Beyonce dropped her new album last weekend, and, for lack of a better phrase, we all lost our shit. In my opinion, "Lemonade" is singlehandedly some of Beyonce's best work yet. I promise you, it will change your life for the better. Here’s a breakdown of the album’s highlights:
1. The title of the album
At first when the album came out, I was like: “Wow. Beyonce is the only person who could simply name her album ‘Lemonade,’ and I would still think it was cool.” But at the end of her song "Freedom," there is an excerpt of Jay-Z's grandma speaking at her 90th birthday party saying that despite all of the hardships she has faced in life, she took lemons and made lemonade. In Beyonce's video, she recites her own grandmother's recipe for lemonade and says that her grandma "spun gold" out of her hard life. The title represents the whole concept of Beyonce’s album, and how she took the horrible situation that she went through with Jay and decided to make the best of it.
2. The story it tells
If you listen through the whole album in order, it tells a very vivid story. When you listen closely, you can hear the raw emotion and pain in her voice. All of the lyrics are so true and real; it sent goosebumps up my arms and legs.
3. The empowerment
This album has the power to make women feel like they can move mountains. If you put this on at the gym, you can run miles. Even the songs that aren’t upbeat have lyrics that will tug at your heartstrings and make you feel things that you never thought you were capable of feeling.
4. The messages
Can’t you see there’s no other man above you? What a wicked way to treat the girl that loves you.
He knows that she won’t leave him because of how much she loves him, so he thinks that he can do whatever he wants without punishment.
What’s worse, looking jealous or crazy? Or being walked all over lately?
Women are constantly accused of looking crazy, but at least being crazy is better than being taken advantage of.
Keep your money, I got my own. Get a bigger smile on my face, being alone.
He thinks that she needs him to survive, but she would be perfectly happy and self-sufficient by herself.
I am not broken, I’m not crying.
It’s gotten to the point where crying is a waste of her time.
Middle fingers up, put them hands high. Wave it in his face, tell him boy bye.
There’s no point in listening to what he has to say anymore, so it’s time to go out and forget about him.
He only wants me when I’m not there.
Typical to any type of relationship, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Even though she was there for him at all times no matter what, he only wants her now that she’s pushed him away.
She’s too smart to crave material things. She’s pushing herself day and night, she grinds from Monday to Friday, works from Friday to Sunday.
Beyonce is an independent and powerful woman who has worked hard for everything that she has achieved in her life. Despite what she’s going through, she continues to work her ass off, no matter what the circumstances are.
My daddy warned me about men like you, he said baby girl he’s playing you.
We’ve all had our fathers judge the men that we bring home to our family. Your parents have the sharpest eyes of anyone, so listen closely to what they have to say.
Our love was stronger than your pride
She is disappointed in him for betraying their love and commitment to each other for his own selfish wants and needs.
Although I promised that I can’t stay, every promise don’t work out that way.
No matter how hard she tried to walk away and embrace the single life, every road always led back to him, and their reconciliation was inevitable.
5. The confrontation of racial prejudices
Beyonce confronts many issues regarding racial prejudices that are very much a problem in our present-day society. In her video, she shows mothers who have lost their sons due to violence and police brutality. One of these women is the mother of Trayvon Martin, the black teenager who was shot by a white neighborhood watch member, George Zimmerman. Beyonce's song “Freedom,” featuring Kendrick Lamar, addresses the underlying political and societal problems pertaining to black lives. “I’ma keep running, cause a winner don’t quit on themselves."
6. The video
Everything about the "Lemonade" video screams perfection. The poetry that she uses to explain the story behind each song is so complex and intense, it’ll leave you sitting there afterwards thinking WTF. The videography is beautiful; her outfits are gorgeous and every last detail means something if you watch closely enough. It's better than any movie I’ve seen in months.
7. The different genres
Queen B's album includes ballads, rap, R&B and a little bit of country. I think it would be extremely hard for you to find something about this album that you don't like.
8. The end
The end of the album and the video is very accurate to the reality of a situation involving cheating/an affair. As most forgiving and understanding wives would do, she takes Jay-Z back and continues to stand by him. She expresses how much hard work she has to put in to be able to trust him again, but that is true with any woman who has been cheated on and decides to forgive. She wants to keep their family together, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to get them back to a good place again.
