One of the strangest controversies in 2018 was all of the drama around Beyonce’s amazing Coachella set. Beyonce was the big headliner for the 2018 Coachella Music Festival and she prepared. She was ready. People who were there had a religious experience. The footage was amazing. Beyonce created an entire concert devoted to Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), the black educational experience and the black experience in total. Some people were shook. Some other people were weirdly salty about it, like how dare people… enjoy an incredible performance, how dare Beyonce celebrate HBCUs, how dare Beyonce create this incredible singular performance.
Well, as long suspected, Beyonce turned the whole thing into a documentary-slash-concert film. Yesterday, Netflix released this one tweet:
— Netflix US (@netflix) April 7, 2019
It doesn’t even say “Beyonce”! But the Beyhive KNEW. They knew that Queen Bey had given them a documentary. I’m actually surprised Bey didn’t give this to HBO, which is where she went for Lemonade. I guess she’s a Netflix girl now. Anyway, after everyone freaked out about that one tweet, the trailer dropped. I’m already having a quasi-religious experience to the choreography mixed with the Maya Angelou voiceover.
Beyonce owns Netflix now, I’m pretty sure. From now on, it’s Beyflix.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
🙄🙄
I am bummed that these eyerolls are the first comment.
Anyway, I’m not even a huge Beyonce fan, but bottom line is that there are very, very, very few artists that put on a show like she does. That Coachella performance was iconic and I’ll definitely be watching this doc.
Honestly, what’s eyeroll worthy about someone putting out a quality piece of work that a lot of time, planning, dedication and hard work went into ?
The first comment I made on this site, I think 8 years ago, was on a Beyonce post with lots of negative comments on her while the article was actually about something good she did, I think I remember something with a charity. People can tell themselves all they want about how they think she’s too over the top, gauche, wants too much attention, but yeah, we know what that’s about. She’s a black woman, at the peak of her career and has managed to remain at that peak for a while now. But sure, she is the one that’s gauche. 🙄
Haters will always hate. Lol
…And they can’t even play it cool, like when most people casually dislike something or just aren’t fans of a particular artist or genre. How else would they be able to feel like they’re the final few free thinkers left here? They’ll always come back to go out of their way to perform how tired they are of her.
I can tell you why I don’t like her. I think she’s opportunistic. I think she steals from other artists who can’t afford to fight her in court. She has one hit, and even that is basically a remake of an old song. She likes to present herself as this fierce warrior-leader woman, but then she photoshops herself a thigh gap.
Someone decided that Beyonce is going to be a star, no matter what. And they “built” her. I don’t think she has zero talent, in fact I think she’s a decent actor. But Solance for example is a better singer.
Not liking it when artists copy off of less famous artists is pretty reasonable, as long as it’s applied to everyone. But I’m not sure why the thigh gap thing would be a big deal years later. Feminists and strong women still have insecurities about their bodies all the time, and with her being in the public eye, her physical appearance and her body are both under a lot of scrutiny. As long as someone’s insecurities about their body (whether it’s beauty-related or morality-related) don’t carry over into treating other people badly, it’s not really something I’d hold against that person.
Same. But people get sooooooo butt hurt if you don’t think Beyonce is god or something.
Yes. Thank you @Harryg and @hogtowngooner
Sweetheart, you’re not special because you don’t like Beyonce.
I get both sides.
On one side I think she is an incredibly hard worker – one of the hardest working people in the business. She’s actually not as naturally talented as some other people (way more talented than most obviously); but she has worked so hard that she’s right up there with them or even surpasses them.
I read an in-depth article on Lainey about this particular concert and it was really incredible. The production ethos, the many many layers of meaning, the dedication to perfection, the fact that rather than making money off this she probably lost it, even the sound mixing. So impressive!! I don’t know if that was as recognised as it should have been and I, for one, am keen to see the documentary!
I love that she feels powerful enough now to be more open with her politics. That she can be a feminist, support black issues, and more. Her support is powerful. Very impressive.
She also apparently remains a lovely person.
On the other hand, I think sometimes the ego is a lot. My sister went to a gig of hers a few years ago – given free box tickets through work. She said it was good but the narcissism on display was pretty intense. Hundreds of photos and bits of footage of Bey dressed up in different outfits preening projected throughout. It was excessive. And she kept saying things like: “I know you’re going to remember this night for the rest of your lives!” “This concert will always be a highlight in your lives!” Which… well, no.
I do think she does use her power in ways which are unfair: like shoehorning herself into writing credits on songs which were presented to her in full. That’s not right. Star power or not. I think she does borrow from unknown artists at times without full credit (conversely she also gives a stage to other artists too that boosts them massively). I don’t think she’s had that many good songs in recent years – although her concepts have been really cool. She’s not a composer or song writer – although I believe reports that she contributes a lot to production and style.
