Misplaced Pages

#765234

104-469: Black Parade may refer to: "Black Parade" (song) , a 2020 song by Beyoncé The Black Parade , a 2006 album by My Chemical Romance " Welcome to the Black Parade ", lead single from the album Black Parade , a 1935 novel by Jack Jones See also [ edit ] All pages with titles containing black parade Topics referred to by

208-599: A Ring on It) ". "Black Parade" also debuted in the top 30 of numerous international charts, number 13 in Belgium ( Ultratip Flanders), number 25 in Scotland ( Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart ), and number 30 on the Australian ARIA Urban chart. "Black Parade" was the most nominated song at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards , with four nominations. "Black Parade" won Best R&B Performance , which

312-408: A country house and renaissance supper table aims to "fill historically White Spaces with an unfiltered, unapologetic Blackness", an act which she calls "an extreme disturbance of the norm in order to shake the rigid structures loose altogether". Co-director Kwasi Fordjour explained how throughout their lives, black men often face obstacles where they need to "decide how we want to navigate this world,

416-514: A dream." Beyoncé commented that "it was important that we worked with African designers" and that the fashion "amplified key themes in the film, such as black opulence and excellence" and "displayed a range of culture and heritage". Beyoncé added that the costume design utilized color and symbolism in order to "transition from one emotion to another". Akers worked on the wardrobe for approximately three months. She started by going into fabric stores, swatching pieces that spoke to her as she listened to

520-568: A generation providing guidance and assembling her listeners with black solidarity". I start with identifying my intention and making sure that I am aligned with the collaborators for the same purpose. It takes enormous patience to rock with me. My process is tedious. I review every second of footage several times and know it backwards and forwards. I find every ounce of magic and then I deconstruct it. I keep building more layers and repeat this editing process for months. I won't let up until it's undeniably reached its full potential. I believe my strength

624-577: A goal which he describes "Black Parade" as "leading the charge" for. Sehdev describes "Black Parade" as "hit[ting] the nail on the head", as a track that addresses "the issue of racism head-on" through "powerful lyrics about black history, police brutality, and the George Floyd protests", but also delivers "content that is both joyful and uplifting in its music and messaging". Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times agreed, describing how there

728-399: A long line of proud Black heritage." In July 2020, Complex named "Black Parade" the 19th best song of 2020 so far. Stereogum named the track the 23rd best song of 2020, describing it as an underappreciated " paean to Black excellence". The track was named the 38th best song of 2020 by Billboard , with Katie Bain describing it as "a swirl of trap beats, flutes and brass" that "evokes

832-533: A mother has to do to constantly take care of her family and the sacrifices that she has to make to keep this world turning". On July 19, 2019, The Lion King (a photorealistic animated remake of Disney's traditionally animated 1994 film of the same name ) was theatrically released in the United States. The same day, an accompanying tie-in album titled The Lion King: The Gift was released by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records . The Gift

936-516: A movement that aims to unite black people in Africa and the diaspora. Biko wrote that Pan-African activist Marcus Garvey inspired the film, bringing his quote: "Be as proud of your race today as our fathers were in days of yore. We have beautiful history, and we shall create another in the future that will astonish the world." Garvey's Pan-African flag , a symbol of black liberation, was the inspiration for David Hammons ' African-American flag , which

1040-559: A queen" and thanked her with a warm hug at the end of the shoot, after which Shepherd "went to the ladies room and shed a few tears". Members of the Accra -based dance school Dance With Purpose (DWP) Academy were recruited for the " Already " video. In 2019, the DWP Academy posted their own choreography for the song after it was first released. This caught the attention of Beyoncé and her team reached out to them to invite them to feature in

1144-557: A reference to Ndebele neck rings . The outfits of Beyoncé and an entourage of women in the "Mood 4 Eva" sequence was an allusion to the Dahomey Amazons , an all-female military regiment from the Kingdom of Dahomey in present-day Benin. Hairstylist Neal Farinah recalled Beyoncé saying to him one Tuesday night: "Hey, I want to talk to you. I've been saving this baby for a moment now, and I want to do it." After asking her what

SECTION 10

#1732772385766

1248-414: A reminder that their excellence goes beyond the stolen culture..." Dixie noted that they could have delayed the release of the song in order to release it together with Beyoncé's visual album and film Black Is King on July 31 in order to capitalize off of it, however they "really wanted to get it out during a time where we could all remember the feeling and the energy". During her acceptance speech for

1352-416: Is "not your typical protest song", writing: "You’ll probably hear people chanting, "We got rhythm, we got pride," at the next BLM event, but don't be surprised if this record comes on at the next summer party, as well". McKinney also described the "irresistible" energy of Beyoncé's "gritty and raw" delivery on the track, noting that Beyoncé "comes out the gate rapping with a rhythmic flow" while also singing on

