On Monday, April 23rd at 10 p.m., Beyoncé dropped her new visual album, Lemonade. It has 12 songs, including features by James Blake, Kendrick Lamar, The Weekend and Jack White. This is her second visual album and is even more compelling and personal than her first, plunging straight into her emotions.
Her album was released directly after her HBO special Lemonade. Although Lemonade was the film, the visual album itself feels like a movie.
Her album brings the beehive into Beyoncé's head. She lets the hive know her feelings of betrayal, revenge, rage and jealousy. It focuses on her journey of self knowledge and healing, showing the beehive and the world that even though she is Beyoncé she still faces immense challenges in her life. Her direct lyrics remind you that love is not always placid and it will not be always be perfect. Love is emotionally harmful, challenging and damaging.
Today, most celebrities let magazines, other businesses, outside people and social media tell their stories: this isn't the case for Beyoncé. She tells her own story through emotionally dynamic songs, making her a respected role model. She is narrating her life and sharing it with anyone who will devote the time to listen. It is powerful to tell your own story. She's owning up to what happened to her and JayZ, but that is not all. Her 12 new songs are also a tribute to women. She puts the spotlight on the fact that all women deal with hurt and redemption, and that these are emotions that we all go through with someone we love. When you just listen to the songs you can tell it's about her personal journey of betrayal, jealousy and domestic dramas, but when you pair the video with the music, its countless emotions and situations every women encounters, the video only deepens the impact.
The next step after all the pain she has endured is redemption. Through her songs she explains the healing process. This involves the support and sisterhood of other women and knowing they're right behind you with any choice you make.
Lemonade proves that Beyoncé is not restricted into one specific music genre. Lemonade features country, funk, rock, and New Orleans jazz. I mean of course, it's Beyoncé, what can't she do? To this date, Lemonade is the most diverse album yet.
Personally, I think this is her most powerful and ambitious statement. Beyoncé has dropped Lemonade with her middle fingers up, and it's an A+ from me.
