In this Friday May 25, 2012 photo provided by Parkwood Entertainment, Beyonce performs at Revel in Atlantic City, N.J., for the resort's premiere. (AP Photo/Parkwood Entertainment, Robin Harper)
MESFIN FEKADU,Associated Press
ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (AP) — Michelle Obama was with the single ladies this weekend, joining 5,500 fans at a Beyonce concert in Atlantic City.
The first lady was with daughters Sasha and Malia at Revel Resorts, where Beyonce performed two dozen songs Saturday night. Obama’s husband, President Barack Obama, did not attend.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was among the sell-out crowd packed into Revel’s Ovation Hall.
Michelle Obama and the girls appeared excited throughout the concert, cheering Beyonce on. The daughters even sang along to the old school-sounding jam “Love on Top.”
Obama recently told People magazine that if she could be anyone else, it would be Beyonce. And she came close, at least in how she was received by the audience: The first lady got a roaring cheer that matched Beyonce’s as she made her way to her seat in a shiny green dress. Some fans took photos while others screamed her name. One yelled, “This is history!
Beyonce opened the night with the upbeat “End of Time,” wearing a glimmering silver outfit and hot pink shoes that matched her nails. She followed that with more up-tempo hits like “Crazy In Love,” ”Get Me Bodied” and “Party.”
During the slower grooves, Beyonce brought on the emotion. She held back tears during a rousing rendition of “Resentment” and sat on top of a piano when belting the love song “1+1.”
The multiplatinum singer’s Atlantic City concerts are her first since giving birth in January to daughter Blue Ivy.
“Y’all don’t know how hard I had to work,” Beyonce told the crowd. “I had to lose 60 pounds (27 kilograms). They had me on the treadmill, eating lettuce.”
Beyonce paid tributes to late singers throughout the night, singing a verse of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” and giving Donna Summer a shout-out when performing “Naughty Girl,” which samples Summer’s hit “Love to Love You Baby.” She also performed a cover of Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor” and infused the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” when she sang “If I Were a Boy.”
Beyonce was backed by her all-female band and numerous dancers — including some men. She also performed Friday and has shows on Sunday and Monday at Revels, which also has a casino.
“I hope y’all win a lot of money tonight,” Beyonce said at the end of her show.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