1456-631: Is a blueprint for black men to decolonize masculinity. Obie quoted a passage read by an African-American man in the film: We've been conditioned to be inside of a box. We've been created with this image that Black men are supposed to be this way. And I feel like we're kings. We have to take responsibility of stepping outside of those barriers that they've put us in, for the next generation. Obie explained how slavery and colonialism forced toxic religious and social traditions onto black men which "leads to violence against women and girls, queerphobia , and destruction of self". Black Is King therefore shows "how

1560-954: Is centered on "how a system built by other people has failed us and what we need from them to be successful". The need for diasporic Africans struggling with their identity to gain self-awareness before confronting their oppression is echoed in an excerpt from Uncle Sam , a 2013 poem by student Joshua Abah, that was featured in Black Is King , which reads: When it's all said and done, I don't even know my own native tongue. And if I can't speak myself, I can't think myself. And if I can't think myself, I can't be myself. And if I can't be myself, I will never know me. So Uncle Sam, tell me this: If I will never know me, how can you? Kinitra Brooks, Endowed Chair in Literary Studies at Michigan State University , described Black Is King as "an aural and visual rendering of Afrofuturistic Blackness in

1664-526: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Black Parade (song) "Black Parade" received critical acclaim upon release, with praise for its lyrical references to black history, culture, pride and activism, as well as for Beyoncé's vocal performance. Critics noted the track's ability to act as a condemnation of racism and a call to action for protestors against police brutality, while also serving as an uplifting celebration of black culture. The release of

1768-469: Is just as integral". Ordaz highlights a spoken word passage read by a man in the film, which states: "Many times, it's the women that reassemble us. Men taught me some things, but women taught me a whole lot more." Janell Hobson of Ms. wrote that the "Brown Skin Girl" video is "a reminder of how Black women's collective gaze on each other is powerful enough to challenge the male gaze", as well as "a reminder of

1872-609: Is native to Africa and grows despite the unfavorably warm and dry conditions. Blair also noted that the "Made a picket sign off your picket fence . Take it as a warning" lyric describes turning a symbol of white, suburban neighbourhoods ("which for too long have historically shut out Black people") into a symbol of protest against racism, suggesting that Beyoncé "is committed to dismantling white supremacist structures which have allowed systemic racism and discrimination to continue for so many years". Jeetendr Sehdev wrote for Forbes that "the first lesson Beyoncé's "Black Parade" teaches us

1976-448: Is no consensus on what the song of the summer should be like, however, he continues: "Ideally, one song could exult, could object, could mourn, could reassure. And indeed, just such a tune appeared last week from Beyoncé, whose exuberant "Black Parade"... celebrates blackness in its many glories, even as it acknowledges the persistent threats of racism and police violence." Jessica McKinney of Complex similarly noted that "Black Parade"

2080-475: Is providing a solution for this. In the story of the film, the prince receives guidance and empowerment from his ancestors to recognize his brilliance and ultimately reclaim his throne. Similarly, with the film, Beyoncé is empowering the African diaspora to connect with their heritage, celebrate their culture and recognize their self-worth. Beyoncé said that Black Is King aims to shift "the global perception of

2184-578: Is seen in Black Is King being held up by a group of black men. According to Brooke Obie of Esquire , this scene signifies "the political and communal unity of all Indigenous people of Africa, throughout the Diaspora". Obie concluded: "Just like the art, fashion, locations, musicians and actors who make up Black Is King and The Gift , we are stronger when we see ourselves connected in global struggle and glory." Claire Shaffer of Rolling Stone described Black Is King as "a Pan-African collage", with

SECTION 20

#1732772385766

2288-483: Is singing along to the song "Brown Skin Girl"". Hundreds of costumes were designed for Black Is King , including 69 for Beyoncé herself. Costume designer Zerina Akers described how the aim of the wardrobe was to have a "global conversation"; the costumes would enable people of all races to "recognise and respect the power and beauty of brown skin", while black people would be inspired "to research their spiritual heritage and what truly belongs to them" and be left with

2392-550: Is that we must put our money where our mouth is", with Beyoncé not just releasing the song but also launching the Black Parade Route initiative and founding the Black Business Impact Fund, to which all proceeds from the song are donated. Sehdev continues, writing that "the second lesson that Beyoncé's "Black Parade" teaches us is that we must also provide people with a sense of optimism and hope",

2496-417: Is understanding how storytelling, music, lighting, angles, fashion, art direction, history, dance, and editing work together. They are all equally important. —Beyoncé on her creative process Beyoncé called Black Is King "my passion project that I have been filming, researching and editing day and night for the past year". Beyoncé invested 100% of her earnings from Disney into making sure that they had

2600-506: Is unsustainable, and he is encouraged to reclaim his purpose and identity (" Already "). His ancestor tells the prince that he will meet himself at the shore, as the blue man walks into the sea ("Water"). The prince is reunited with his childhood love (" Brown Skin Girl "). The couple gets married ("Keys to the Kingdom"), but he is plagued by self-doubt over his purpose. In another time, a sandstorm arrives ("Otherside"). As others are fleeing,

