Formation (song)

"Formation"
Single by Beyoncé
from the album Lemonade
Released February 6, 2016
Recorded Quad Recording Studios
(New York City, US)
Genre Bounce[1]
Length 3:26
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Beyoncé singles chronology
"Runnin' (Lose It All)"
(2015)		 "Formation"
(2016)		 "Sorry"
(2016)[3]
Music video
"Formation" on YouTube

"Formation" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé for her sixth studio album Lemonade (2016). It was written by Rae Sremmurd, Jordan Frost, Asheton Hogan, Mike Will Made It and Beyoncé and produced by the latter two alongside Pluss. It served as the album's lead single, released on February 6, 2016 through Parkwood Entertainment, and its closing track.[4] "Formation" received positive reviews from music critics.

The song's accompanying music video, directed by Melina Matsoukas premiered on the same day as the song itself through Beyoncé's official YouTube account. It received mixed response for its alleged anti-police stance, which the singer denied, in addition to controversy over documentary footage used in the video. However, several critics praised its depiction of African-Americans not frequently seen in mainstream media.[5] In order to promote the song, Beyoncé performed it during her guest appearance at the Super Bowl 50 halftime show the day after its premiere. Her performance received a multitude of responses.

Release

"Formation" was released on February 6, 2016, accompanied by its official music video. It was released in a similar manner to Beyoncé's 2013 self-titled studio album without any previous announcements, leading its release to be dubbed as a "surprise release" by media outlets.[6] The song was made available for free download exclusively via the subscription-based music streaming service Tidal,[7] and the music video was uploaded on Beyoncé's official website, through an unlisted YouTube video of her personal account.[8] The release of the song was also followed by new merchandise through the singer's website with items and clothings citing lyrics from the song.[6] Marketing for the song happened post-release and was heavily driven by social media and word-of-mouth.

Composition

The Guardian's Alex Macpherson wrote the song "musically transpires '7/11'".[9] The song is written in the key of F minor with a tempo of 61.5 / 123 beats per minute.[10]

Reception

Critical response

The track received generally favorable responses from music critics. Pitchfork named the song "Best New Track" of the day, with Britt Julious comparing it to "Flawless" and writing that "for Beyoncé (and for her listeners, too), the unapologetic embracing of ones blackness and the power one can harness when making a name, livelihood, and legacy can't ever be ignored or taken for granted."[11] Omise'eke Natasha Tinsley, a professor of African Studies at University of Texas at Austin, writes for Time that the song, which many called "political" because of its references, "differs radically from other post-Ferguson protests songs like Trip Lee's "Coulda Been Me" or Rihanna's "American Oxygen" video, which focus on black men's deaths," calling African American women to stand side by side ("in formation").[12] The Daily Beast calls the song "a fiery black power anthem and call to arms".[13] Rolling Stone wrote "in the era of #BlackLivesMatter, "Formation" felt downright necessary."[14]

Since the release of the song and the subsequent Super Bowl performance, various publications have released think-pieces about the song, and the current stage of race relations in the United States.[15][16] Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan backed the singer during a sermon.[17] Saturday Night Live performed a sketch titled "The Day Beyoncé turned Black" as a result of the release, airing Saturday, February 13.[18] As Lisa Respers France commented in her piece for CNN, "Beyoncé is certainly not the first celebrity to cause a stir by inserting race into her art, but there's a reason why her recent actions are resonating. Quite simply, she is one of those stars of color who -- until now -- has been beyond race for the mainstream audience. That was the basis of a recent "Saturday Night Live" skit that portrayed white fans freaking out about her "blackness," as conveyed by her new "Formation" music video and a Super Bowl halftime performance in which her backup dancers dressed in Black Panther-esque outfits. The halftime show has prompted a number of discussions both pro- and anti-Beyoncé."[16]

Chart performance

"Formation" debuted on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart at number eleven,[19] and peaked at number five on that chart.[20] After the release of Lemonade, "Formation" debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on May 2, 2016, becoming Beyoncé's first top 10 single since "Drunk in Love" in 2014; it is also the singer's highest-debuting single of her career (surpassing "Ring the Alarm" and "Drunk in Love" which both debuted at number 12). [21] Upon the release of Lemonade, the song debuted at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart.

