WHO RUN THE WORLD? BEYONCÉ
I don’t think I need to state the obvious… Beyoncé is QUEEN. Whether you listen to her music or not, you cannot ignore how powerful she is in today’s music scene. But she is not great just because of her show-stopping choreography and captivating songs. One of the most extraordinary things about Queen Bey is how she uses her power to comment on political and social movements.
On February 6, the 20-time Grammy Award winner dropped her newest single that is currently under fire, called “Formation”. This single has a beat made for the club, but also embodies what it means to be proud of your roots. The music video for “Formation,” which is also being heavily criticized, shows the injustice in black communities of America today. The video highlights areas of New Orleans that are still rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, and visualizes the ongoing issue of police brutality against African Americans. After the video’s release, many people took to social media and news outlets criticizing Beyoncé for this bold video. Some people even went as far as saying that the song and the video are “racist.”
This is not the first time that Beyoncé has used her music to make a statement. One of her most popular songs from her latest album BEYONCÉ, titled “Flawless,” is an anthem for girls around the globe. The song begins with excerpts from a TedTalk given by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The speech, titled “We should all be feminists,” comments on the feminist movement. In “Flawless,” Queen Bey uses Adichie’s powerful words like, “We teach girls to shrink themselves to make themselves smaller. We say to girls, ‘You can have ambition, but not too much.’ You should aim to be successful but not too successful, otherwise you will threaten the man,” to frame the upbeat song.
Both “Flawless” and “Formation” are excellent representations of how Beyoncé is using her platform as a multimillion dollar artist to raise awareness about the struggles faced by people around the globe. The messages in these songs ring true and clear. Racism and sexism are still very apparent around the world today; Beyoncé is simply using her power as a global superstar to comment on this, and stand up for what she believes in.
So, do you have to like Beyoncé’s music? No. Many people do not care for her music. But you should have respect for someone who is using their fame as a platform to raise awareness about issues in the world today. Seeing artists, musicians, and actors use their work to create something that has a true impact on the world is remarkable. Not only are these songs raising awareness, but they are empowering people around the world to be themselves. Beyoncé is encouraging the world to stand up for who they are, and be proud of what they stand for. I believe that is something that should be commended, not criticized.