2704-526: The African diaspora 's journey of discovering, reclaiming and celebrating their culture and heritage, which is echoed by the inclusion of spoken-word poetry that focuses on the question of black identity. Black Is King was in production for over a year, across six countries on three continents. Beyoncé wanted to recruit a diverse cast and crew and to provide opportunities for new talent. The music, dances, costumes, hairstyles, and sets were designed to showcase

2808-402: The African diaspora 's journey of self-discovery, with the film acting as a clarion call to the diaspora to reclaim their identity through black pride . The story of how the prince is exiled from his homeland to an alien world acts a parallel to the story of how Africans were forcibly removed from the continent and taken to the United States as slaves . As the prince grows up, he is plagued by

2912-671: The Dinka and Mursi peoples, who wear them as symbols of prestige and honour. Another of the hairstyles in the same video used Bantu knots to pay respect to the Zulu people , with an ankh symbol in the center to symbolize life as in ancient Egyptian culture. Beyoncé's braid crown in " Brown Skin Girl " was inspired by the Mangbetu people of the Eastern Congo, whose Lipombo skull elongation technique represented royalty and status. In

3016-584: The most awarded singer and female artist in Grammy history . The film also won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards . On a beach in the spiritual plane, a newborn prince is held by his maternal ancestor while she tells him of his significance and purpose (" Bigger "). She performs rituals for the prince and joins other women who are also holding newborns. On

3120-513: The murder of George Floyd , Beyoncé took to social media to urge fans and followers to sign the petition "Justice for George Floyd". On June 14, 2020, she issued an open letter to Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron , calling out the lack of arrests in the case of Breonna Taylor , an unarmed Black woman who was fatally shot by police while sleeping in her own home in March 2020. Beyoncé urged Cameron to "take swift and decisive action in charging

3224-498: The "Already" video were inspired by the Xhosa and Zulu people of South Africa, who use the hide of Nguni cattle in their shields . Akers collaborated with American fashion designer Natalia Fedner on a gold chain headpiece covered in gold earrings of various styles and sizes for "Already", representing how gold jewelry connects generations of black women and the African diaspora. In one scene, Beyoncé wears chokers fused together as

Black Parade - Misplaced Pages Continue

3328-590: The "Mood 4 Eva" video is a satirical depiction of black regality and an inversion of classic film tropes, with the presence of white male servants acting as a reversal of the roles in films such as Gone with the Wind and The Help , while Melanie McFarland for Salon wrote that a Busby Berkeley -inspired sequence in the video with black synchronized swimmers highlights how black people were excluded from Hollywood's Golden Age. Natty Bakhita Kasambala of gal-dem wrote that Beyoncé filming scenes in settings such as

3432-412: The "blue man". Black Is King was his debut film performance. The rest of the main cast were recruited from South Africa. Nyaniso Dzedze explained how the casting team went on a lengthy process in order to find the right person for the role of adult Simba, and "somehow my face, my image found itself on the table, and I guess the stars aligned and God said yes". Beyoncé handpicked Warren Masemola for

3536-428: The "celebratory blend" of various musical genres and the lyrics that portray "the unique joys of being Black, touching on everything from womanhood to her heritage and the ways in which Blackness proudly permeates throughout it all". Mark Savage of BBC News praised the track's "powerful lyrics about black history, police brutality and the George Floyd protests", while Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times described

3640-439: The "pride of the community as the world is awakened to the plight of Black Americans". Beyoncé herself concluded that the song "celebrates you, your voice and your joy and will benefit black-owned small businesses". Idolator declared the track as "one of the year's best songs", with Mike Wass writing: "It goes without saying that "Black Parade" is excellent and demands your full attention." Time named "Black Parade" one of

3744-590: The 155th anniversary of Juneteenth , the holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States and which originated in Beyoncé's home state of Texas. Upon announcing the release of the single on Instagram, Beyoncé wrote: "Happy Juneteenth Weekend! I hope we continue to... celebrate each other, even in the midst of struggle. Please continue to remember our beauty, strength and power. 'BLACK PARADE' celebrates... your voice and... will benefit Black-owned small businesses." All proceeds from

3848-448: The 2021 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance , Beyoncé elaborated on the background of the track: "As an artist, I believe it's my job and all of our jobs to reflect the times. It's been such a difficult time so I wanted to uplift, encourage, celebrate the beautiful Black queens and kings that continue to inspire me and inspire the whole world." The song was released on June 19, 2020, through Parkwood and Columbia Records. It marked

3952-493: The 21st century", referring to the philosophy and cultural aesthetic that combines science fiction, history and fantasy to encourage black people to recover their heritage in order to create their own futures. Elisabeth Woronzoff for PopMatters noted that Black Is King engages with the Afrofuturist themes of "reliance on the cosmos for explanation and influence" and "the uneasy connection between lineage and self", with

4056-503: The December 2020 edition of British Vogue , Beyoncé explained what inspired her when developing the film, saying: I was also deeply inspired by my trip to South Africa with my family. And, after having my son, Sir Carter, I felt it was important to uplift and praise our boys and to assure that they grow up with enough films, children's books and music that promote emotional intelligence, self-value and our rich history. To research for

