Who: Beyoncé Knowles, 6th studio album
When: April 23, 2016
What: Lemonade
Why: A conceptual project on every women's journey into self acknowledgement and healing.
How: ParkWood Entertainment-- Columbia Records
Directors:
Style: Pop, reggae, blues, rock, hip hop, soul, funk, Americana, country, gospel, electronic, and trap
Featured on the Tracks: James Blake, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd and Jack White
Album Meaning: The album is known to be called Lemonade based off of the known phrase "when life gives you lemonades, make lemonade". This is a known phrase that has been relevant to Beyonce and was said to her throughout her life by her grandmother. Connecting this phrase to her life, it is in reference to personal struggles, and the struggles that black women today face. The lemonade making is an ode to overcome hardships and turning things around. Looking at her personal life, she also acknowledges her husband Jay Zs grandmother and her use of the phrase. More personally, it is assumed that Lemonade has to deal with the cheating stories of Beyonce's husband and her overcoming the backlash she received as well as her way of dealing with it. Throughout the visual piece of the album, Beyonce takes us through the different steps that she went through in order to combat with the lying and cheating she faced during her relationship.
Cover Art: Beyonce released multiple album covers and photographs along with the release of her album. The main album cover is Beyonce resting on a black SUV with her head down. You can visually see her golden corn rows, and fur coat. The design is simple, yet powerful.
Promotion of the Album:
Tracks:
1. "Pray You Catch Me"
2. "Hold Up"
3. "Don't Hurt Yourself"
4. "Sorry"
5. "6 Inch"
6. "Daddy Lessons"
7. "Love Drought"
8. "Sandcastles"
9. "Forward"
10. "Freedom"
11. "All Night"
12. "Formation"
Lemonade Visual Album:
The entire visual aspect is split up into 11 creative chapters about Beyonce's process of how she is handling what is going on in her life. She creates a story through the various chapters that showcase her emotions and visually represents what she is going through. The film is made up of poetry and pose that was written by Somali poet Warsan Shire. Each chapter begins with a dialogue, new scenery, costumes, and individuals. It then goes into one of the songs that can be found on her album. Below is a description of the chapters. Looking into the musical elements, multiple different instruments were used including: aerophones, chordophones, electrophones, idiophones, membranopones and voice. The dynamics for most of the songs is loud, because Beyonce is singing with passion and about the challenges that she faced in life. There are a few songs with softer dynamics, and those are when there is less dramatics, scenery, and costumes. The tempo is fast for most of the songs, and extremely up beat, all in major.
Intuition- The album starts off with Beyonce as she is seen on the cover of her album. It opens up as you would see a play, with a curtain backdrop, acknowledging that it is about to start. There's soft-spoken singing that gives the feeling of orchestra instruments warming up. It then goes straight into the first song "Pray You Catch You." The first part is introduced in the middle of the song called "Intuition," where Beyonce speaks about how she tried to make a home with Jay Z, but she knew in the back of her head that he was lying to her, as her intuition was telling her. She continues her singing piece here, with soft spoken singing, and quiet music in the background.
Dialogue- I tried to make a home out of you. But doors lead to trap doors. A stairway leads to nothing. Unknown women wander the hallways at night. Where do you go when you go quiet? You remind me of my father, a magician, able to exist in two places at once. In the tradition of men in my blood you come home at 3 a.m. and lie to me. What are you hiding? The past and the future merge to meet us here What luck, what a f*cking curse.
Denial- The audience is brought to imagery of Beyonce in a water filled world. Here Beyonce speaks in a melodic tone, that almost sounds like a poem. She speaks of the emotions that she is feeling and her trying to distract her brain from what is truly going on in her world. The thoughts of her husband cheating on her. From here, she escapes from this water filled world, opening up the doors and releasing the water, starting to sing "Hold Up". This entire song is about Beyonce knowing that she is starting to become jealous and crazy about what is happening with her relationship with Jay Z. Visually you can see the anger that she has, as she walks about the streets with a bat, smashing cars and making a riot. At this point in the story, it is clear that Beyonce knows what is going on in her relationship and taking revenge on it. Her driving the car and driving over other cars, expresses the emotions of how wrecked and destroyed her heart has become over this.
Dialogue- I tried to change, closed my mouth more, tried to be soft, prettier, less awake. Fasted for sixty days, wore white, abstained from mirrors. Abstained from sex, slowly did not speak another word. In that time my hair I grew past my ankles. I slept on a mat on a floor.I swallowed a sword, I levitated into the basement...I whipped my own back and asked for dominion at your feet. I threw myself in a volcano. I drank the blood and drank the wine... But still inside me coiled deep was the need to know. Are you cheating on me?
