Coldplay is playing the Super Bowl Half-time Show this evening. But no one would know or care about them if they hadn’t begged Beyonce to join them. And at this point, I’d be willing to bet that everyone is WAY more excited about Bey than Coldplay. Bey knows it too. She’s going to take over and Coldplay better be ready for it.
First off, Beyonce actually spoke on behalf of Beyonce for the first time in something like… three years? She was being very selective with interviews for a while, then she just flat-out stopped talking to the press. She even got a Vogue cover without even deigning to give an interview. But for CBS, she actually talked on camera. She sat down to CBS News for a piece they aired Saturday morning about the history of Half-time shows, etc. CBS even put the clip on YouTube, but the NFL pulled it down so if you didn’t see it already, I’m sorry, you probably never will.
But the real story is that 24 hours before she hijacked Colplay’s Half-time show, she dropped a new single from her new album (??). Not just the single either… she dropped a music video. She first released it on Tidal, then YouTube.
Okay… prepare yourself. Beyonce’s “Formation.” First, a word about the song… it’s kind of good? I’m saying that as someone who enjoyed about five tracks off of her last album. The last album was very sexual, but “Formation” feels like Bey’s entrance into being a seriously political artist. As for the video… it’s set in a flooded New Orleans. I was going to say something about how the song is a decade too late, but honestly, NOLA is still dealing with so much residual crappiness post-Katrina, it still feels vital. Also: I feel really, really certain that Bey got a boob job in the past year. It’s really obvious in the dancing-in-the-NOLA-house scenes. Bonus Blue Ivy! This video was directed by Melina Matsoukas and it’s easily one of the best Bey videos in years. Some NSFW language, but the images are fine. #Igothotsauceinmybag #bestrevengeisyourpaper #slay
Photos courtesy of WENN.
You’re acting as if Coldplay is just some little band that desperately needs Beyoncé. I have an issue with that even if I think she’s an amazing performer.
If Coldplay didn’t need her, they wouldn’t have asked her to perform with them. She’s taking over and why would she want to stop now!?
Asking her to perform, yes. But I have a hard time believing that they were BEGGING her.
I take it no one remembers that she has a duet with Coldplay on their current album? You know, the album that stinks and no one is talking about? Coldplay is indeed huge and doesn’t need to ‘beg’ Beyonce to join them, but let’s get real: Beyonce and Bruno Mars inclusion added some real excitement to the halftime show. Unless anyone here was super excited to see them play Magic?
The halftime show always has multiple performers.
That being said, a Beyoncé performance is so much more interesting to me than a Coldplay performance.
It was a HUGE mistake for them to allow her to perform with them. Katy Perry utilizing Missy Elliott’s talents was smart — this is just dumb. Beyonce will take over the conversation.
I was shocked to be honest. She already had a headliner performance so why was she asked to come back in such a short time period. Same with Bruno. I just found this whole lineup strange. And I figured this was a way for Beyonce to promoter her new music. Especially after Adele took over for the last few months.
If Cold Play was planning on this promoting themselves; then they have really shot themselves in the foot. No one is talking about them nor anticipating what they will preform.
They asked to perform , she should have respected them and fallen back and not taken over the spotlight
Idk what color you are, frank, telling a black woman to tone it down out of respect for Coldplay and the arguably 3 people who were actually excited for them to perform is weak AF. The reality is that Bey (and Bruno) were ASKED to perform aka rescue the halftime show from the macaroni with mayo on top that is Chris Martin. So she dropped a little vid before the show and now the Superbowl is getting a whole helluva lot more buzz than it was yesterday, but you want her to be respectful and what were you saying again?
Frank is just my internet name. I am black woman . Who is very supportive of other black woman. I happen to like Beyonce but feel at times it always about her shinning and not other people, Just the same way she wanted to perform a song sang by another black woman instead of letting that woman shine. Yes she should be respectful. When someone invites you , you are a guest so behave like guest.When you are a bridesmaid you don’t try to upstage the bride its just bad form. It not about being black or white it about just being respectful Eliza. She could have waited to drop the video after the superbowel. Now everyone is talking about her going into the performance and not ColdPlay
@Frank– Nah. Ordinarily, I would agree with you, but I think I am biased bc I hate Coldplay. BUT, inviting Beyoncé on as just a “guest” is like asking a peacock not to pull focus in a pen full of pigeons…perhaps if Coldplay got someone with a little lower of a profile instead of someone equivalent to a supernova; their eyes should have been wide open for this if they were worried about being overshadowed.
What I DO wonder….will Gwyneth be at the Superbowl and will Bey be hanging with her? Bey didn’t get a lipstick color in the blonde lipstick brigade for Juice Beauty, but then again…one name for one lipstick color would be – again- a peacock amongst pigeons for all those women Goop named the colors for.
And I’m not even a huge Bey fan. I just know who and what she is!
Well said Frank. It is indeed bad form but not necessarily a surprise. I would venture that Coldplay knew she would go for the spotlight but maybe not this much. Frankly, I would love it if they pulled her from the line-up.
I think CBS really dropped the ball on this one. I’ve been a football fan my whole life, and I’ve need seen this lack of promotion for the super bowl half time performer. It is just confounding to me! During the NFC Championship game, they even said it’s the greatest concert of the year, but didn’t mention WHO WOULD BE PREFORMING!!! No mention of Coldplay, Bey, or Bruno Mars. This year just is too weird to me. Why hire a band to play and then never promote them?!
For the Super Bowl halftime show they do need her. Coldplay was a terrible choice (and I like them a lot.)
Bruno Mars is also performing and I heard some other special guests will also be on stage. They are honoring past half-time performers. Why do I have a feeling Janet Jackson will be there?
Agree. There are many artists/bands I’m a big fan of that wouldn’t be a good fit for the bombastic Super Bowl halftime scene. Beyoncé? Yes. Bruno? Yes. Katy Perry? Yes. Coldplay……eh….
The rumor guest is Justin Timberlake. Remember, Janet Jackson is banned from the Half-time show thanks to Timberlake.
@ M.A.F.
Yes I’m well aware of that but thought perhaps they may have lifted the ban? There is going to major outrage of JT is able to go back on that stage. Actually, even if they asked Janet to come back, she should tell them to “eff off”! I was just trying to think how they could possibly “shock” us. Something that would blow up twitter. It has to be something really big.
The NFL runs the half-time show. I highly doubt they would let her come back without first acknowledging that they blamed the wrong person especially when Timberlake as never acknowledged his part. I too would love to see her up there but I’m with you, I kind of want to her tell the NFL to kiss her ass.
Coldplay was the safe choice for headliner. It’s come to the point where an artist or group like Coldplay that has a style that doesn’t suit a Super Bowl half time show or the fanbase that would watch one will be chosen over artists like Rhianna or Kanye West who probably would put on a great show, but are too risky for the NFL. It could have been worse. The NFL could have picked someone like Luke Bryan or another bro country singer.
My favorite half time show from the past decade was the 2007 one with Prince. I was watching at friend’s house and her gay male housemate was only watching the entire show just for Prince. He didn’t care that his beloved Bears were playing, only about Prince.
Maybe. I think there were some concerns about Coldplay putting everyone to sleep – which are now pretty much soundly allayed.
Too bad the half time turned out to be the worst I have ever seen.
Her song does not have a melody,I mean I heard it about three times and I have already forgotten it…This is not quality music! I dont understand the obession with Beyonce as an artist.If someone who is not famous would drop a single like this,none would care,this single is nothing special.But since its BeyBey everyone acts like this song is the greatest thing ever produced on earth.
Agreed. I kept waiting for the chorus and it never came.
Lol went right over your head, did it?
I agree. Not impressed
Why does Celebitchy consistently eat my posts? 🙁
Anyway, it’s a trap song, it doesn’t need a melody, and the video is effing great.
What is a trap song?
Snowflake, trap is a music genre.
Trap – to me -is like listening to video game music & sound effects. But, I am no expert!
I’d say it’s awful. You may say it went over my head but it’s not melodic or memorable.
Feel like this will save everyone a ton of time:
Just because you don’t get it doesn’t mean you have to say it’s bad.
Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not quality music.
Michael Jackson had vitiligo. This was confirmed in his autopsy.
Beyonce and Tidal donated 1.5 mil to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Just because you don’t like her style doesn’t mean she’s not talented. She’s had more top 10 singles than any other female artist in history and she’s the highest selling black artist of all time.
There!
@mna, you forgot one: just because someone doesn’t like something, doesn’t mean they don’t ‘get’ it. You can ‘get’ something and understand what it’s trying to do, and still just not enjoy it.
Thanks for the addition! Tastes differ, obviously. Nice little reminder though.
@ Healther
You don’t have to like the song. Don’t listen to other people’s comments.
Are you serious??? This song is just WHOAAAA!
I’m not a native English speaker so I don’t get half of what she is singing but the beat is slaying and her voice is killing it. This song and the video are def special and standing out. I love it!!!
Yup! I came into it with reservations and waited till some of the initial hype came down to listen to it and so far I really like it.
That beat tho.
I agree, but lately it seems like no one can’t have a negative opinion about her without being shut down.
I would have been excited if it was Rihanna
I thought I was the only one. I feel so validated now. Once upon a time her music was fun but now she’s bought her own hype and takes herself way way too seriously.
Couldn’t make it through the whole video myself. Enjoyed the dancing but that song isn’t really my thing.
You should try to rewatch!
The song isn’t great, admittedly, but in my opinion it’s not actually about the song. This is the most unapologetically black mainstream music video I have ever seen. She’s not the first artist to make a statement like this (duh), but with her profile and status, and the number of people who will see this video… I’d say she’s one of the most important artists to bring her voice to the table.
Beyonce is telling the world that she’s black. And she’s proud. Her family is black and she’s proud. Now, she may wear a blond weave, and have a nose job (?), but I’d argue that that just presents a complex and nuanced blackness.
When she stands on top of the cop car and says she’s a black Bill Gates, and the next scene on the car is her drowning on it… Gosh. What a way to force people to realize just who they let die without a care. It’s not everyday that black people, women especially, are afforded the assumption of humanity, never mind a talented and societally important humanity. Beyonce is using her platform to force that realization on people. The young boy dancing in front of the line of cops brought tears to my eyes.
This is the best thing she’s done in years.
SG – you nailed it with this commentary. well done
to the person asking downthread, yes it’s Gucci.
@SG Beyoncé can wear blond weaves and still be black. She can have 10 nose jobs and still be black. mind you, I see no nose job, I only see pictures of her from different angles with no difference at all. Think I’m joking? Check out stills from this video and compare with very old pictures from her early DC days. It speaks volumes when KimK with all her nose jobs was never called out on them. Rather it was blamed on contouring until it became too much to handle. Now Beyoncé is a different story, call it a nose job till you can blame it on makeup.
I agree with every other thing you said.
This is the best explanation of how crazy this video and message are. It’s a combo of who she is, her power and the message. I have such feelings about this, it’s new and different coming from her. I love it.
Thanks for the extra details. As i said, I really liked the imagery and the dancing, but the song wasn’t for me. I also understand it wasn’t meant for me so who cares what I think?
I like Beyoncé. Never understood the criticism of her, to be honest.
@nches:
That’s exactly what I said. I said: “Now, she may wear a blond weave, and have a nose job (?), but I’d argue that that just presents a complex and nuanced blackness.”
She absolutely can have 10 nose jobs and still be black. As I said, she is showing that being black is complex and nuanced, just as humanity is complex and nuanced. She could have had a thousand different reasons for tinkering with her nose, none of them to do with the fact that she’s black.
If you re-read what I said I think you’ll see that we are in agreement on that point!
The song is horrible, the dances are nothing new from what she’s already done. I would not try to excuse a bad song and not so great video with explanations of its meaning.
Bey music is getting worse and this is coming from someone who used to be a big fan. No wonder she pushed her release date back. Adele has nothing to worry about and I dislike Adele.
On a good note Blue looks so adorable in the video
I love it, as does the rest of my household. When that opening beat started playing my living room filled up with family members I didnt even know were in the house. Its been on repeat for so long, I think I know the lines already. This is not one of Adeles boohoo ballads (who I like), this is a club banger. And not that EDM crap either, its a get up and show some rhythm song. I love.
As an aside, its also a black empowerment/hustle anthem. Hot sauce for lyfe!
The video actually brought a tear to my eye.
-TheRealPinky
The video actually made me say HELL YAW.
The song is not bad and not great either. I feel like she jumps on the same waggon like Rihanna.
The video on the other hand is absolutely brilliant imo. It’s an answer to the current oscarsowhite-discussion. Also New Orleans is probably close to her heart because her sister lives there?
Aaaaand she totally had a boob job. Too much in my opinion. And she definitely had a nose job and liposuction on her thights. Has nothing to do with being black or white, but with her being in the showbiz I think.
YES! Thank you!
Wonderful post. Great explanation!
SG, I watched the video for the first time after reading your comment. It was very powerful to me. I heard the lyric “get in formation”. As a take on “get in line, know your place”. I also wondered about the women dancing in the empty swimming pool. Perhaps a contrast between the stereotype that blacks don’t swim, against the water tragedy that was Katrina.
I think she’s jumping on the bandwagon now that she’s a mom and not sexy Beyoncé anymore. Now she’s activist Beyoncé! She’s in love with Afros but prefers blond extensions. She’s down with the peeps!! Not buying it.
I hardly understood the video but I thought it was AMAZING. And having nose jobs and/or wearing a weave/dying your hair another colour? It doesn’t diminish your ethnicity and I can not believe some people give other people grief about it.
I really loved the mute button, that’s as good as it got for me !
I hated it from the standpoint of entertainment, as one might expect since I’m a white woman of a certain age. It wasn’t made for me. As a bit of art, I get the point, and good for her on making something of substance.
On the plus side: I’m getting really used to feeling uncool.
Love that comment. I got used to it a while back. Lol
Don’t worry GNAT, I’m with you. While I understand the message and I like the fact that the song is more substantive than her past work, I’m clearly not the targeted audience. If you and Kitten agree I’ll come join you in the uncool group.
I’m a white woman of a certain age and I thought it was amazing.
Same. The somewhat catchy beat and the fact that her cute little daughter made an appearance were the only things that kept me watching til the end.
That’s frustrating, isn’t it? Especially when you didn’t do anything wrong.
She dropped new single and 5 minutes later she was accused of stealing other people’s work. Again. Thiefyonce.
Who was the victim this time?
Documentary makers.
http://ddotomen.com/2016/02/06/beyonce-formation-stole-footage-from-that-b-e-a-t-documentary/
Though ET says they were paid, through their production company.
http://www.ew.com/article/2016/02/06/beyonce-formation-music-video-that-beat?xid=entertainment-weekly_socialflow_twitter
These directors don’t own the footage at all. They were asked, they said no, then Beyoncé’s team went over their heads and got permission anyways.
Where did you hear that they were asked and refused? None of their tweets suggested this and honestly, who would say no to an opportunity like this?
The rights to footage are owned by a production company who not only agreed but were paid for use. The filmmakers are also mentioned in the credits. This is basic standard practice with sourced footage. But its Beyonce so lets shift the goal post so we can bash a sista some more. Yeah.
While it’s not Beyoncé’s fault that the directors didn’t own the rights to the footage, it is Chris Black and Abteen Nagheri who raised the issue of not getting any credit for the footage. If this is a video about black empowerment, then it goes a little counter to the message to not credit everyone responsible for the images.
Her team should have tried a little harder.
Read the news articles Nic919, they ARE credited. They went off half cocked on twitter before they even knew the details. It sounds like they just watched the video and started typing rants rather than calling their reps or her reps
Lmao she didn’t even steal it. That’s why these directors had to retract their previous statements. I’m glad she used the footage. When they made the film they weren’t even part of the community and it did come across as exploitive. The directors look stupid now
Blue Ivy is too cute!
#Redlobster
She looks like a very alert, aware and strong little girl. She also looks smart and mischievous, a combo guaranteed to keep parents on their toes.
I’m loving that she’s gonna grow up to be so black and proud. With her adorable fro and her smile, it’s also amazing how much she’s starting to look like Beyoncé when she was a little girl.
I don’t get her and never have. And I know I’ll get across of s@@t for this, but how come she got a pass for going full Desi on the Coldplay video? They couldn’t find an Indian woman in India??? If it’s not OK for a white person to play MJ (who obliterated all traces of blackness) why is it OK for Beyoncé to play an Indian? I personally have no problem with either but I find people are hypocritical on this one.
Several Indian people came out online stating they were happy Beyonce dressed as an Indian woman.
Apparently the mainstream image of Indian women excludes darker skin tones like Beyonce.
So she got away with it.
Actually she was criticized for that, so this argument doesn’t make sense
Some people were mad and called her out, Indians and non-Indians included. Some people didn’t care because they don’t agree with the extreme SJW cultural appropriation definition anyway. Plenty SE Asians were totally fine with it and thought it did a nice job showing their culture. Some of the extreme SJWs just changed their definition for this case so they could make excuses for her. It was a mixed bag, really.
Beyonce is the least of the problems in the coldplay video. Chris Martin visited India last year and hung out at the poshest of clubs and best of hotels and yet he chose to make a stereotypical video!
There are not sadhus doing asanas on the roadside, nor we have old style movie theatres in cities anymore (what we do have are very very expensive multiplexes) nor do we have slums all over India with people smoking,dancing on the streets. We do not have parabolic dome shaped castles but bungalows and high rise apartments everywhere. Also we definitely do not have naked kids running around throwing colours – except during a festival called holi which lasts for a day. This is not india. We have one of the world’s richest man (an Indian) and his house (palatial, ugly but exoensive!) Not that I dislike what Coldlay think India is, it’s just that this is not modern India. They basically did what every other foreigner cash on, full of cliche!
By the way- they do have a B-list indian actress maing a 3-4 second appearance right around 3:42 or so.
Are those Gucci outfits in the 3rd photo? I love them. Cool video.
I have been wondering the same since I saw them.