4160-501: The George Floyd protests, charging crystals in a full moon and the Yoruba goddess Oshun. Cori Murray of Essence agreed, declaring the song "an ode to everything blackity, black, black as she takes listeners on a celebratory joyride from the past to the present", as well as "a Juneteenth anthem and call to action for black businesses". Nina Corcoran of Consequence of Sound described "Black Parade" as "timely and moving", praising

4264-532: The Seven African Powers, with each singer representing a different orisha . Actors in the film were dressed with headpieces and belts made from cowrie shells , an allusion to when the shells were treated as currency in Africa. One look in the "Already" video was a 5:31 Jérôme blue Nigerian lace trench dress with an accompanying Nigerian gele , inspired by the fashion of matriarchal women at Nigerian weddings. A Burberry cowprint top and skirt from

Black Parade - Misplaced Pages Continue

4368-525: The South African film industries". Nkiru also asked Selma Nicholls, founder of casting agency Looks Like Me, to cast children for the video. Nicholls called it "a dream come true, not just for me, not just for those children that were selected, but for all black children". Nicholls' own daughter was chosen for the film; Nicholls explained that "it's made my daughter be part of something where five years from when she wanted to look like Elsa and Anna ,

4472-640: The Year marked Beyoncé's fourth nomination in this category, making her one of the top songwriters in Grammy history. With the song's nomination for Best R&B Song , Beyoncé became the second-most nominated artist in this category in Grammy history, with eight nominations. "Black Parade" received two nominations at the 2020 Soul Train Music Awards : Song of the Year and The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award . This marked Beyoncé's 5th and 6th nominations in these categories, respectively, making Beyoncé

4576-401: The ancestor decides to place her baby in a basket and put it in the river to save the baby. As the basket flows down the river, it reaches a waterfall. In the spiritual plane, the ancestor is reunited with her baby. The ancestor tells the prince to return to the river, in which he finds the scepter. He is reunited with the elder, who anoints him again with white paint, and he floats upwards into

4680-405: The ancestors who advocate and fought for the future of a pro-Black generation". Kiana Fitzgerald of the same publication declared "Black Parade" "a call to action and a salve for a wounded nation" as well as "the ever-evolving artist's offering of musical empowerment". Fitzgerald also praised the myriad references to African American, Afrodiasporic and African culture and history in the song, such as

4784-405: The beach, the prince is anointed with white paint by the ancestor, while in a royal palace, he is similarly anointed by an elder. The king gives the young prince a small golden scepter and tells the prince that his ancestors look down on them from the stars and will always be there to guide him ("Find Your Way Back"). The young boy is enticed by a monkey to enter a warehouse. A man with a snake asks

4888-492: The beauty and richness of the cultures in the African continent and diaspora. The film was released globally on Disney+ on July 31, 2020, and was aired the following day across Sub-Saharan Africa on M-Net and Canal+ Afrique and across the Middle East and North Africa on OSN . An extended version of " Black Parade " was used for the film's credits, and was included in a deluxe edition of The Gift released alongside

4992-586: The best crew and production for the film. The film's production was top secret, with the public not being aware of the film and some contributors not knowing the scope of the project until the release of the trailer. In July 2019, after the release of the music video for " Spirit ", Beyoncé wanted to release more visuals for The Lion King: The Gift . At first, she intended to produce a clip for "Already", with them shooting in her backyard in The Hamptons . She then intended to shoot one-minute clips for some of

5096-475: The best songs of June 2020, with Raisa Bruner calling the track "a tour-de-force of references: to black history, to African traditions, to her own family and past" and describing Beyoncé as "the queen of a generation providing guidance and assembling her listeners with black solidarity". Writing for NPR , Taylor Crumpton described "Black Parade" as "a call to those on the frontlines" of the George Floyd protests "to march on because their steps and spirits are with

5200-416: The boy who he is, but the boy does not answer. The boy stays in the warehouse, adorns himself with gold, and spends his time gambling while being watched by his ancestor and the blue man ("Don't Jealous Me"). Outside, a biker gang arrives and encircles the prince. The king comes to save him and is killed by a bike. The prince's uncle tells the prince to flee the village, and he takes over the throne ("Scar"). In

5304-431: The community and solidarity of women to build each other up and raise our daughters toward the confidence they need to navigate a white imperialist and hetero-patriarchal world". Fordjour explained that a scene where women are standing on a beach holding hollowed-out calabashes (which symbolize health, fertility and rebirth in some African cultures) acts as "a monument of mothers", highlighting "those day-to-day things that

SECTION 50

#1732772385766

5408-401: The constraints of white supremacy ", they must undertake an internal journey to discover and celebrate the rich identity and heritage that was lost to them. Candice Frederick for The Guardian added that Beyoncé showing that "Black power comes from within and is our cultural birthright [and] not something that is granted to us by someone else" is a "hard realization", as the current narrative

