Beyoncé truly does "Run the World". The iconic pop sensation has inspired her fans from across the world whilst proudly celebrating her cultural heritage and empowering the Black community. Heather Wallis reflects on her incredible career.
Beyoncé seems unstoppable - from her early success in the late 1990s as a member of the popular R&B girl group Destiny's Child, to her never-ending success in her solo career. Over her career, she has released an astounding eight studio albums, and sold over 120 million records. Her success speaks for itself, with an impressive 32 Grammy wins and 88 nominations (making her the most awarded and nomiated artist in Grammy history), alongside countless other honorary achievements.
Beyoncé has taken a deep dive into a variety of music styles throughout her career, unlocking every emotion from the upbeat and empowering “Single Ladies” to heartfelt power ballads such as "Halo". However, an album that may be the most empowering of all is Lemonade (2016) which features the song "Formation": a celebration of Black womanhood.
"Formation" is an R&B number with trap and bounce influences through which Beyoncé celebrates her culture, identity and success as a Black woman. Her lyrics within the song reflect her self-love journey and point towards the beauty of her Black features when she sings, “I like my baby heir with baby hair and afros” to address her heritage with pride and embrace her natural hair, followed by the lyrics, “I like my negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils”showcasing the positive influence of her music as she brings appreciation for Black culture into popular music and stands as a role model for self-acceptance and self-love.
Not only does Queen Bey pour the encouragement for self-love into her music, she also flaunts her success and inspires her fans with her willpower to achieve anything she puts her mind to: "I dream it, I work hard, I grind 'til I own it", proving that dedication and work ethic are key to achieving your goals. Throughout her music she encourages fans to strive for success and to “twirl” on the haters, encouraging the notion that no matter who you are or what background you’re from, you can achieve your goals as Beyoncé herself repeats, "I might just be a Black Bill Gates in the making” in the track.
Beyoncé's song and music video for "Formation" not only brought about a celebration of Black culture but also raised significant awareness to the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. Following this tragic event in 2005, Beyoncé founded the Survivor Foundation alongside Kelly Rowland to provide transitional housing for Hurricane Katrina victims. This is just one of the many examples of the positive impact that the pop icon has had on assisting and empowering the Black community and wider society.
Beyoncé continuously addresses issues of racism and sexism, both through her music as well as in speeches, including YouTube's global virtual graduation ceremony in 2020. She praised graduates for “using their collective voice” in their support of the Black Lives Matter Movement following the protests around the death of George Floyd. Beyoncé also speaks out to marginalised groups and is an advocate for addressing their greatness: “your queerness is beautiful, your Blackness is beautiful, your compassion, your understanding”; uplifting different societal groups in everything she does.
Beyoncé may be best known for her infectious hits and masterful albums, but she is undeniably a woman who has made history through her performances and productions. The star has performed on some of the world's biggest stages and has acted as a form of representation - as the first Black woman to headline the Coachella music festival in California, in a performance full of cultural significance. With vocal snippets from black icons Nina Simone and Malcolm X, references to the Black marching bands and Beyoncé’s moving performance of the Black national anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing"; a memorable and celebratory moment of black culture was created at the festival.
Another masterpiece from one of her more recent works is the 2020 Grammy-nominated music film, Black is King; a visual storytelling of a young African prince in attempt to redefine the term "Black" to convey its rich history of cultures in the continent. Through the dances, hairstyles and sets, combined with the phenomenal soundtrack featuring African and Afrobeats artists such as Burna Boy, Wizkid and more, the celebration of Black culture is expanded across a variety of media.
It is clear to see that Beyoncé's array of creative works have not only inspired and connected with a worldwide audience, but also positioned her as a powerful role model. Through her empowering lyrics, groundbreaking performances, and advocacy on societal issues, she celebrates Black culture and uplifts women. Her influence is reshaping the future of music and performance, leaving a lasting impact on both the entertainment industry and broader cultural conversations.