It’s a classic Gucci pattern and color scheme. The red and green belts are a dead giveaway.
I really like it. It’s a trap song for women, it’s meant for a certain audience and I think it’s great. The messages in the song & video are strong. She’s celebrating her blackness and if you go on Tumblr and search formation you’ll find a lot of women spoke much better about it. She’s saying her success isn’t due to illuminati, she’s snapping back at those who criticized her daughters afro (and maybe taking a dig at Kim K?). She’s also saying she loves her husband’s nose, and those features on her daughter. She’s calling for people to just make their money and slay!!!
Yes! Yes! Yes! Well said and I 100% agree. Perfect timing as usual from the Queen in light of #OscarsSoWhite. This video is going to scare the you-know-what out of people. Love everything about her ❤️
Could you imagine if she could perform this song at the Oscars?! I would die from laughing at all the uncomfortable faces in the audience.
She might perform it at the Super Bowl halftime show.
Actually I think she should and then she should bring in Janet Jackson so that the NFL can apologize for making her the scapegoat when Justin Timberlake is the one who ripped off that part of the costume and has not been shunned like she has been.
Word. Why there isn’t more outrage that she lost ten years of her career over that while JT continually acts the corny ass clown with no fall out is frustrating.
That was the first thing I noticed, the line about hair then the cut to her daughter. Good for her taking a stand in her own way.
#BeySoBlack and I am here for it!
Also, she ain’t drowning on the cop car, she burying it. 🐝
Preach!
It’s so unapologetically BLACK, I love it. I love even more that she snapped back at the critics of Blue Ivy’s fro and of Jay’s features.
I don’t care for Beyonce, but I 100% support her on this Snap back. Love seeing Blue with her Natural (What I call our afro).
I like the song it’s better than some of her other ones. What I don’t like is her dancing in formation with the other ladies. I really enjoyed the parts of the video without her. Best dancer was the little kid. Loved the black outfit with the sliver jewlerry. For me it would have had more impact is she complimented the message than make it all about her. Her ass and boobs were distracting from the real message. The girl in the blue wig was stunning!
Beyonce’s a great performer but the track is weak.
Lol my response was just the opposite–I’m not really a fan of hers, she seems so calculated. But this is an interesting video and song. She’s really saying something IMO.
My thoughts exactly.
Don’t mean to hijack the thread with other links but the NY times did a group article about it already! I’m loving the deep analysis of this video and song. Enjoy!!! http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/arts/music/beyonce-formation-super-bowl-video.html?_r=0&referer=https://t.co/ei7mHMcwtV
Thanks for the link! Super interesting.
Interesting that they asked Jon Caramanica about the video days after Solange took him apart on twitter. Wonder what she thinks about this whole thing. She lives in NOLA and has been a big supporter of the city for years and was given the key to the city.
I lived when Solange dragged Jon Caramanica and the whole white indie critics crowd. She’s right when she says that those kind of critics don’t really value r&b and they indeed mocked her when she said that Brandy deep cuts are important.
I wonder if she’ll have words for him when it involves her sister. No doubt she’s influenced Beyoncé on matters related to Blue Ivy and her natural locks. Very similar to the ways sisters with different views influence each other all the time.
Saying Brady’s cuts where irrelevant makes their criticism invalid and uninformed. The epitome of hipster hypocritical BS. I got to see Solange at an indie festival in the city I live in (which is a hipster haven and full of college students) a few years ago and she was brilliant. The crowd that showed for her show was awesome too; it wasn’t the same people that showed up for the hipster acts. It really highlighted how full of crap the indie hipsters are.
OMG I love it. I LOVE it.
I’m so happy right now. Ive never bought a Beyoncé album in my life, but if THIS is the theme, she can have my money. Just take it all, Bey.
i cant find the video on youtube! someone link it for me?
It’s linked above in the article.
yes but i cant find it on the youtube app on my xbox! ugh
Love it and the Big Freedia cameo.
I read the lyrics and I hear a black woman saying:
I work my ass off and I am successful by my own merit.
My black child is beautiful.
My husband’s black ass face is beautiful.
I’m Creole and I’m black AF.
I know where I come from and you can’t take that from me. And look at my bomb ass swag.
Police take note.
Idk but that’s pretty deep trap to me.
THIS!
🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
@QQ your use of the “field goal” icon killed me dead just now. METAPHORICAL PERFECTION!
PERFECT.
Some people wont get it. Maybe because they are outsiders to the struggle and the culture, and others wont get it because they live to hate. We get it, thats what counts.
+1 Loved your post upthread too. Hot sauce fo lyfe! 😀
@Naya I would argue that it counts that we all get it. Some people are not going to like that at all, but I hope everyone gets it. It’s one of the best videos I have seen. The images and the way he mixes them-going from high fashion shot and creole drawing room to the tappers in the 9th, it’s brilliant. I think this i ome of her best. I hope people watch more than once and really try to understand how BAD ASS this is. She had been too tightly wound for awhile, and now it’s like a whole new person. Fabulous and so fierce I have to find a better word than fierce.
Well, the message would of been more powerful if she actually wrote the song….
I get that artists have songwriters for them but I feel that if you’re trying to send a politcial message, it doesn’t quite have the same punch if I find out Rae Sremmurd wrote the entire thing…
a lot of people want to say they don’t like the video because it’s so unapologetically pro-black, but they don’t wanna come across as racist (which they are) so instead they say that they can’t hear the melody in the song and therefore don’t like it.
IDGAF who wrote it, the words resonate. Step off my me, my baby and my man. And stop shooting us while you’re at it.
THANK YOU!
Y’all its been almost 24 hours and I still can’t locate the edges Bey snatched off my head. Help me.
Lol Tiffany 🙌🏼
Ima locate a Praying Grandma to have her pray our edges strenght, Tiffany, But to pray in Black!
😂😂😂😂 Same here ladies. Edges and whole life just snatched right out from under me!
@QQ She’s sure to have some praying oil on hand. 🙂
Y’all kill me, lmao.