5512-411: The excitement of the early development, saying: "Your adrenaline starts to rush and it becomes like, 'OK, what are we going to do, how are we going to do it, where do we start?' When you get into the space where you're so interested and enthralled with creating worlds and spaces, it becomes fun, and she makes it fun." Beyoncé and Fordjour recruited additional directors to direct some of the music videos in

5616-437: The film The Lion King (2019). The film tells the story of a young African prince (Folajomi Akinmurele) who is exiled from his kingdom after his father's death. As he grows into a man ( Nyaniso Dzedze ), he undergoes a journey of self-identity, using the guidance of his ancestor (Beyoncé), childhood love ( Nandi Madida ), and his own subconscious (Stephen Ojo) to reclaim his throne. The prince's journey acts as an allegory for

5720-607: The film being influenced by Octavia Butler 's writings as a work that "reclaims identity regardless of whether it is earthbound or cosmic". Woronzoff also noted that the film's storyline of an outcast African king draws multiple parallels to events from throughout black people's history until today, including "African history, the Middle Passage , and the Black Lives Matter movement". Maxine Montgomery, Professor of English at Florida State University , described

5824-694: The film showcasing fashion, music, dances, locations and languages from throughout the African continent and diaspora. Director Blitz Bazawule described the film as "a phenomenal opportunity to see Blackness represented with universality". Bazawule continued: "It was so many voices, all singing in a chorus in a way that I've never witnessed in my life. As a creator, it's completely changed how I look at my art, how I look at Blackness in general, and how we communicate with each other globally." The film addresses and subverts stereotypical depictions of Africans and African Americans . Powerhouse Museum senior curator Roger Leong described how "tropes of African identity –

5928-521: The film, Beyoncé described how she "spent a lot of time exploring and absorbing the lessons of past generations and the rich history of different African customs". The trailer shows Beyoncé reading from the 1971 book Black Gods and Kings , written by American art-historian Robert Farris Thompson to record the art history of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Beyoncé collected picture references of African cultural practices for different aspects of

6032-480: The film. For the " Brown Skin Girl " video specifically, Beyoncé explained that it was important for her to represent "all different shades of brown". Director Jenn Nkiru picked South Asian model Sheerah Ravindren to be featured in the video, who said that it was "such a blessing to be in this beautiful art piece that shows the beauty and power of Blackness" and adding that Beyoncé has "already done so much MORE for representation and empowerment for South Africans than

6136-404: The film. The film received praise for Beyoncé's direction, the cinematography, score, costume design, subject matter, and cultural themes. It received six nominations at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards , including Best Music Film . " Brown Skin Girl " won the award for Best Music Video , while "Black Parade" won the award for Best R&B Performance . It was Beyoncé's 28th Grammy win, making her

6240-424: The film; Fordjour explained how they chose a diverse group of directors "who spoke to what we were trying to do" and "whose authenticity is the core of their work". Beyoncé held meetings with the additional directors to decide on the general look and feel for each section. Beyoncé then held meetings with other members of the crew, focusing on worldbuilding and logistics, as well as to discuss more detailed aspects of

6344-456: The following day. They showed Knight choreography to "Already" that they had made a few days prior for a class they were teaching. They then taught Beyoncé the choreography, as well as several other dances from throughout Africa, such as the Gbese, Poco and Kpakujemu from Nigeria, the C'est Moi from Ivory Coast, and the network from Ghana. Ojo said that his aim for the choreography "was to make sure

SECTION 60

#1732772385766

6448-458: The freedom to create fantasy, for people to be able to escape into a new world". This included dancers wearing Kanaga masks in the "Find Your Way Back" video, with the sparkly looks being inspired by constellations ; this is a reference to the Dogon people 's astrological belief system and advanced astronomical expertise. The fashion in the "My Power" video was designed according to the colors of

6552-457: The influence of Afrofuturism on the film, writing: "Afro-futurist tropes involving time travel across the cosmos, cultural clashes with the other, and encounters with newness lift [ Black Is King ] out of the temporal and locate the production in a timeless realm that encourages a rethinking of established time, space, and identity." Montgomery explained that Black Is King , through its references to "vernacular structures implying futurity", disrupts

6656-614: The majority of the record. Patrick Johnson for Hypebeast praised Beyoncé's "incredible, uplifting vocals" on the track. Jon Pareles of The New York Times opined that the track makes "ambitious, far-reaching connections", and wrote that "Beyoncé flaunts new melody ideas in each verse. Voices gather around her, as her solo strut turns into a parade, or a more purposeful march." Brea Cubit of PopSugar named "Black Parade (Extended Version)" her number one go-to song of 2020. iHeartRadio placed "Black Parade" at number 3 in its "30 Songs That Made Us Feel Something In 2020" list, describing

6760-447: The mansion's ground, reminding the prince of how his father taught him the game, which represented the duality of good and evil. In real life, the prince grows up and moves to the city. He now dreams of spending his time partying with girls inside a tricked-out hearse ("Ja Ara E"). His driver appears as his uncle, who taunts him with the golden scepter. He stumbles out of the car and wakes up. The prince realizes that pursuing material wealth

