Symone at Flip Phone XXL: Pride 2021

Saturday, July 17, 2021 — Symone

Music. Dance. Sweat. Three essential ingredients for a hit club night just about anywhere. This is the spirit that all Flip Phone events seem to have. A sense of pure fun — and liberation. DJ Fancy Restaurant performed throughout the night with a fiery mix of ‘00s, ‘10s, and modern pop, all building up to RuPaul’s Drag Race season 13 winner Symone’s appearances.

Tygra opened the drag show with bangin’ choreography with three backup dancers. It was a complex dance routine that really drove the crowd wild. A powerful introduction to the night. Tygra was in the crowd on a catwalk to collect tips. There was a strategic light show to go with the megamix performance. They led the crowd in a side-to-side arm movement later, and ended with an iconic death drop.

“How the fuck are you bitches doing tonight?” Tygra opened as host of the evening, letting the crowd know the party was going ‘till 2am. Francis Reine was the next drag performer, strutting in in an overcoat before stripping it off, revealing a detailed, glittery ensemble underneath. It became apparent that each drag performer’s stage time was upped for this XXL-sized night. Reine ended up performing a lively lip-sync of “Funkytown” by Lipps Inc., resulting in an impressive solo performance.

Sasha Cassadine was up next, performing in a reflective costume with a backup dancer grooving with them in synchronization to “Sour Candy” by Lady Gaga & BLACKPINK. They took off their reflective coat for the second lip-sync, “Alice” by Lady Gaga. Removing their coat revealed a leotard with a belt. It became apparent they were doing a Chromatica medley, an album a lot of LGBTQIA+ have been waiting to hear in the club. They brought up a shirtless cowboy from the crowd during their set closer, “911” by Lady Gaga.

Then Genevee Ramona Love performed a mix in a red glitter tank top with black glitter leggings and in a likely Farrah Fawcett-inspired wig. They mostly spent time interacting directly with the crowd, before going to the back of the stage to do a choreographed solo dance performance complete with the splits. When they shook their booty, the crowd went wild to the beat of “Up” by Cardi B.

The sublime Julia Starr came out in a tribal-inspired costume, with intense lights and dancing during the breakdown of their performance of Rihanna’s 2011 mega-hit “Where Have You Been.” The performance, of course, ended in a death drop. Tygra returned to the hosting duties, letting the crowd know Flip Phone got a star painted on First Avenue’s iconic outdoor walls earlier that day.

As soon as Tygra teased the next performer, the crowd became ear-shatteringly loud to the point of not being able to tell what song the performer was lip-syncing to at first. It was, naturally, Symone — the winner of season 13 of VH1’s juggernaut franchise RuPaul’s Drag Race — a severely captivating performer with an eye for branding and style. And style she had, in her skinny white suit as a nod to Prince, First Avenue’s most famous regular. Her big, natural hair looked gorgeous as she lip-synced to the Purple One’s “When Doves Cry.” From throwing money behind her to blotting her face with cold, hard cash, Symone showed she loved “a moment” and a good time onstage. She had another prop, a microphone and stand that she dragged around and stood slanted with; very Prince-like behaviors.

Once “When Doves Cry” was over, Symone was given a microphone and told the audience it was her first time in Minnesota, and her first time this north in the United States. “To each and everybody, thank you. I love you, too” Before leaving the stage a first time, Symone yelled “FREE BRITNEY!” with Tygra, just before DJ Fancy Restaurant hit play on the pulsating 2007 Britney Spears song “Gimme More.”

The next drag set begun with another killer performance from Tygra. Blue hues, smoke and a formation of bright lights above Tygra illuminated their sparkly over-garment. The opening song was “In For The Kill (That Doesn't Sound Like Skream's Remix)” by La Roux. Next they stripped that garment back to reveal their original outfit of the night. Their performance of “Electric Youth (Deep House Mix)” by Debbie Gibson was next, as they did splits and raked in the cash tips from the crowd. Thunder noises roared before a dance breakdown, complete with several high kicks. A tremendous routine. This was enough, but Tygra topped themselves by doing a full-body cartwheel into the splits.

How effortlessly Tygra switched back into hosting duties was something to be applauded. They teased the next performer as a legend; “She was here when Jesus arose. Give it up for my sister and my friend, Cee Cee Russell!” Smoke then bellowed out the left side of the stage as the logo music from the beginning of every Disney movie ignited the room. Russell went right into a performance of Brandy & Whitney Houston’s “Impossible” from the 1997 Cinderella remake by Walt Disney Television.

Russell performed in a tight, long, gold wrap dress with a full-length sparkly shall. They switched gears completely into the club music Kygo x Whitney Houston collaboration “Higher Love,” gathering tips from a generous crowd.

Host Tygra then came back to the stage in a new dress, to introduce Symone performing “Custom Made (Give It To You)” by Lil' Kim. Symone’s tight lip-sync in the catwalk area was something to behold, as she effortlessly collected tips, including with her mouth. She made that money rain on top of her. Very 2000s pop culture energy. Her down-low choreography was impressive, too. “Woo, woo, Minneapolis. I sure enjoyed myself, and I hope you did, too.” We certainly did. She then proceeded to do a shot on stage, closing the night with, “Happy Pride and I hope to be back, because y’all are fabulous!”