And here it is. This is EXACTLY what this song is about. She’s responding to all the criticism she faces, from people talking about how she bleaches her skin to being in the illuminati to making fun of her baby’s natural hair. And then she put all of that on top of a trap beat during Black History Month. If you don’t get it then it wasn’t for you and that’s fine. But this whole thing gave me LIFE and I love her for it. This is a whole lotta YES.
That’s what I got from the first listen too.
that’s what I got from the video too, and I really really liked it. I wouldn’t say I’m a beyonce music fan overall, but I like what she did with this video and the messages it sends. She’s so powerful, I’m glad she’s using that power to send a message.
Why so angry, why the big stance of I’m a black woman, kid n hubby black,screw the police. Umm,Beyonce,we know who n what u r, trust me, no police ever bothered u. Or husband yeah but he was a Greg dealer, today, u live lives of luxury, make it about the people, us feel the song more instead of Givenchy clothes n crap, its all recycled crap. Bet songs have great beats to dance to but her lyrics come off immature.
I know what word you meant but Jay Z being called a Greg dealer still made me laugh.
“You got those Gregs?”
That scene where the little boy danced his butt off and then the police raised THEIR hands? Honestly stole my breath away.
Musically I didn’t like the song, but the video definitely has some powerful imagery and message. Admittedly I don’t follow her music very closely, but this seems very different than stuff she has done before.
I love her swagger in this video. I think this will be her antheum as its the high point of her career. Was never a big Bey fan as I thought she seemed a bit manufactured.
This Bey I can get behind!!
Me and my coins are so ready. Love the song and video
As someone who grew up in a era watching very pro black videos with strong messages (Public Enemy, Brand Nubian, X-Clan) This isn’t anything new or groundbreaking to me. I think the video is great and has Solange written ALL over it. It highlights the NoLa culture and that in itself is fantastic.
The song however, is forgettable. There is no structure. There is only one verse which is repeated twice, no chorus and the lyrics suck. The parts about Blue Ivy and Jay Z aside, she ruins with dumb lyrics like having hot sauce in her purse and how if he “whoop me good, I take his a$$ to Red Lobster and rocking her Givenchy. If she’s going to go for a political message, I would have expected a song along the lines of anything off To the East Blackwards album to accompany such a poignant video.
I see your argument, but Public Enemy is no Gill Scott-Hendron. The point being that each generation can have different levels and different types of performers who disseminate Black Power or Racial Empowerment in varying ways. Beyonce doesn’t have to perform her message like anyone else. She can compose her imagery on her own terms. She can have a song without structure if that is necessary to reinforce the point she is making. Also in regards to the song, it’s not a catchy beat in the traditional sense and at first, it through me off. However, as the song progressed I realized that was a part of the message, that was a part of the song. I can hate that or love that but she used that as a way to fully express her message. It was a stylistic choice. I think the song is heightened by the video. Beyonce has been making songs in that stylistic wheelhouse for a while now, so it’s something perhaps a casual fan or non-fan would not enjoy.
Gil Scott-Heron. The hot sauce and Red Lobster references are cultural and I’ll say it, political metaphors. So who’s dumb?
@Eliz
Pardon? Are you stating that Beyonce is not dumb b/c she has political cultural references to her music? On another issue, I do feel it’s sad when Beyonce makes a strong move and ppl automatically say it’s b/c of her sister or her husband. You know Jay Z is a highly intelligent man and he has always discussed several reasons for his love and he mentions what well-rounded woman she is. I take this to mean that she has some level of intelligence to her. Maybe she’s not well-spoken, she’s not highly educated in the public education sense, maybe she’s not articulate, etc. None of those things mean she is illiterate and unread. It’s possible that she has sought deeper intellectual study through other means.
I agree with your point on song structure-there’s nothing much going on. She does perform the heck out of the song in the video and the images are great but I’m not going to go out of my way to listen to this again.
I found the video and a lot of the lyrics really powerful. The shot of the graffiti saying “Please stop shooting us” actually gave me chills. However, I wish we could lose the profanity-I feel like it cheapens her message.
I love profanity! What’s wrong with profanity?
Also, love the song and the video. Hot damn, Beyoncé.
lol @ Chicken and your love of profanity. I used to be so offended by over use of profanity but you know, then I decided to do some scholarship into the linguists and etymology of the words and realized it all deserves a deep shoulder shrug. Beyonce is a grown woman writing/singing grown women songs. So yeah, “hot damn, Beyonce.”
@amunet ma’at Thanks! I also looooove linguistics, and I think language is fascinating. Had I been born independently wealthy, I would spend my life studying linguistics. And I love profanity!
I’m one of the few people who just doesn’t get the Beyonce obsession or why she is so loved so imagine my surprise when I watched this video and loved it. I liked about two songs off her last album. I still don’t get why people treat this woman like some queen but I did enjoy the video. I also think her message is bullshit. Since when does she care about New Orleans? She hasn’t done anything for my state. Her video is about her and nothing else besides her.
I like it. The song I think could have been tighter but (it’s growing on me and) I think a good remix mashup could fix it. The intent and visuals were on point. I was actually freaking out over the child in the black hoodie dancing in front of the riot police line.
Blue Ivy’s appearance was awesome also.
She had something to say. She said, and entertained us.
Doesn’t matter if some people don’t get it. It’s not for them.
True.
Well. Damn. I watched this twice at work. And I had to STOP myself from jumping up and down. I hear her. Finally. I love some of her music, can’t stand some of her music, but this…this is amazing! I recognized some of the scenery, and it makes me miss NOLA. Mot of the time I see Beyonce as controlled and controlling of everything. I’m sure she is, but if this is the image she is putting out, I’m down for it. “You know you that bitch”…OMG> I don’t have to hand it to her. She has already taken it.
I’m not her biggest fan although the original DC was cool but this is he music what people should be making. Political and danceable she read the cops to filth. To do that with money to lose is brave. She did good
Mix that Negro with that Creole Get a Texas Bama
#HoustonProud
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
#reppinghard
I think Beyonce is incredibly overrated. I liked a few songs during the Destiny’s Child days, but I think “Single Ladies” is incredibly sexist and not empowering at all (“putting a ring on it is more important than you treating me well”?). I mean, not everyone has to like the same music so if people like her music, fine, but calling her “Queen”? Give me a break.
