. As the trailer ended, Madison came out to “yes baby,” a sexy dance-pop song. It was the perfect opening to the concert, with everyone on their feet to the music and Madison’s fierce and captivating stage presence solidified from the first second.
The rest of the concert continued in a similarly fantastic fashion, as she sang most of her songs live. Her performance of hit song “Selfish” from her debut album, Life Support was particularly electrifying; her live vocals were raw but unwavering and everyone in the crowd was silent in awe. She sang “you’re still everything” with a minimal backing track, further further demonstrated her incredible live vocals. This performance was my favorite of the night, as the emotion and grace she sang with brought multiple fans — including myself — to the brink of tears.
Her stage presence held throughout the show and during “lovergirl,” a song from her locket deluxe album, she commanded even more of the fans’ attention. At the beginning of the song, she walked off the stage to greet each of the fans in the front row, taking pictures, signing autographs and accepting gifts. At one point, a fan handed her a custom cowboy hat, and — after expressing her sincere gratitude — she wore it throughout the rest of the show, further showcasing her authenticity and love for her fans.
That love was present throughout the show, as she constantly thanked the fans for being there and made it known she would not be where she is without their support. While those words may seem empty from other performers, her appreciation rang true, and her love was palpable in every moment of the show.
While the raw vocal moments and power ballad performances were incredibly moving, the concert also exemplified Beer’s strong presence in the dance-pop genre. Her performance of her Grammy-nominated song “make you mine” was absolutely unreal. The set and lighting design paired with her powerful dancing and explosive back track made those three minutes the most electric of the whole night. She used blinding strobe lights for the beat drop and a camera that followed her around, making sure to capture every wink and iconic serve during the performance.
Another amazing aspect of her show was its organization into three acts. Each act had a distinctive character, outfit and mood lighting, which made the whole performance feel like a story rather than a collection of random songs. The first act started light-hearted and playful, with a few sensual notes thrown in throughout. It then transitioned into a more deep and meaningful second act, with her changing into a flowy dress and dimming the lights for a moodier environment. The backing tracks for her songs were minimized, and her live singing talent was on display with a number of power ballads. The third act leaned back into the playful elements, with a few notes of confidence and seriousness. Throughout the show, it felt as though we went on a journey with Madison. She started off with a playful girlishness, which transitioned into a sentimental womanhood, and ended in a grounded and powerful final act that felt as though she had brought both elements together to establish a true sense of who she was.
In only her fourth concert tour, Madison Beer performed to a packed Fox Theater and did nothing but impress. Every audience member was captivated by her incredible presence and talent, and I am more than excited to see her continued rise to the top.
Senior Arts Editor Tiffany McKalko can be reached at tmckalko@umich.edu