6864-546: The morning. Farinah continued to research about different hairstyles and cultures, and the team spent over 16 hours a day for 6 days to create more than 40 wigs. Farinah stated that the aim of the hairstyling was to "educate people about Blackness and Black hair, Black trends, how amazing it is and the story behind it, the history behind these cultures", as "Black women's hair and Black trends have been put down for so many years" and these styles were "not just hair" but had deep meanings behind them. Farinah added that Black Is King

6968-485: The most nominated artist in both categories in Soul Train Music Award history. Credits adapted from Tidal . Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Black Is King Black Is King is a 2020 American musical film co-written, executive produced, and directed by Beyoncé . It is a visual companion to the 2019 album The Lion King: The Gift , curated by Beyoncé for

7072-401: The moves we were bringing out were properly represented and danced in the right way. I wanted to make sure Africa was being represented properly and not diluted." Ojo commented on his experience working with Beyoncé, saying: "She was a very good student. Paying homage to the originators, paying respect to our culture—some people might not care. But she was very receptive. She was being respectful

7176-426: The music as drawing influences from "trap electronics, African songs , brass bands [and] gospel choirs ". Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times wrote that the track "layers Beyoncé’s throaty singing and casually audacious rapping over a low-slung, brass-equipped groove". The song tackles issues such as Black history , black culture , police brutality and the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests . It also finds

7280-583: The music of The Gift . She started to create custom looks with local designers, while her counterpart Rogelio F. Burgos, started to collect runway looks. As the project grew, she hired a team of seven people to work on the film. The process became a "travelling circus", according to Akers; a constant stream of packages were arriving to set, including some straight off the runway, and they were constantly making new costumes and calling designers at midnight with ideas. Akers spoke about how she "wanted to reference different cultures, traditions and tribes, but to have

7384-599: The officers". Mesfin Fekadu of the Associated Press wrote that after these events, "the world was driven to... this year's Juneteenth more than ever before, and Beyoncé... wanted to release a song on that momentous day". Co-writer and co-producer Derek Dixie explained his intention behind the song, writing: "'Black Parade' exists to give a... boost to a community that has been fighting for... equal rights... for centuries. 'Black Parade' exists to give black people

7488-400: The orthodox "narrow critical framework" employed by cultural critics such as Mark Dery , concluding: "The unconventional temporalities that figure into [ Black Is King ] beckon us to abandon received ways of seeing and being seen, to cross over into an original social and psychic space." According to Rading Biko of The Standard , Black Is King "has awaken the spirit of Pan-Africanism ",

7592-430: The production such as hair and make-up. Director Ibra Ake described Beyoncé as "a scholar" who wanted to learn about and discuss the meaning and history behind every detail that would be included in the film. Beyoncé had a vision for the story she wanted to tell, and she brought on Blitz Bazawule to assist in writing it, who subsequently produced a storyboard with over 250 frames. Co-director Kwasi Fordjour described

7696-525: The production such as lighting. The film was written by Beyoncé, poet Yrsa Daley-Ward , writer Clover Hope and Andrew Morrow. The script also incorporates poetry written by Somali-British poet Warsan Shire . Bob Iger , Executive Chairman of The Walt Disney Company , handled talks with Beyoncé to release the film on Disney+. The cast and crew for Black Is King were recruited to "represent diversity and connectivity", with Beyoncé wanting to feature "raw, new talent". Folajomi Akinmurele's acting debut

7800-444: The project is, Beyoncé replied: "I want to do a movie and I want you to do this masterpiece with me." She showed him pages of picture references of traditional African hairstyles that she had spent time collecting, and they remained there until almost 4 am discussing the hairstyles. Beyoncé wanted the hair completed by Friday, so Farinah asked his manager to look on social media for the best black hairstylists and send them to his salon in

7904-440: The question of his identity, reflecting African Americans' continued struggle with their identity. Colonialism , slavery and the oppression of black people has severed their connection to their heritage and has caused even black people themselves to think of their culture as corrupt or worthless, in the same way the prince was led to believe that he is undeserving of the role that was his birthright. With Black Is King , Beyoncé

8008-614: The role of Scar, and was also adamant about casting Nandi Madida for the role of Nala. Special guests were recruited for the film, such as Lupita Nyong'o, Naomi Campbell, Kelly Rowland, Jay-Z, and Beyoncé's children Blue Ivy, Rumi and Sir Carter, as well as some of the artists featured on The Gift , including Yemi Alade, Shatta Wale, Salatiel, Wizkid, and Busiswa. Busiswa told Teen Vogue : "I can't stop crying because I'm so proud to stand in that place for my people. To be singing in my language of Xhosa — to stand in that place for my African people, I feel so honored... We were treated with

8112-421: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Black Parade . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Black_Parade&oldid=1033617371 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

