Amid mermaids and sharks and a sea of fans dressed like Barbies for the occasion, Karol G lit up MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, five miles west of New York, on Thursday (September 7).
It was her first of two nights at the 82,500-capacity arena as part of her “Tomorrow Will Be Beautiful” tour, which began Aug. 11 in Las Vegas and continues in cities including Chicago (Sept. 15), Atlanta (Sept. 15). September) and Atlanta (September 15th). 21), Orlando (24) and Boston (28).
“Every one of the people who are here tonight came with the intention of having the coolest night of their lives,” the Colombian superstar said shortly after the show opened to a crowd that couldn’t stop screaming with excitement.
And La Bichota did not disappoint.
Their electrifying show featured an all-female band, an ensemble of nearly 20 dancers, exciting stage and lighting design, a story told by the legendary Morgan Freeman, and a surprise guest appearance by Ryan Castro.
But it was Karol alone – with her stage presence, her combination of sweetness, sensuality and mischief, her mix of feminine power, her ability to connect with the audience and her great vocal quality to perform all her hits live – who did it The whole stadium is eating out of his hand.
Produced by Live Nation, the Mañana Se Bonito tour is named after Karol G’s historic album, which debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. The 17-song set became her first No. 1 on the chart and was also her first Spanish album headlined by a woman.
The U.S. stadium tour follows her 2022 $trip Love Tour, which became the highest-grossing U.S. tour by a Latina woman in history, grossing $69.9 million from 33 shows, according to Billboard Boxscore.
Here are the 10 best moments from Karol G’s first performance at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Barbies, bugs and tattoos
It was La Bichota’s season at MetLife and beyond. From Penn Station in Manhattan to New Jersey Transit and arriving at the stadium, Karol G’s fans were in abundance. The common denominator, aside from Karol G’s merch? The pink one. We hadn’t seen so many people (or Bichotas Barbies?) dressed in pink since the premiere of Barbie, whose soundtrack featured Karol G. The fans’ tattoos were also noticeable, some women had the same barbed wire heart tattooed on their shoulder, just like his idol.
Morgan Freeman storyteller
Morgan Freeman’s voice played an important role as narrator throughout Karol G’s concert. The revered actor tells the story of Carolina, a pink-haired mermaid whose life consisted of joyful sea baths and flights in the sky until her world plunged into darkness. Seeking solace in the midst of her torment, Carolina ascends to heaven, freezing her heart and the world around her. In a rare appearance from Freeman, the animated narrative appears to be a symbolic representation of the romantic disagreements Karol has suffered in recent years, which she addresses in songs like “TQG” featuring Shakira and her recent hit “My Ex Was Right.” refers.
“There is a bug in each of you. “You just have to accept your authentic self, like Carolina did,” the actor said in English.
Girl band!
To add even more charm to the evening, La Bichota highlighted female power, accompanied by an all-female lineup of musicians: a drummer, a pianist, a flautist, a guitarist and more. Together, the girls in the band gave the evening an extra dose of rock energy while showcasing the exploits of talented women in the music industry. And they transformed that stadium into a paradise for the KG Gang, where their exhilarating musicality surpassed the immensity of the venue.
Privacy in the stadium
Karol G has the rare ability to make a large concert feel intimate, that is his gift: transforming a massive venue into a nearby musical sanctuary. Her direct interaction with the audience (“You’re going to make me cry!” she said at one point, as the applause seemed to never end), storytelling, and vulnerability combined to make for an unforgettable evening. Emotional moments in her repertoire, such as when she sang “Ocean,” contributed to this feeling of connection. And the fans were thrilled.
Go to Mexico!
As the highlight of her performance, Karol G effortlessly immersed herself in the world of regional Mexican music, delivering a powerful performance of “200 Copas” and “Gucci los ropas.” To enrich this music in the traditional style, he warmly invited other musicians, including a tuba player and an accordionist – emblematic instruments of the Mexican genre. This bold foray showcased Karol G’s exceptional vocal versatility, a testament to her ability to move from delicate ballads like “El barco” to the powerful rhythms of reggaeton hits like “Mi cama” and “Punto G.” To welcome Karol’s foray into Mexican music, a crowd of fans wore pink cowboy hats, merging the genre’s signature style with the superstar herself.
Colombian pride… and Latin
Among the tens of thousands of fans who came to the show were immigrants or descendants of immigrants from all over Latin America. Karol named them country by country, and each time the stadium shook with the overwhelming response. But the loudest cries undoubtedly came from his fellow Colombians, one of whom gave him a flag of their country, which Karol proudly wrapped himself in.
Guest of honor
During the Tomorrow Will Be Bonito tour, Karol G had a number of surprise guests such as Quevedo, Young Miko and Bad Gyal. On Thursday, his compatriot Ryan Castro was selected and the audience received him with one of the biggest ovations of the evening. Together, Karol and Ryan had the entire venue dancing to the rhythm of “Una Noche en Medellín.”
Sharks and mermaids
Tomorrow Will Be Beautiful’s stunning set features a vaulted backdrop with giant screens on which the animated story narrated by Morgan Freeman is interspersed with allegorical sea imagery from the album’s cover art and live footage from the show. Large props such as a shark and a large rock, platforms, a long walkway, fire torches, laser lights and light bracelets distributed to participants complete the picture and create an immersive experience.
The power of La Bichota
With a confidence nurtured by her years on stage and the charisma and gentleness that characterize her, Karol radiated pure feminine power. From choosing to be accompanied by a group of women to her interactions with her fans, Karol is for and for women. At one point he read out some banners that the participants had brought with them. “I lost 20 pounds to come to your show,” said one woman, to which the star responded with wise words of self-love: “Well, mom, if it’s for health and because that’s what you wanted, I congratulate you .” .”
a little fan
One of the most beautiful moments was a seven-year-old little girl who invited Karol on stage after seeing her passionately singing “Gucci los ropas” with her mother in the front rows. The girl named Natalia was received with great kindness by the singer and asked her if she wanted to perform with her in front of the excited crowd. Without hesitation, Natalia sang the chorus with bright eyes and a tender smile. Karol made the audience laugh by mischievously moving the microphone away from him as he reached one of the curse words in the chorus. It was an unforgettable moment, certainly for the girl, but also for the thousands in attendance.