This last month has been an extremely big month for avid music lovers, with Taylor Swift’s surprise album and Billie Eilish releasing a new single “my future”. But another important release took place, Beyonce’s highly anticipated visual album for the “The Lion King: The Gift”. “Black is King” was released creating an enormous impact on audiences around the world with stunning visuals and even more breathtaking songs.
“Black is King” is a retelling of the Lion King with a modern twist, the songs and visuals creating a story reminiscent of that of the popular Disney classic. The film tells us the meaning of being black and the power hidden in that colour which is shown through the term “King” referring to the greatness of the coloured people. Beyonce artfully succeeds in showing these themes through the powerful songs, many of the tracks featuring black artists like Pharell Williams, Kendrick Lamar and Donald Glover to name some.
“Black is King” succeeds her previous visual album “Lemonade” which also talked about her heritage and lineage. Critics applaud Beyonce for releasing the film at this time, given the “racism pandemic” that has gripped the world after the death of multiple innocent black men and women.
The film begins with the “birth” of Simba and pays homage to black traditions and cultures, but before this we see Beyonce setting a young child in a basket into the river, letting the currents transport him, showing a physical metaphor of the transformation and Simba’s journey to that transformation.
The second part of the film shows Simba’s childhood as a young prince with songs such as “Mood 4 Eva” and “Find your way back” being the standout tracks of this segment. The film is filled with hundreds of dancers, dressed in a mixture of traditional African wear and more modern outfits. Beyonce identifies black with wealth and riches in this portion of the visual experience.
As the film progresses, Beyonce begins talking about self-love, with love otherwise being a prevalent theme in the film. The song “Brown Skin Girl” is a perfect example of this self-love, featuring her daughter Blue Ivy Carter, who along with Beyonce’s mother Tina Knowles, plays a key role in this film. The film closes with arguably the most astounding songs from the soundtrack, “Spirit” which features Beyonce singing acapella before being joined by the swelling orchestra and “Black Parade” an undoubtedly strong closer, which has become an anthem for coloured individuals across the world.
“Find your way back, come back home 'fore the street lights on” as Beyonce sings, telling us not to lose ourselves in this tough world we live in. In the end, it is clear how Beyonce is able to shed light on black culture which is sometimes forgotten or overshadowed by other happenings. Her skilful direction and the thought put into this film makes it a true artistic masterpiece of the 21st century and is a highly recommended watch for everyone.
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