8216-732: The same video, another hairstyle known as Orisha Bunmi can be seen, which is a Nigerian style worn for special events. One scene shows women covering their hair in red clay, which is a reference to the Himba people of Namibia and Angola. A 30-foot braided wig that can be seen in "Water" was inspired by the women of Chad. Beyoncé conceived the idea for the wig, and hairstylist Kim Kimble worked with six braiders for three days to make it. There were 11 choreographers who worked on Black Is King . Stephen Ojo and Caleb Bonney of dance group AVO (Africa's Very Own) Boyz were unexpectedly contacted by choreographer JaQuel Knight and asked to fly out to Los Angeles

8320-452: The second artist in Grammy history (after Pharrell Williams ) to receive two Record of the Year nominations in one year, with " Savage Remix " being her second nomination. Beyoncé also became the sixth artist in Grammy history to receive Record of the Year nominations in three different decades (2000s, 2010s and 2020s), after Paul Simon , Paul McCartney , Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand , and John Lennon . The song's nomination for Song of

8424-414: The sense "that the world does belong to them and that they belong in the world". Akers curated outfits from both global brands and young black designers for the film, saying: "To be able to give [an emerging talent] the same visibility as a large corporation is invaluable... It's not just about creating a look, it's about how many families can benefit from that look. To see the waves this has created has been

8528-696: The singer addressing her Texan roots as well as referencing the COVID-19 pandemic , the West African Orishas Oshun and Yemaya , and Black Lives Matter activist Tamika Mallory . During the second verse, Beyoncé asks the listener to "show black love" and demands "peace and reparation for my people". She also gives mention to some of her influences, including Malcolm X , Martin Luther King Jr. and her mother Tina Knowles . Jazz Tangcay of Variety noted that she pointed out

8632-410: The song as "both a party and a history lesson [that] celebrates all aspects of Black culture". Glamour named "Black Parade" the fourth best song of 2020. Consequence of Sound named the single the 13th best song of 2020, with Matt Melis writing: "As the world continues to grow more intimidating and frightening, Beyoncé draws strength from history and urges others to find their own way to follow in

8736-490: The song being used as " The Lion Sleeps Tonight " in the original The Lion King . This angered Beyoncé and she left the studio pledging to create a full-length film that would tell the real story with the help of actual Africans instead of using lions and animation, and show the regalness and beauty of Africans before colonialism and slavery erased their past. "Mbube", credited to Linda, is the only original The Lion King song included in Black Is King . In her cover story for

8840-498: The song benefit the BeyGOOD Black Business Impact Fund, a fund established by Beyoncé that supports black-owned small businesses in need. As of December 31, 2020, the fund had given 715 grants to black-owned small businesses, amounting to $ 7.15 million donated. Together with the song, Beyoncé launched the "Black Parade Route" initiative that highlights black-owned businesses and creatives. The song

8944-536: The song caused a significant rise in sales for several black-owned small businesses. It was the most nominated song at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards , with four nominations, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year . The song won Best R&B Performance , which was Beyoncé's 28th Grammy win, making her the most awarded singer and female artist in Grammy history . Prior to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, Beyoncé had repeatedly used her platform to raise her voice against racial inequality. A few days after

9048-401: The song's titular procession, as Bey delivers an ode to the beauty and strength of Black culture". Bain concluded: "In a moment of the most severe racial conflict many of us have seen in our lifetimes, "Parade" dually uplifted proponents of social justice and reminded us all what we're fighting for." The song was listed as the 22nd best international song of 2020 by Rockdelux . "Black Parade"

9152-501: The songs and make a 15-minute short film. The scope of the project then widened into creating full-length videos for each song, and her idea later snowballed into a very large production. When voicing the character of Nala in The Lion King (2019), Beyoncé delved into the history of the film and its story. She learnt about Solomon Linda , the South African composer of the song "Mbube" who received no credit or royalties from

9256-421: The spiritual plane, the ancestor leads the king's funeral, while the blue man sits alone ("Nile"). The prince dreams of living a carefree life, driving past his ancestor and the blue man. He lives in an extravagant mansion full of expensive clothes, servants, and feasts ("Mood 4 Eva"). The prince remembers his uncle banging on a drum, causing him to drop the scepter into the water. A human chess game takes place in

9360-468: The spiritual plane. The prince reunites with his father and breaks down in front of him. The ancestor reminds the prince of his power, and he assembles an army of women to fight his uncle ("My Power"). They chase him out of the kingdom, and the prince reclaims his throne. The ancestor brings the new king and queen their baby (" Spirit "), and the baby is anointed. The storyline of the prince's journey of self-discovery in Black Is King acts as an allegory for

9464-601: The storyline. Each song was written to reflect the film's storytelling that gives the listener a chance to imagine their own imagery, while listening to a new contemporary interpretation." On June 19, 2020, Beyoncé released the single " Black Parade ", in celebration of the Juneteenth holiday which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States . Raisa Bruner of Time called the song "a tour-de-force of references: to black history, to African traditions, to her own family and past" and described Beyoncé as "the queen of