It annoyed me when she allowed her husband to put lines in her sexy couple song to the effect of “I might, beat the box up like Mike
In ’97 I bite, I’m Ike, Turner, turn up Baby no I don’t play, now eat the cake, Annie Mae. Said, “Eat the cake, Annie Mae!”” Which to me was a disgusting conflation of consensual sex and domestic violence along with mention of a time when Mike was a violent rapist who did terrible things. It was also a betrayal of Tina Turner who she’d always claimed to love and respect. What Ike did to Tina was not a joke to be used in sex. Then everyone turned around and said that song and album was so feminist. How???
I don’t like how people treat her like she is a literal god and can do no wrong – she is a human being who works hard and is good at marketing herself.
I found the pregnancy announcement photos hilariously narcissistic but also enjoyable from an entertainment perspective.
So, on balance, I can see why she rubs some the wrong way, but overall I think she’s pretty great.
PS: she didn’t photoshop a thigh gap. She leaned forward and tilted her hips and bum back. That creates the appearance of a gap. Try it.
I definitely think there’s a need to just culturally unpack why we’re quick to make a moral issue/character failing out of women enjoying the girly girl cosplay or appealing to others who may be more visual like them. If some women aren’t feeling it, that’s one thing, but it definitely doesn’t make them or the manly men who mock it more altruistic, balanced, or humble as people. The way Beyoncé unapologetically owns her femininity while androgyny and masculinity are painted as more virtuous and sometimes even smarter is one of the things I love about her as an artist. But the rest of what you said is fair- and a lot more balanced than the usual antics of her loudest detractors.
It’s one thing to offer up reasonable, rational critiques like that. With Beyoncé though, and certain other public figures, some (not all) get really extra with it either because of seedier issues they have with that person, or because they’re trying to show how intellectually or morally superior they think they are to the (mostly not straight white male conservative) people who tend to admire her more. Certain public figures are punching bags for people’s conservative beliefs (even with liberals who have conservative beliefs)
Can’t wait
Can. Not. Wait!
I was there. It was an amazing performance, never seen anything like it, and I doubt I ever will again. It felt like history. Can’t wait for this!
That performance…WAS that iconic…Like Diana Ross @ Central Park….so glad for this documentary!
YES. I firmly believe that this concert will be looked at as that one was, a landmark for this generation.
Yes! Really looking forward to this.
SO excited to see this again! The livestream at the time was great-can’t wait to watch it again
+1000!!!
So excited for this. Thank you Bey but you need to release the Formation World Tour DVD please. Please do that and break the world. The visuals from whatever snippets you released were out of the world. Its been 3 years now. We need the Formation World Tour DVD.
I’ll never actually go to a concert in person for Beyoncé (I enjoy her music but the fandom is just too extra and a bit much so I wouldn’t enjoy) so might have to check out on Netflix
I feel the same way. Maybe I’m just too old for concerts, period, so I try to find other ways to support artists I like.
Yes!!!! I can’t wait.
I went to see the OTR II tour last summer and Beyoncé live is a sight to behold. Nobody does it like her, she’s phenomenal, almost out of this world. I became a huge fan after that.
I watched the performance when YouTube lived streamed it (yep, I stayed up pass my bedtime to do it).
I was completely and totally blown away. I have seen Queen Bey’s performances before and never questioned her ethics. But that one, that was something that I have never experienced and probably never will.
It gave me a understanding of her true, blue fans. It really did.
Blah , she has zero talent so I don’t get the hype.
“Zero talent”
It’s honestly amusing how the achievements and skill of women, especially Black women, are so quickly erased.
We see your salty ass 🙃
Wow, that was… absurd to say the least. It’s ok to dislike her or even think she’s not the best, but zero talent, no. Just no.
I think talent, particularly when there is a defined way to measure it in technicality, is not always subjective. Beyonce is talented, and that talent is measurable in technicality.
But i don’t think she’s genuine. Everything i see from her is super performative. But that’s okay too, because her art isn’t for me, and she’s working her ass off. It doesn’t matter in the long run, because it’s not for me. Her art might not be for you.
I understand if she’s not your taste, but to say zero talent is ignorant and simply untrue.
Your misogynoir is showing, dear.
Please, rose, indulge with your “talent”. I guarantee you are a troll, who decides to write a comment which will cause multiple replies (mine included) and you can watch from behind your keyboard. Brave.
Yes! I can’t wait
I went to see the OTR II tour last summer and Beyoncé live is a sight to behold. Nobody does it like her, she’s phenomenal, almost out of this world. I became a huge fan after that.
I can’t wait! I love her and I’m still angry Lemonade didn’t get album of the year at the Grammy’s. That album is still on constant rotation in my home! I’m eager to know what’s next for her.
Even Adele, in her speech when she won, knew. She straight up called it BS.
Lemonade was a work of art
I can’t wait to watch this with my 7 year old daughter who absolutely loves Beyonce! She’s amazingly talented and I could watch her perform all day.
Do we really need a documentary about a performance?