Beyonce Sings of Pleasure and Pain During Revel Comeback Concert

Beyonce is incomparable in her performance abilities and she drove that point home Friday night (May 24) at Revel Ovation Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The songstress returned to the stage for a two-hour set commencing at 10PM, bouncing back gracefully less than five months after giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy Carter.

The first of four concerts over Memorial Day weekend to celebrate the opening of the $2.4 billion Revel Resort & Casino, Beyonce kicked off the night with the driving force of "End of Time," a track off her fourth studio LP 4. The Houston native glowed in a champagne-colored fringe ensemble paired with neon-pink heels. Her presence onstage was electrifying as she flirted with the audience, danced with choreographed vigor and equally touched on pleasure and pain through her lyrics.

An 11-piece female support system backed Beyonce on songs like the island ditty "Baby Boy,' sans Sean Paul, her romantic ode "Love On Top" and the 2006 jam "Get Me Bodied." A guitar player, drummer, three backup singers and a saxophonist, among others, united to assist the 30-year-old in putting on a mesmerizing show that consisted of five outfit changes -- her showgirl-esque costumes were all designed by Ralph & Russo.

Her stamina never wavered during energetic performances of "Crazy in Love" or "Naughty Girl," where Beyonce brought Las Vegas to Atlantic City by having dancers parade around her flapping larger-than-life wings. An LED wall and assorted cubes, which glowed and transformed in color and shape with every new song showcased, served as visual eye candy for the audience while the former Destiny's Child frontwoman delivered poignant lyrics for her legion of supporters.

During the Revel concert, at least 13 male and female dancers showed up onstage as Beyonce commanded the crowd's attention. There were moments when she climbed on top of a piano, showered in a spotlight, and caressed her body as if she was the only one in the room. Other times, fans could feel the pangs of her once-broken heart on "Resentment," as she cooed of a lying lover who deceived her. "This is one of my favorite songs," she admitted.

The ever-smiling chanteuse honored Whitney Houston by effortlessly moving through her classic track "I Will Always Love You" and hit every note in the right spot when she sang Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor." Beyonce may have been the star of the show but she shared the limelight by paying tribute to such lauded singers.

Before her comeback concert came to a close, Beyonce also got the crowd on their feet with "Countdown," "Halo," "Jumpin', Jumpin'," "Run the World (Girls)" and the grand finale "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," for which she donned a dazzling, edgy red dress. Her wardrobe was one-of-a-kind yet it was her remarkable return to form onstage that was most memorable.

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