Anger- Beyonce speaks a dialogue about wearing another skin over hers, hiding her emotions and feelings about what is going on. She then goes into the song "Don't Hurt Yourself". Where it is clear that she has changed her clothing and hair style to more street style, revengeful clothes. In her song, she picks up her dynamics from soft spoken, to louder yelling and swearing. It then goes into a short dialogue about the mistreatment of black women, then going back into the song. Ending the song with her saying to never test her again and to do this to her or she will walk out.
Dialogue- If this what you truly want. I can wear her skin over mine. Her hair, over mine, her hands as gloves, her teeth as confetti, her scalp a cap, her sternum, my bedazzled cane. We can pose for a photograph, all three of us, immortalized. You and your perfect girl.... Why can't you see me? Everyone else can
Apathy- Begins with a talking piece and then leads into a song. This time she is dancing with a lot of women and background dancers and in seductive costume. Serena Williams can be seen by Beyonce's side in this chapter. The song that she starts in this song is "Sorry". This songs takes on the "sorry not sorry" attitude, as an anthem to Jay Z and not giving attention to him and the problematic relationship that they were in. Through the visual emotions shown in the film and the language used throughout the song, it can be seen that Beyonce will not be accepting any apologies from him, and that this is her defiant breakup song to him.
Dialogue- So what are you gonna say at my funeral now that you've killed me? Here lies the body of the love of my life, whose heart I broke without a gun to my head. Here lies the mother of my children both living and dead, Rest in peace my true love, who I took for granted, most bomb pussy, who because of me, sleep evaded. Her shroud is loneliness, her God is listening. Her heaven would be a love without betrayal. Ashes to ashes, dust to side chicks
Emptiness- The audience is taken to another scene with Beyonce dressed in tradition head gear around a fire while speaking a dialogue about a stripper and her form of worship. This is the most ominous part of the film, as the audience is taken to a hallway with blood-red lights, leading into the song "Six Inch" which features the Weeknd. The lights during this scene are dull, and Beyonce wears a lace suit, while walking through a burning house. This song is known to be a new kind of feminist anthem. Beyonce ends her song by repeating the phrase "Come back" while staring into the camera, as if waiting for something.
Dialogue- She sleeps all day, dreams of you in both worlds...Grief, sedated by orgasm. Orgasm heightened by grief. God was in the room when the man said to the woman, "I love you so much, wrap your legs around me and pull me in, pull me in, pull me in." Sometimes when he'd have her nipple in his mouth, she'd whisper "Oh my God." That too is a form of worship. Her hips grind. Pestle and water, cinnamon and gloves. Whenever he pulls out, lost. Dear moon we blame you for floods, for the flush of blood. For men who are also wolves. We blame you for the night, for the dark, for the ghosts.
Accountability- The audience is brought to a home with a mother and her children. Next you can hear a father talking about his children, and then Beyonce's dialogue over the sounds of thunder and raining. She speaks of her mother and not being a slave to man. This is Beyonce's anthem to Texas and the story of her and her father. During this chapter, Beyonce sings the song "Daddy Lesson," which is country, and not something that is typical from Beyonce. This country song makes her father seem like Texan royalty, and shows their turbulent relationship. Guitars, background clapping, horns, trumpets, and images of Texas truly brings the audience into Beyonce's past of her and her father.
Dialogue- Mother dearest let me inherit the Earth. Teach me how to make him beg. Let me make up for the years he made you wait. Did he bend your reflection? Did he make you forget your own name? Did he convince you he was a god? Did you get on your knees daily? Do his eyes close like doors? Are you a slave to the back of his hand? Am I talking about your husband or your father?
Reformation- The audience is brought back to a house in black and white with Beyonce speaking her next dialogue that repeats "the love of my life". The next song starts as Beyonce lies on a football field, then the imagery of women walking in the water in long white gowns. This song is called "Love Drought," capturing an airy and calming plea to reinvigorating a relationship riddles with trust issues and insecurities. In this song, Beyonce sings about love and the power that is has. She brings in multiple different people and harmonies/layering of her voice. Strong and rhythmic drums are used as well. Drastically, the scene changes to Beyonce in tribal make up with multiple women surrounding her.
Dialogue- He bathes me until I forget their names and faces. I ask him to look me in the eye when I come... home. Why do you deny yourself heaven? Why do you consider yourself undeserving? Why are you afraid of love? You think it's not possible for someone like you. But you are the love of my life. Love of my life, the love of my life, the love of my life
Forgiveness- Beyonce opens up this chapter with a dialogue about being baptized, since she is ready for reconciliation with Jay Z Her last statement is "There is a curse that will be broken," referring to her having a strong committed relationship to her man, that is not something that she has seen or been apart of in her life. She then goes into the song "Sandcastles" that takes us through the journey she faced during everything that happened during her relationship and how she is finally ready to forgive and move forward together. The dynamics of this song was very loud, and just really focuses on Beyonce's voice with a piano in the background. Her and Jay Z are seen throughout the film during this song, Beyonce is no longer in extravagant costumes, it is solely focused on her and Jay Z with her wedding ring back on, visually seen by the camera. They are seen holding one another in another forgiving way, to finally be together again and ready to move on. For part of it she is seen sitting cross-legged at a keyboard with headphones, singing raw and hoarsely. This chapter is seen as the plot of their story and their chance to move on together and love each other no matter how much they may have hurt one another.