How on earth is ‘Single Ladies’ sexist? Nowhere in the lyrics does she say that a ring is more important than being treated well. The whole point of the song is that her ex didn’t appreciate her enough, as evidenced by his reluctance to commit to her in marriage, and that now she’s moved on but he’s suddenly realised what he’s lost. She’s not saying. ‘ah if you give me a ring I’ll put up with whatever’, it’s more a case of ‘I wanted to marry and spend my life with you, but you aren’t mature enough and/or don’t appreciate me enough to do that’.
Hence she’s dancing with other guys in the club (‘a man on my hips/hold me tighter than my Dereon jeans/acting up, drink in my cup’) and letting her ex know she doesn’t care if it upsets him (‘I can’t care less what you think/I need no permission, did I mention/don’t pay him any attention’), because he blew his chance to make it with her (’cause you had your turn/and now you’re gonna learn/what it really feels like to miss me’).
Call me crazy, but I find a woman who is unapologetic and upfront about what she wants in a relationship pretty empowering.
@ Well
I fully agree with you. Like people are mad and saying she’s not a “feminist” because of songs like Partition but she’s clearly discussing her sexual desires in a strong unapologetic voice. You are right, that is extremely empowering.
In the lyrics she sings “cried my tears, for three good years” then goes on to say “if you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it”.
She’s singing that she left because he didn’t “put a ring on it”. But she’s also singing that she cried for three years during the relationship? So she left because he didn’t marry her, not because he treated her like crap and made her cry? Would she have stayed in the relationship that made her cry for three years if he had “put a ring on it”?
Yes, she sings about what she wants and how she wants to be treated in a relationship, but if she’s singing that that’s what she wants, then she clearly wasn’t getting it from that guy. So why be with him in the first place? She’s singing that the only reason she dumped him is because he didn’t “put a ring on it”, not because he didn’t treat her the way she wanted to be treated. So if he had married her but didn’t treat her the way she wanted to be treated, would she have stayed in the relationship? That’s what the song implies.
To me, it’s sexist and not empowering at all to imply that getting a ring is the most important thing in a relationship.
@Jessica
In addition to what the others have said, you need to know that intersectional feminism is a real thing. A part of the culture has conditioned black men to view black women as interchangeable and undesirable for marriage. These guys are pretty much transients in their own relationships. And I shouldn’t have to tell you the consequences, look at any poverty index or any single parent stats or any HIV prevalence numbers etc etc. Viewed that way marriage takes on a different meaning for the woman if you exists in this culture. Where many white feminists view marriage as confining, many black black feminists view it as conferring benefit. Put a ring on it is anything but sexist to those of us who can read context. Coming from Taylor or Adele perhaps it would take on different meaning. Context is everything.
What does calling her Queen do to you? If some people have a term of endearment for a singer they love, what’s the problem?
They called Elvis The King, do you have a problem with that too?
While there are different for forms of feminism, it seems like Beyoncé’s version always ends up with her dancing in hot pants. While she is saying she is empowered, her videos generally follow the mainstream male gaze which have women sexualized. Compare her videos to Missy Elliott and there is a huge difference. Rihanna is the same as Beyoncé in this regard. They say they are empowered, but continually push an image that fits in with what is acceptable for what straight males consider to be sexy.
What’s empowering or feminist about women living in fear that something they’re wearing or doing might turn on a straight male, *Having* to adhere to a conservative, “classy”, ladylike, or androgynous dress code in order to ‘prove’ that they’re True Feminists, and having to ‘earn’ equality by proving to men that they’re Not That Kind Of Girl? Why don’t we go around saying to white western women who choose the image of classy, conservatively dressed lady, “You’re not empowered and I can’t really accept you calling yourself a feminist because covering up and being a lady has ties to patriarchy and victim-blaming.”
Sexiness doesn’t prove or disprove that a woman is empowered, or a feminist. Just like “classiness”, modesty, or androgyny don’t prove or disprove it.
@OtakuFairy
I am always HERE for you discussing feminism and sexuality.
Beyonce has made some really poor song selections since she fired her father. I don’t blame her for firing him at all. He seemed to be very controlling. I’m just saying, she’s not doing as well as before. She needs to step it up or hire a new manager.
However, I am going to watch the super bowl halftime to see Bruno Mars!!
It’s a powerful video, and I’m also pretty happy that a woman directed the video as well. That sends another positive message. The music itself isn’t my thing, but I’m all for this kind of political art getting some mainstream time.
The video itself was well done.
So THIS is why the Kardashians are in overdrive! Even bringing out the babies. It was fantastic to see Beyoncé & JayZ courtside at Oracle for the Warriors game Super Bowl eve! And thank you for the City love of public concerts Mettalica and Alicia Keys!
Not usually a Beyonce fan, but loved this. Much prefer this kind of statement music to mainstream pop fluff.
Love it!!! I think she’s sending a strong powerful message & it’s great!! I wasn’t that into the song on the first listen but it grew on me quickly. If the song isn’t for you I suggest you watch the video with the sound off. The message is there even if you don’t listen to the song. 👏 Bey!!!
Although I always respected and admired her work ethic, I have never been a fan of Beyonce. Sure, I liked several of her songs and vids from her Destiny Child days and beyond but haven’t really listened to any of her latest albums. This vid right here tho, I AM HERE FOR IT. So much to unpack in that video. I don’t care that it doesn’t have a catchy melody or chorus. The visuals and the message is what it’s all about.
Not going to join the Beyhive or nothing but my estimation of Bey just jumped several notches.
The song isn’t in my taste of music but the video certainty is different (at least from what I have seen of her) and entertaining.
I was wondering what “bama” means? She says it a few times in the song. Had no idea it was a derogatory word. Never heard it before.
In the South I’ve only ever heard it as a shortened version of Alabama which is where I got confused. Per Urban Dictionary:
Originated from Black youth in Washington DC.
1. Original meaning was “cant dress well” or “fashion misfit”
2. Now the word has a more general use meaning “person”, as how Whites use “Dude”
Edit: This was in reply to word, comment 39.
@ InvaderTak
Interesting ! Thanks for the info !