Music video

Release and synopsis

The accompanying music video for "Formation" premiered on February 6, 2016 and was directed by Melina Matsoukas.[22][23] Filming took place in Los Angeles at the Fenyes Mansion.[24] The music video for "Formation" was shot in Los Angeles, California but features references to Hurricane Katrina, antebellum and Louisiana Creole culture, police brutality, and racism.[25] It begins with Beyoncé lying on top of a Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor in a flooded street and later cuts to a man holding a newspaper with Martin Luther King Jr.'s face on it with the title "The Truth". Later on, a young hooded boy dances in front of a line of police officers with their hands up before the video cuts to a graffitied wall with the words "stop shooting us" tagged on it.[26] Dance routines are also performed throughout the video, and Beyoncé's daughter Blue Ivy Carter makes a cameo appearance,[25][27] sporting a natural afro hairdo. The music video also modifies the song to include spoken interpolations from the New Orleans bounce artist Big Freedia and the late YouTube personality Messy Mya, who was murdered in New Orleans in 2010.

In the beginning, there is an ad-lib by the late Messy Mya in which he states "What happened at the New Walins (Orleans)? Bitch, I'm back - by popular demand." This ad-lib came directly from one of Messy Mya's YouTube videos entitled "Messy Mya | Booking the Hoes from New Walins (Orleans)". In the video, Messy Mya is walking down the street going on a rant about multiple people and situations based in New Orleans comparing different people to things he passes while walking and talking. For example, "...Bitch, if you built like a Chrysler, then bitch, you built like a Chrysler." After he finishes a major point in the video, he says "Follow me, camera".[28]

Reception and controversy

Syreeta McFadden for The Guardian notes that the video depicts archetypal southern black women "in ways that we haven't seen frequently represented in popular art or culture".[29]

Not long after it was posted online, two filmmakers, Abteen Bagheri and Chris Black, tweeted that "Formation" used footage from That B.E.A.T., their 2013 documentary about the Katrina disaster of New Orleans bounce.[30] Bagheri said he was asked for approval to use the footage, but the request was denied.[23] In a series of tweets, Black and Bagheri claimed they did not give permission to Beyoncé or "Formation" director Melina Matsoukas for using their documentary footage. However, in a statement to Entertainment Weekly, Beyoncé's rep says, "The documentary footage was used with permission and licensed from the owner of the footage. They were given proper compensation. The footage was provided to us by the filmmaker's production company. The filmmaker is listed in the credits for additional photography direction."[31] Soon after, Bagheri issued a statement to The Washington Post: "Anyone who works in the industry knows that putting out a work is a miracle. There needs to be a unity amongst directors. We need to preserve the sanctity of the craft and champion individual voices. Our work isn't just b-roll for someone else. It just shouldn't be considered, whether or not it's legal. It's a bad precedent to set."[32]

Live performance

Beyoncé performed the song as part of a guest appearance during the Super Bowl 50 halftime show, which was headlined by Coldplay at the Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.[33][34] "Formation" is the opening number on Beyoncé's The Formation World Tour (2016).

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[35] 24
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[36] 32
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[37] 96
France (SNEP)[38] 26
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[39] 3
Germany (Official German Charts)[40] 74
Hungary (Single Top 40)[41] 13
Ireland (IRMA)[42] 59
New Zealand Digital Songs (Billboard)[43] 3
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[44] 11
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[45] 31
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[46] 10
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 10
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[47] 6
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[48] 14

Radio and release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various February 6, 2016 Free download (Tidal exclusive)
[7]
United Kingdom February 15, 2016 Contemporary hit radio [49]

