Elyanna Dances the Night Away in Houston
All throughout Houston’s White Oak Music Hall, fans donned keffiyehs and Palestinian flags alike in support of Elyanna for the first show on her North American tour.
Elyanna, a Palestinian-Chilean singer who blew up on TikTok before she even turned eighteen, chose Houston, Texas as the first stop on her first North American tour. Fans in the city couldn’t be happier about it. Those in the first row described her appeal as being reminiscent of early Beyoncè and Shakira, taking the music she was raised with and reinventing it in her own style.
They were not wrong as she showcased talents associated with the divas of old, like powerful vocals and impressive dance moves, along with elements that felt unique to her and her cultural background, like her Henna covered hands, use of culturally specific instruments, and fully Arabic songs.
Photo Cr: Andy Cantu
Before Elyanna took the stage, she was introduced by a woman playing a drum, seemingly counting down to the moment the spotlight shone in the center that illuminated the artist in white. The simple stage set up and costumes were used to ensure that the focus was not only Elyanna, but also her backup dancers who helped enhance her dance heavy performances.
While her first song, “Yalla Ya,” focused on her vocals, her second song, “Tata,” gave fans their first glimpse at the upbeat, movement filled show they were anticipating. Elyanna moved across the stage with grace, playing the tambourine with her backup singers and moving her hips with her backup dancers. Each member of her ensemble wore similar white outfits, creating a cohesive flow whenever they danced together.
Photo Cr: Andy Cantu
The artist took some time after her first few songs to express her excitement of being able to perform her first show in Houston, calling the experience her dream come true. It was the first and only time she directly addressed the audience for an extended period of time, conveying her gratitude and love for her fans in both English and Arabic.
The show was filled with up-tempo songs like “Ya Waylak,” “Ana Lahale,” and “Ghareeb Alay,” making the crowd dance and sing along. These songs were catchy enough that even fans who didn’t speak Arabic could easily sing along after the first chorus.
She also performed songs like “Sokkar,” “3,” and “MAMA EH,” which had a more relaxed beat and focused more on her vocals while giving her an opportunity to show off her belly dancing abilities. Additionally, Elyanna returned to her roots as an artist who reinterprets popular songs in her own style, by covering “Earned It” by The Weeknd and “La Vie En Rose,” both of which she sang in Arabic.
Photo Cr: Andy Cantu
In a performance that shook her fans to their core and perfectly showcased everything that makes her a unique artist, Elyanna unveiled her new song “Al Sham.” The song, which was released just hours before the start of the show, brought forth a performance marked by visuals that hark back to the song’s music video, such as the blindfold Elyanna wore and the folk drummer whose instrumentals accompanied the song.
While her moments directly speaking to the crowd were scarce, she still managed to show her appreciation for her fans in different ways throughout the show. Elyanna encouraged fans to sing along to any lyrics they knew, shouting out Houston in one of her songs, and even accepted a gift from a fan mid-song. She performed an unplanned encore after continuous cheering from fans for her to return for one last song.
The venue had already turned the house lights on when she came back to the stage to sing “Ya Waylak” for a second time. Fans were left knowing they got everything they wanted and more.
Photo Cr: Andy Cantu
Have you seen Elyanna on tour? What was your highlight of the concert? Let us know by leaving a comment below or by reaching out on Instagram or X (Twitter).
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Edited by Alliya Garcia