I see the person’s comment I replied to was deleted. THEY are the ones who said it was a derogatory term. I simply asked what it meant as I’ve never heard that term before. Actually it appears A LOT of comments have been deleted.
@word I’m surprised yours made it thru. The D word usually gets d’d or not even posted. Shame because some of the d’d posts were really insightful, even if I didn’t agree with them. M o d e r a t i o n is a B word. 😉
duplicate post
InvaderTak: Yup, you got it! I grew up right outside of DC in Landover, Maryland and that’s the way the word “bamma” was used. Someone who couldn’t dress well, clothes didn’t match or just a person who was seen as corny. Sometimes it was even used as a noun, almost like a slang word for “people.”
Almond joy, I Don’t know what the context is here but imma take a stab at this anyway. I believe that bamma always referred to people from the deep south. Country to be specific. As they came up north they were considered untrendy and unsophisticated, and mocked for how they dressed. Eventually bamma in some places just came to mean unsophisticated or corny.
Naya, I agree. That’s definitely how the word was originally used. Was just sharing how it was used when I was a teenager and in the area I lived in. It’s funny how words take on a different meaning/context as time goes on.
I’m from Alabama and we say ‘Bama as another way of saying Alabama. It can also mean University of Alabama football to me. To someone from there, It’s not a derogatory word.
It’s like…someone from NYC or Staten Island might call someone really “Jersey” as an insult (like Jersey girls) but to someone from New Jersey they are proud to be from NJ and own everything that means.
Regional stuff you have to live there to get it I guess.
The song is such a mess. Why, in a song like this, was it necessary to pointlessly name-check Givenchy and throw in the now apparently obligatory reference to her sex life with her husband?
Her last album was full of that too, good songs with a message interrupted by non-sequitur’s.
thank you. the sterotypes. We will never be regarded as anything else as long as we inforce the sterotypes
my favorite part is the end where she says, stay gracious, the best revenge is your paper. gave me goosebumps! QUEEN BEY!
I hate sterotypes..any the video did i guess what it was supposed to do get people talking about Beyonce
I think she is trying to pull off a Kendrick Lamar vibe, but it is just doesn’t work. The video is awesome, though.
I thought the song and the video were amazing. I didn’t even download her last album, but this single is different and AWESOME. I’m liking political Beyonce.
I don’t like Beyoncé. But I like that video. She has shown another side of Southern Gothic in my opinion…
I also want Funeral Beyoncé’s jewelry. I am terrible.
YES. I adored the Southern Gothic, Traditional Black Church Ladies WITH fans.
Not a Beyonce fan but I acknowledge her talent, performanceship and work ethic. I’m Asian in Asia, so this song is not directly for me, but I feel that it’s really great of her (and in her position) to voice out the call for equality in the US. Minority rights in a country should not be any lesser, period. I really felt the frankness of the ‘please stop shooting us’ message. It shouldn’t be any less frank.
Personally, I thought the song and video were great. I’ve always associated her with Texas and not Nola. I’ve no issues with it except for the timing. She waited for Adele’s album sales to die down before dropping Formation but she seized Rihanna’s moment (and Coldplay’s).
Nah. It’s not Bey’s fault if she drops a vid and single before a Superbowl performance and tour dates.
Rih needs to get a well oiled promo machine running. If other people are better at it then whose fault is that? (I say this as someone who enjoys Anti and has been hella frustrated with the terrible promotion of the album, single, and the lack of video for said single a week later.)
I think the few stumbling blocks we saw from Beyonce firing her Dad and starting to take greater control of her career are what we’re seeing from Ri now.
That said, clearly, Beyonce did take control and managed to make herself into a myth and a legend with how she exercised that creative control.
I want to believe after this many years in the game Ri can pull off the same feat, but I do think a part of her is still ‘depending’ on others to take care of her career and with Anti it’s clear if she doesn’t fight for herself others won’t.
Wow, just wow! I don’t think Coldplay “begged” Beyoncé to perform with them!
She just happen to have a background vocal stint in one of Coldplay’s new album and don’t forget they are partners in that God-awful music stream service.
Being Beyoncé, Of course she’s going to try to steal the show from them. We get it, she likes being the center of the universe And yet couldn’t out perform Madonna’s halftime show in ratings, so this is her chance to do it al all over again.
Coldplay is big around the world and I even dare to say that bigger than Beyoncé on a worldwide scale. Outside the US I doubt Beyoncé is that big, same for Coldplay in the US. I see it as a win win for both.
You must be joking. Coldplay is NOT bigger than Beyoncé
Yes Coldplay is much bigger than Beyoncé…they sell out stadiums. highly doubt Beyoncé has ever done that on her own.
They’ve sold more records and they can sell out bigger venues. They’re absolutely bigger than Beyonce.
The idea that Beyonce is the biggest pop star is really just hype. She’s sold less records than pretty much all her peers (Britney, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Adele, etc) and she can only fill a real stadium venue for a night, whereas most acts with her level of fame can do it for at least 3 nights.
She’s absolutely amazing at getting people talking about her, but after the initial hype that doesn’t translate into the kind of success other artists are having. She’s still crazy successful, but she’s far from the top of the food chain.
@Pepper – if this is true and Beyonce has not sold as much as these artists you mentioned, then there is a problem with this world. She is one of the artists that work hard and she actually wants to be here, at this level of fame and success.
She consistently makes interesting music and she tries to provide a spectacular show.
Britney is the only one that was legitimately her peer in charisma and dancing skills and show, other than that is ridiculous.
Coldplay had some good songs and maybe if they hadn’t been MIA for a good amount of time, their songs would have been improved. They lack consistency.
When Martin divorced they came back and now there are already rumors that this is their last album. It’s ridiculous to claim to be in a well-known band only when your personal life suits you. I think Adele will have a similar story as time goes by. Some of their fans accept things as they are but I appreciate people like Beyonce more that show consistency and actually make fight to be where they are.
Yes Beyoncé has sold stadiums. However Beyoncé is well aware though that people would rather watch her that’s why she has video it every song
Sorry for reposting this, I accidentally posted it in another beyonce thread. Lots of coverage this weekend. See below:
Hi everyone:
I am an unapologetic Beyoncé stan.
Beyoncé = 180 million albums sold as an independent. 60 million sold with destiny child. 20 Grammys, most nominated woman in Grammy history. 2nd female with the most Grammys.
Cold play, many achievement 60 million sold worldwide.
Yep. No comparison required. My apologies to the coldplay fans but the facts don’t lie. Everyone knows pop sells more.
…yeah I’m not sure where the idea came from that Coldplay is bigger than Beyonce. I’ve liked Coldplay since their first album and even I wouldn’t agree to that. No snuff on them, just…not bigger than her.
Maybe I ‘m super wrong and correct me if so, but this vid was all new Orleans/ el nino. Brad Pitt built homes, but never saw the carters doing something hands on to help the community. Prefer Solange at this point.
I love the video. LOVE it.
I think this is great. Love the politics and it’s giving me a big M.I.A. vibe especially her ‘broader than a border’ -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJuFdkMOP20 – which is just amazing.
I don’t really like the song. But I did like the dance moves, how fierce she looked, and the women’s natural hair.
If she did get a boob job I want one just like it. They’re still bouncy and jiggly. Except I guess you probably have to have some breast tissue for a job like that and I have none.
I am nowhere close to the target audience for this, but yow, that song is awesome and the video is even better.
And I’ve totally been getting into the Coldplay song that features her too. I may be on the brink of entering the Beyhive. 🙂
I find it interesting that with her last two releases (7/11 and this) she has pulled away from mainstream music. By definition that will mean that this is not to as many people’s taste; but I think it’s risky and fun and I’m impressed. I also like that she’s shedding her vanilla mostly unpolitical image. Yes with her last album she went full sex – but that is hardly new ground for a popstar. This time she is getting political and I really like it. Go Beyonce!!
Then she’s been pregnant since mid last year, because people have been pointing out her boob job since then. This video just made it even more obvious.
The song is full of stereotypes. And the moderators deleted some good insightful post .
I never post on this board, I am a spectator. I felt compelled to add to the conversation today.
This is for*
– The police
– The indie critics
– The politicians
– The rappers whom practise misogyny noir (Weeknd,Ty Dollar Sign, Lil Wayne, Sage the Gemini..ugh too many to name) and whom are sadly gaining popularity by doing so
– The film industry whom practise misogyny noir
– The Hip Hop Industry, whom also practise misogyny noir, they personally exclude dark skinned woman and perpetuate the trend (directors, casting crew)
– The other successful minorities, whom have suspiciously mum on the black lives movement
– For the kids “Black Bill Gates” is it encouragement for minorities and people living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods? (kids from schools that don’t receive any government funding *see Baltimore, Detroit)
(*for the rappers, its so sad how they practise misogyny noir, when their mothers and grandmothers are the same people they exclude. That is so twisted self hatred)
I love how she went against convention and used real, woman of all shapes and sizes, and black woman has her back up dancers. This is almost like the resurgence of the black power movement..ie James Brown, RUN DMC.
I think most were generally shocked by seeing, dark skinned, full bodied, kinky hair woman, dancing at the most public venue. We’ve all been white washed, and desensitized from seeing female minorities on display. The nation took a pause….. last night and remembered “oh right this female minority group exists too”.
* Not saying everyone is out to get them, they are many friendly white people whom support the cause, but they get shots from all sides.
*The black lives movement too have white supporter – see Bernie Sanders, but there are many Americans whom feel uncomfortable, even upset with this topic, just ask this deputy’s wife: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/08/beyonce-formation-black-American-narrative-the-margins
I’m a black woman by the way, I happen to read into these things more.
The other day my white male Caucasian school friend white/mainsplained said: “why does everyone worship Beyoncé, she hot and everything but I don’t understand…the obsession” he didn’t get it. He’s more enlightened then most. Beyoncé is the pinnacle of success, for an African-American female. We built her to the heights on which she stands because we love the idea of her. We love that she is an example of a beautiful talented woman, recognized by the masses. Think of anyone whom is nearly celebrated as much as her….. …..yeah I cant think of anyone either.
That is why we worship her. She’s the ONE example.
I remember seeing the Canadian MTV awards, the AMA’s, the MTV video awards.. (Other then Nicki Minaj) I couldn’t find one woman of color anywhere. I was actively looking.. and nope. That contributes to the surprise of last night.
I’m glad you posted, I enjoyed your comment. Ditto to using real life black women!
I don’t know if she purposely hijacked the performance or if her AND Bruno where just so much better that it took focus. I mean sorry who in their right mind asks cold play? They are boring they don’t bring any energy or excitement to their performance so no matter who shared the stage with them they were going to be upstaged but when you bring on such dynamic performers like Bey (who I’m pretty over) and Bruno and it’s done for Coldplay. Honestly they saved the show.
Side note good week for Gucci.
Hmm, I must be the odd man out. I actually like Beyonce, in theory: I think she has a great voice, she’s a great dancer, and she’s from Houston, lol.
But I just HATE most of her music. I feel like she never gets to actually SING. There’s so much show, there’s hardly any music in it. This song is no exception, it is almost like slow rap. Except it repeats the same lyrics twice, and there aren’t that many of them, so I feel like it doesn’t have the same poetic, political energy as good rap can have, but it also doesn’t have enough of a melody to carry it.
Plus, to someone who doesn’t follow the drama of her life, a lot of them are meaningless: I had no idea that she got criticized for her daughter’s afro until I read about it here. Also didn’t know that JayZ apparently was criticized for his prominent black looks or something?
Also, surely I’m not the only one who hates Beyonce’s choreographer? Ever since “Single ladies”, I’m amazed that those moves are considered good. They are unique, for sure, but they look almost comical to me for some reason. Definitely not something I see and think “oh, I wish I could do that”. No, I do appreciate the athleticism, and I’m not saying I COULD do it, I’m just saying that if I wanted to learn a routine, hers wouldn’t be the one that would inspire me.
BEYSUS? No. I’m not even religious and this is fecking ridiculous. She’s just a human being that takes a shit every day like the rest of us. Ugh, over it.