Beyonce honours Tina Turner during London performance

Stevian Francis

10 months ago

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R&B/ Pop superstar Beyonce paid tribute to the late ‘Queen of Rock’ Tina Turner during her performance on the London leg of her Renaissance tour.

‘Queen B,’ who kicked off the first of her five-night stint in London, added the tributary cover of Turner’s song-“River Deep – Mountain High” to her set at the Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium.

“Want you guys to help me sing one of my favorite songs,” Beyonce said to a vociferous crowd. “We love you, Tina.”

While the original version is a complex production filled with dozens of musicians and tempo changes that orbit around Turner’s vocals, Beyonce’s reprise was more of a ballad-styled delivery, accompanied by piano, and occasional drums, and keyboards playing the orchestral parts

The lemonade hitmaker had previously paid tribute to Turner, who died at her home in Switzerland following a long illness, last week with a post on her website.

Beyonce wrote; “My beloved queen. I love you endlessly, I’m so grateful for your inspiration, and all the ways you have paved the way. You are strength and resilience. You are the epitome of power and passion. We are all so fortunate to have witnessed your kindness and beautiful spirit that will forever remain. Thank you for all you have done.”

The pair performed together at the 2008 Grammy Awards, soaring through a version of Turner’s 1971 hit “Proud Mary,” which was a cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival classic.