References

  1. ↑ Caramancia, Jon; Morris, Wesley; Wortham, Jenna (February 6, 2016). "Beyoncé in 'Formation': Entertainer, Activist, Both?". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Beyoncé– Formation". Tidal. February 6, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Top 40/Mainstream: Future Releases". All Access Music Group. allaccess.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  4. ↑ Bartleet, Larry (February 6, 2016). "Listen to Beyoncé's new surprise single 'Formation'". NME. Archived from the original on February 7, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Beyoncé's Formation reclaims black America's narrative from the margins". The Guardian. 2016-02-08. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
  6. 1 2 Kreps, Daniel (February 6, 2016). "Watch Beyonce's Surprise New Video 'Formation'". Rolling Stone (Wenner Media). Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Reilly, Katie (February 6, 2016). "Download Beyonce's New Single 'Formation' for Free". Time. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  8. ↑ Beyoncé | Formation (Dirty), 2016-02-07, retrieved 2016-02-07
  9. ↑ Macpherson, Alex (February 8, 2016). "Beyoncé's Formation review – a rallying cry that couldn't be more timely". The Guardian. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Key and BPM of Beyoncé - Formation | AudioKeychain". AudioKeychain. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  11. ↑ ""Formation" by Beyoncé - Tracks - Pitchfork".
  12. ↑ Tinsley, Omise'eke Natasha; O'Neill, Caitlin. "Beyonce's 'Formation' Is Activism for African Americans, Women and LGBTQ People". TIME.com. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
  13. ↑ Fallon, Kevin (2016-02-06). "Beyonce's 'Formation': A Fiery Black Power Anthem and Call to Arms". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
  14. ↑ "Beyoncé, "Formation"". Rolling Stone.
  15. ↑ Hansen, Dale (February 23, 2016). "Responses to Beyoncé's Shows How Far We Still Have to Go". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  16. 1 2 France Respers, Lisa (February 23, 2016). "Why the Beyoncé controversy is bigger than you think". CNN. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Beyoncé Offered Protection From Nation of Islam Amid Police Union Boycotts - Billboard". Billboard.
  18. ↑ "'SNL' Takes on Beyonce's 'Formation' in Hilarious Sketch About 'The Day Beyonce Turned Black': Watch". Us Weekly.
  19. ↑ "Beyonce Earns Highest R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart Debut With 'Formation'". Billboard.
  20. ↑
  21. 1 2 "Desiigner Holds Off Drake Atop Hot 100, Prince & Beyonce Hit Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  22. ↑ Beck, Laura (February 6, 2016). "Here Are the Best Lyrics From Beyoncé's Perfect New Song, "Formation"". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  23. 1 2 Coscarelli, Joe (February 6, 2016). "Beyoncé Releases Surprise Single 'Formation' Ahead of Super Bowl Performance". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Beyoncé Shoots Secret Video in New Orleans". Rap-Up. December 22, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  25. 1 2 Sisavat, Monica (February 6, 2016). "9 Celebrity Reactions That Perfectly Describe How You Felt When Beyoncé Dropped "Formation"". Pop Sugar. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  26. ↑ Stone, Natalie (February 6, 2016). "Beyonce Drops New 'Formation' Single, Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  27. ↑ Helman, Peter (February 6, 2016). "Beyoncé – “Formation” Video". Stereogum. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  28. ↑ TheeHHGz (2010-08-19), Messy Mya | Booking The Hoes From New Wildin, retrieved 2016-02-07
  29. ↑ "Beyoncé's Formation reclaims black America's narrative from the margins". The Guardian. 2016-02-08. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
  30. ↑ Fallon, Kevin (2016-02-06). "Beyonce's 'Formation': A Fiery Black Power Anthem and Call to Arms". The Daily Beast. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Beyoncé used New Orleans documentary footage 'with permission' in new 'Formation' video: rep". Entertainment Weekly. February 7, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  32. ↑ Contrera, Jessica (7 February 2016). "Before Super Bowl halftime show, Beyoncé responds to accusations of plagiarism". Washington Post.
  33. ↑ "Beyoncé On Why She Performed 'Formation' At The Super Bowl". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  34. ↑ Abad-Santos, Alex (February 6, 2016). "Listen: Beyoncé's new song 'Formation'". Vox. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  35. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 2, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Beyonce – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Beyonce. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Beyoncé: Formation" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés". SNEP. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Greece Digital Songs". Billboard. May 2, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Beyoncé – Formation". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  42. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 17, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  43. ↑ "New Zealand Digital Songs". Billboard. May 2, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  44. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2016-05-05". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  45. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2016-05-05" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  46. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2016-05-05" UK R&B Chart. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  47. ↑ "Beyonce – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Beyonce. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  48. ↑ "Beyonce – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Beyonce. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  49. ↑ "BBC – Radio 1 – Playlist". BBC Radio 1. Archived from the original on February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.

External links

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