Dialogue- Baptize me. Now that reconciliation is possible, if we're gonna heal, let it be glorious. One thousand girls raise their arms. Do you remember being born? Are you thankful? Are the hips that cracked, the deep velvet of your mother, and her mother, and her mother? There is a curse that will be broken.
Resurrection- Throughout this chapter, Beyonce focuses on Black Lives Matter, which can be seen throughout the film, but is the strongest during this particular part. During this chapter, Beyonce shows black mothers who have lost their sons due to police brutality. The following are showcased: Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin; Lesley McSpadden, Mike Brown's mother; and Gwen Carr, Eric Garner's mother. Also, model Winnie Harlo, who has a skin condition known as vitiligo is seen. These women are in different costumes, head dresses, and their tradition wear. The song "Forward" plays while the pictures are shown by the mothers. This song features James Blake and is about charging ahead, a time to listen, and a time to fight as expressed in the lyrics and in the tag "forward". The song goes silent for a short period, as a women dressed in white feathers walks around a table with a tambourine and Beyonce walks into the next chapter.
Hope- This chapter starts with thunder, dark skies, and tribal drums. Everyone is dressed in long gowns, tribal wear, and head dresses. The dialogue speaks of having a child, her ode to Blue Ivy, and the scars on her stomach that turn into smiles and bring happiness to her life. Beyonce then stands on a stage and sings the song "Freedom" in a monophonic tone without any background instruments in front of a crowd of black women. Through the song, her dynamics increase and the instruments get loud as well. Drums and guitar are extremely prevalent in this song and overpower her voice during some parts as well. The feature of Kendrick Lemar comes in towards the end of the song, singing about freedom and preaching of never letting it go. Famous ballerina Michaela DePrince is seen as well in this chapter. Throughout this chapter there is a gospel inspired feeling of celebration. This chapter is full of happiness, compared to the other songs and chapters. The tags "Freedom!" and "Freedom, cut me loose....I break chains all by myself" are expressed with heartfelt singing and passion throughout the song.
Dialogue- The nail technician pushes my cuticles back, turns my hand over. Stretches the skin on my palm and says, "I see your daughters, and their daughters." That night in a dream the first girl emerges from a slit in my stomach. The scar heals into a smile. The man I love pulls the stitches out with his fingernails. We leave like searchers curling on the side of the bath. I wake as the second girl crawls up headfirst up my throat, a flower blossoming out of the hole in my face
Redemption- Beyonce starts this chapter reciting a long phrase that her grandmother used to say to her about making lemonade. How she helped her find beauty in life and how to live life fully with "instructions". This opening gives a view of what the audience a view and perspective as to what this album is about and the concept behind it. We are brought to Haiti, with her grandmother giving a speech and men and women working in fields. It then goes into the song "All Night". During this song Beyonce is dressed in a big grown, singing in a field. But, then it goes into videos of her and Jay Z, her husband, when they were very young, along with other couples. The song "All Night" expresses the love that we have for our significant other. Especially the love that Beyonce and her husband share. It is a midtempo, jazz style song. Beyonce's voice is the most prevalent instrument in the song, with a sweet melodic sound about it, expressing how they are each others darkness and light. Illustrating the wise love that they share together, that has gone through deep pain and disappointment, yet it was able to come out of the other side and continue to strive forward. The audience can visually see, and hear how Beyonce feels about Jay Z and the feeling of love that is expressed among many others. One film is particular is the tattoo that the couple share together that says "IV" for their daughter. Saving their love for one another brought them back together and gave them their daughter. Beyonce is known to be extremely private about her life, but her daughter Ivy is shown at one of her birthday parties, as well as Beyonce and Jay Z's wedding videos. The track serves as the unofficial close to the album's emotional journey.
Dialogue: My grandma said, nothing real can be threatened. True love brought salvation back into me. With every tear came redemption and my torturer became my remedy. So we're gonna heal, we're gonna start again. You've brought the orchestra, synchronized swimmers, you are the magician. Pull me back together again the way you cut me in half. Make the woman in doubt disappear. Pull the sorrow from between my legs like silk. Knot after knot after knot. The audience applauds but we can't hear them.
Now that the emotional journey is over, the audience is taken to the music video for the single "Formation" on the Lemonade album. Beyonce is seen is all of the scenery that was used during the Lemonade video. Multiple costumes, style changes, and different dances. The video showcases various choreography. Formation is a black power anthem, contributing to the Black Lives Matter movement. It was also even released one day after what would have been Trayvon Martin's 21st birthday and one day before Sandra Bland's 29th birthday. Gun shots can be heard and then the film ends.
Works Cited: