On the Run II Tour


The On the Run II Tour was the second co-headlining concert tour by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé and rapper Jay-Z, also known as the Carters. The all-stadium world tour began on June 6, 2018, in Cardiff, Wales and concluded on October 4, 2018, in Seattle, United States. It followed 2014's On the Run Tour.

Commercial performance

Billboard predicted that the tour could potentially earn double of the original On the Run Tour's gross, somewhere between $180 million and $200 million, if the success of the first tour were repeated.
Following the first day of general sales, an extra show was added in Amsterdam, after the first date sold-out within an hour, with the same happening in Paris, Maryland, New Jersey, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Pasadena and London. More shows were also announced on March 20, in Ohio, South Carolina, Washington, and London.
Billboard ranked On the Run II as the third highest-grossing tour of the year, selling over 2.1 million tickets and grossing over $253 million.

Critical response

The tour received positive reviews from critics, who praised the overall spectacle and the storyline, which detailed the two artists' love-story, in many aspects.
The tour's debut show in Cardiff received favourable reviews, with Mark Sutherland of Rolling Stone giving it a positive review, saying the concert was a "…reaffirmation of dominance for the pair, as they delivered a hits-packed, visually stunning show". Writing for The Guardian, Rachel Aroesti awarded the concert 4/5 stars, noting that the concept of the show revolved around the singers showcasing the "deathless nature of their love rather than its perfection". Beyoncé was criticized, as some of her "biggest hits" were omitted from the setlist on opening night, such as the powerful ballad "Halo" and the smash hit "Single Ladies ". However, with over 60 songs rehearsed for the tour, the setlist was believed to have changed between shows. Bonginkosi Tshabalala of No Name publications added that the show in Houston proved that "no matter what happens LOVE wins".
Hilary Hughes of Billboard considered the tour a "sum of exceptional parts" of the "mammoth" visuals of Jay-Z 's 4:44 Tour and the "technical and musical prowess" of Beyoncé's performances at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and her Formation World Tour, praising the capacity of the artists "to understand how deeplyearned and hard won this catharsis was — and how superhuman they were to channel this anguish into such profound work".
Tom Rasmussen of The Independent defined the show as an "ode" to the couple's love, with "clever use of imagery and song, in a way which showed us why we need to love each other, and what has happened when we don't". He also noted a sociopolitical element, writing that "In this, the age of political and social disunity, the power of these icons squared is one which transported a whole crowd to another place, another temporality: one filled with power, and joy, and love, and brilliant black talent".
Michael Rietmulder of The Seattle Times said the stage "packed an understated punch", while the video sequences "carried the reconciliatory vibes between movements, interwoven with subtexts of racial inequality and female empowerment."

Set list

Europe

This set list is representative of the June 6 show in Cardiff, Wales.
  2. "Holy Grail"
  3. "Part II "
  4. "'03 Bonnie & Clyde"
  5. "Drunk in Love"
  6. "Diva" / "Irreplaceable"
  7. "Clique" / "Everybody Mad"
  8. "Dirt off Your Shoulder"
  9. "On to the Next One"
  10. "FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt" / "Flawless"
  11. "Feeling Myself"
  12. "Top Off"
  13. "Naughty Girl"
  14. "Big Pimpin'"
  15. "Run This Town"
  16. "Baby Boy"
  17. "You Don't Love Me "
  18. "Bam" / "Hold Up"
  19. "Countdown"
  20. "Sorry" / "Me, Myself and I"
  21. "99 Problems"
  22. "Ring the Alarm"
  23. "Don't Hurt Yourself"
  24. "I Care"
  25. "4:44"
  26. "No Church in the Wild"
  27. "Song Cry"
  28. "Resentment"
  29. "Family Feud"
  30. "Upgrade U"
  31. "Niggas in Paris"
  32. "Beach Is Better"
  33. "Formation"
  34. "Run the World "
  35. "Public Service Announcement"
  36. "The Story of O.J."
  37. "Déjà Vu"
  38. "Show Me What You Got"
  39. "Crazy in Love"
  40. "Freedom"
  41. "U Don't Know"
;Encore
  2. "Young Forever"
  3. "Perfect Duet"

