Made In America Festival 2013: Beyonce Runs The World As She Closes Day 1

Christina Lee | September 1, 2013 7:57 am

Before Beyonce closed the first night of this year’s Made in America Festival, Robin Thicke‘s still-ubiquitous “Blurred Lines” was playing from the stage’s speakers. In a way, that moment in Philadelphia played out as a microcosm of how pop played out this summer.

At this point, it’s now hard to imagine how pop radio would have sounded without Thicke’s Fat Albert impression blaring every minute this summer. Beyonce has remained omnipresent too, but only as a live presence through her sold-out Mrs. Carter tour and concerts like Chime for Change and Made in America, as plans to follow up 4 came to a halt.

Beyonce didn’t reveal new music when she closed Made in America’s first night on August 31, but as always, she was a flawless performer. Her entrance, introduced by a “court” procession worthy of King Bey, was stunning. Festival curator Jay Z was curiously absent during her performance of “Crazy in Love,” but thanks to anticipation built by “Countdown” and a dance breakdown, no one seemed to mind.

Watch Beyonce’s entrance up top, then “Crazy in Love” and “Single Ladies” after the jump.

Beyonce, “Crazy in Love” (Made in America Festival)

Beyonce, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” (Made in America Festival)

Could Beyonce have overtaken “Blurred Lines” with her own music this summer? At Made in America, as she ran through hits like “Run This World (Girls)” and “End of Time,” she made it hard not to wonder. Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

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