Beyoncé delivers a lot more than juice with ‘Lemonade’ video and music
A mix of styles and messages cements status as superstar
When Beyoncé gives you lemonade, you drink it. And ask for seconds. The Houston superstar’s mysterious “Lemonade” project premiered Saturday night on HBO, an event that demanded you stay home, sit down and take it all in.
She’s the only contemporary star who could pull something like this off.
Aside from a haunting, minute-long trailer, we didn’t get much advance information.
Social media lit up all week with guesses, silly memes and other Bey-related conspiracies.
The world indeed seemed to stop Saturday night. “Lemonade” is what the BeyHive had been hoping for — a full-length visual album featuring a dozen songs and videos.
The full project began streaming on Tidal just before the HBO premiere ended.
She may be bringing some of “Lemonade” home, as Beyoncé performs May 7 at NRG Stadium.
“Lemonade” is Beyoncé elevated, again.
It’s a trajectory that started with 2013’s selftitled album, one that puts Beyoncé on a path continually proving that she has no current equal.
The closest parallel is Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation” opus from 1989.
“The past and the present merge to meet us here,” she says at the film’s start, kneeling in front of a red curtain. It’s a significant stance, one that seems to say despite all the deeply personal things happening here, Beyoncé is playing a character. (So let’s put those divorce rumors to rest, cool?)
It’s stunning visually, a mix of urban decay and Creole country pride.
The film is split into sections that mirror the levels of human consciousness: intuition, denial, anger, apathy, emptiness, accountability, reformation, forgiveness, resurrection, hope and redemption.
Each section is soundtracked by a new song, some featuring Kendrick Lamar, Jack White and James Blake. There’s garage rock, gothic slow-burns and summery jams — like “Hold Up,” destined to rule top 40 radio. Standouts include “Daddy Lessons,” more country than contemporary country music; and “6 Inch,” a hypnotic, slow-burn duet with The Weeknd.
The story she’s telling is one of black women: their confinement and faults, powers and weaknesses, beauty and magic. It’s a coil of religion, relationships and heritage. The flow and spirit sometimes recall poet Ntozake Shange, who was once a professor at the University of Houston. Throughout the film, Bey wears a black hoodie in one scene, smashes car windows in a designer dress in another. Queen B has never looked more vital or more beautiful. Tennis great Serena Williams gyrates. A Malcolm X speech espouses the dangers of being a black woman in America. Papa Mathew Knowles plays alongside Blue Ivy. “America’s Next Top Model” contestant Winnie Harlow preens proudly. In one of the film’s most affecting scenes, black mothers hold photos of their slain sons, including Michael Brown. “One thousand girls raise their arms,” Beyoncé declares near the end of “Lemonade.” Pop music’s most important voice has raised the stakes again — and has us all in formation awaiting her next move.