    North America

This set list is representative of the October 4 show in Seattle, Washington.
  2. "Holy Grail"
  3. "Part II "
  4. "'03 Bonnie & Clyde"
  5. "Drunk in Love"
  6. "Diva"
  7. "Clique"
  8. "Dirt off Your Shoulder"
  9. "On to the Next One"
  10. "FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt"
  11. "Flawless "
  12. "Feeling Myself"
  13. "Naughty Girl"
  14. "Big Pimpin'"
  15. "Nice"
  16. "Run This Town"
  17. "Baby Boy"
  18. "Mi Gente " / "Mine"
  19. "Black Effect"
  20. "Countdown"
  21. "Sorry"
  22. "99 Problems"
  23. "Ring the Alarm"
  24. "Don't Hurt Yourself"
  25. "I Care"
  26. "4:44"
  27. "Song Cry"
  28. "Resentment"
  29. "Family Feud"
  30. "Upgrade U"
  31. "Niggas in Paris"
  32. "Beach Is Better"
  33. "Formation"
  34. "Run the World "
  35. "Public Service Announcement"
  36. "The Story of O.J."
  37. "Déjà Vu"
  38. "Show Me What You Got"
  39. "Crazy in Love"
  40. "Freedom"
  41. "U Don't Know"
;Encore
  2. "Young Forever"
  3. "Perfect Duet"
  4. "Apeshit"

    Tour dates

Personnel

Creative direction and executive producers

  • Jay-Z and Beyoncé – creative director and executive producer
  • Ed Burke – creative director
  • Todd Tourso – additional creative direction
  • Erin Williams – executive producer
  • Mark A. Ritchie – live video director

    Musical arrangement

  • JAY-Z
  • Beyoncé
  • Derek Dixie
  • Omar Edwards
  • Chris Grant
  • Gimel Keaton
  • Stuart White

    Band

  • Lauren Taniel – bass
  • Dammo Farmer The Great – bass
  • Agape Woodlyn – guitars
  • Eric "Boots/Booty" Greene – drums, percussion
  • Joy Williams – drums, percussion
  • Quintin Gulledge – keyboards
  • DJ Guru – DJ
  • 1500 or Nothin'
  • Crystal Torres – trumpet
  • Chris Johnson – trombone
  • Lessie Vonner – trumpet
  • Mike Jones – sousaphone
  • Corbin Jones – sousaphone
  • Chris Grey – trumpet

    Background vocalists

  • Tiffany Moníque Ryan – lead background vocalist
  • Ashley D. Hobson
  • Whitney Howard
  • Jerome "J Rome" Wayne

    Choreography

  • Chris Grant
  • JaQuel Knight
  • Vincent Stevenson

    Additional choreography

  • Dana Foglia
  • Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
  • Jasmine Badie
  • Frank Gatson Jr.
  • Jamal Rasheed
  • Ashanti Ledon
  • Dnay Baptiste
  • Sheryl Murakami
  • Les Twins
  • Tanisha Scott
  • LaVelle Smith

    Dancers

  • Ashley Everett – dance captain
  • Kimberly "Kimmie" Gipson – dance captain
  • Jasmine Badie
  • Dnay Baptiste
  • Bianca Brewton
  • Hannah Douglass
  • Jasmine Harper
  • Corbin Hunter
  • Dominique Loude
  • Tacir Roberson
  • Deijah Robinson
  • Ashley Seldon
  • Quinetta Wilmington
  • Rameer Colon
  • Habby Jacques
  • Huwer "Havoc" Marche
  • Jo'Artis "Big Mijo" Ratti
  • Britton Shaw
  • Nicholas "Slick" Stewart