9568-468: The team to Los Angeles to film the scene. Women were recruited for the "My Power" video to represent multi-generational strength, including Aisha Francis (Beyoncé's former dancer who was eight months pregnant at the time) and Ernestine Shepherd (the world's oldest competitive female bodybuilder at 84 years old). Shepherd described it as "a wonderful, wonderful experience" that she felt "so honored" to be part of. She explained how Beyoncé made her "feel like

9672-513: The track as "a sweeping yet fine-grained salute to blackness in its many forms". Olivia Blair of Elle analyzed the historical and cultural references in "Black Parade", commenting that the "I'm goin' back to the South... Where my roots ain't watered down. Growin', growin' like a Baobab tree " lyric in the song references "the Black history and continued culture of the deep South", as the baobab tree

9776-681: The type of man we want to be". Black Is King addresses this issue by presenting a black masculinity centered on leadership, community and the honoring of ancestors. Fordjour commented how a quote from James Earl Jones in the film, which reads "As king, I was most proud of one thing, having you as my son", was intended to represent the voice of God telling black men in their plight: "You're going to be OK. You are my son. You are going to make this. We are going to be alright." Fordjour added: "As men, I feel like sometimes we walk through this world aimlessly and sometimes we just need to be embraced." Brooke Obie, writing for Esquire , opined that Black Is King

9880-608: The utmost care and respect and being on that set was the most incredible experience of my whole life." Beyoncé wanted to find black synchronized swimmers for the "Mood 4 Eva" video and only managed to find a few in the US, including Philicia and Tamar Saunders. Beyoncé and her team eventually found the Island Aquatics Synchro team in Port Antonio , Jamaica, and contacted the team's coach Olga Novokshchenova to fly

9984-457: The wild animal prints , the ultra, almost Josephine Baker images of the showgirl ... she draws on all these archetypes of black glamour and uses them as statements about black pride". Costume designer Zerina Akers put the actors in designer animal print costumes, explaining how she "wanted to turn that [stereotype of Africans' primitive nature] on its head and raise it up to make it feel really high fashion". Janell Hobson of Ms. stated that

10088-478: The word 'Black'" and show that "Black is regal and rich in history, in purpose and in lineage", which is achieved in the film by showcasing a wide variety of African music styles, dances, costumes, hairstyles, settings and traditions with the help of African creatives. Taylor Crumpton for The Ringer posited that Black Is King therefore sends a message to the African diaspora that in order for them to "disinvest from established power dynamics" and "exist outside

10192-413: The world could thrive when Black men step into kingship", not one which is based on the "white supremacist ideas of hierarchy, dominance, and oppression", but instead one which embraces an "African egalitarian way" and is "rooted in stewardship to community". Sophia Ordaz of Slate noted that as well as the message of the film being "that Black kingship amounts to responsible manhood, Black femininity

10296-402: Was Beyoncé's 28th Grammy win, making her the most awarded singer, most awarded female artist, and second-most awarded artist in Grammy history. With the song's nomination for Record of the Year , Beyoncé became the most nominated female artist in this category and now ties Frank Sinatra for the most nominated artist in this category in Grammy history, with seven nominations. Beyoncé also became

10400-426: Was a great moment to "share the piece of the pie with other Black hairstylists who don't have this platform to show their creativity and their work". The hairstyles in Black Is King were inspired by various traditional African hairstyles, with Farinah and Beyoncé striving to offer insight into African culture with every style. One of Beyoncé's hairstyles in "Already" was inspired by the horned heads and lip plates of

10504-635: Was also included in HipHopDx 's list of the best R&B songs of 2020. "Black Parade" debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at number 37 on July 4, 2020. The song became Beyoncé's 40th top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, matching Michael Jackson . The song debuted at number one on the Digital Song Sales chart with 18,000 units sold, becoming her ninth number-one on the chart and first solo number-one since " Single Ladies (Put

10608-415: Was curated and produced by Beyoncé, who described the album as "a love letter to Africa" and recounted her determination to find "the best talent from Africa, and not just use some of the sounds and [do] my interpretation of it". Beyoncé explained that she believes The Gift "is the first soundtrack where it becomes visual in your mind". Beyoncé added: "I wanted to put everyone on their own journey to link

10712-439: Was in the "Spirit" music video. Beyoncé was impressed by his performance and she sought him out, ultimately casting him in the lead role of young Simba. Nigerian dancer and actor Stephen Ojo was also first recruited as a dancer for the "Spirit" video. He was then brought back as a choreographer for Black Is King , teaching African dance styles and giving the meaning behind them. His role then evolved into an on-screen acting role as

10816-435: Was used in the end credits of Black Is King and included in the accompanying deluxe edition of The Lion King: The Gift , both released on July 31, 2020. Nina Corcoran for Consequence of Sound characterized "Black Parade" as a "celebratory blend of pop , trap , hip-hop , and electronica -verging on Detroit techno " with "cascading horns and a chipper flute melody". Jon Pareles of The New York Times described

#765234