Summary
I believe that there was such a rich history that Beyonce tried to convey and wanted us to connect to. It ranges from love and loss, police brutality, being proud of her heritage and how far African Americans have come. My first time hearing this song was the Super Bowl halftime show when, Coldplay, Bruno Mars and Beyonce performed. Initially I didn’t pay attention to the lyrics. I just enjoyed the choreography and the Black Panther-esque outfits. Watching the official music video I started to see more of the imagery and the story she was trying to convey. One way Matsoukas helped Beyonce convey those messages and themes is by directing a scene where Beyonce was performing on top of a squad car as it was engulfed by the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina. “Slay trick, or you get eliminated.” To me, it reminds me of the phrase “Stand for nothing and you will fall for anything”. Another one, “stay gracious, best revenge is your paper.” Your actions speak louder than words. Working towards and securing your success is the best way to show you mean business. The song and video became controversial because police unions throughout the country protested saying Beyonce had an “anti-police message”.