[19][20], 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 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. 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 the utmost care and respect and being on that set was the most incredible experience of my whole life. When it's all said and done, I don't even know my own native tongue. [11] Fordjour noted how the George Floyd protests began after they had completed the final edit, describing how they were "looking at the news and the edit like, "Oh my god, this is insane. The Bese Saka adinkra symbol was placed on the floor of the church to signify power, abundance and unity. ", "Beyoncé's Black Is King film aims to start "a global conversation" says stylist Zerina Akers", "Oshun Energy in Beyoncé's "Black is King" – Ms. Magazine", "Unpacking the symbolism in Beyoncé's Black is King", "How 'Black Is King' Co-Director Kwasi Fordjour Brought Beyoncé's African Blockbuster to Life", "How Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Honors the Black Experience", "Review: Beyoncé's Black Is King Is a Visual Love Letter to the Black Diaspora", "Lion King remake: Everything you need to know", "Beyoncé Produces And Performs On Multi-Artist Album "The Lion King: The Gift, "Beyoncé explains how she created a new music genre for 'The Lion King' album", "Listen to Beyoncé's Song "Spirit" From New Lion King Album", "Beyoncé releases surprise new song, Black Parade, on Juneteenth", "Queen Bey Teases Her Next Visual Album 'Black Is King, "How This 'Black Is King' Designer Learned Beyoncé Was Featuring Her Headdress", "Black Is King Stylist Zerina Akers On the Meaning Behind The Fashion In Beyoncé's Epic Visual Album", "Q&A: 'Black Is King' Co-Director Kwasi Fordjour On Helping Bring Beyonce's Vision To Film", "Beyoncé's Stylist Breaks Down the Fashion in Black Is King", "Beyoncé Surprise-Dropped a Trailer for Her New Visual Album, 'Black Is King, "Beyoncé unveils longer trailer for visual album 'Black Is King' and Twitter goes bonkers", "Yale University :: Department of the History of Art", "Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Hairstylists Made 40+ Wigs in Just 6 Days", "My Love Letter to the Unapologetic Makeup Looks in 'Black Is King, "Ibra Ake on the Importance of Showcasing African Excellence in Beyoncé's 'Black Is King, "The interview with Blitz Bazawule, director and visual artist of Black is King", "Beyoncé's Co-Director Spills on the Making of 'Black Is King, "Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' — Behind the Visuals With DP Santiago Gonzalez", "Beyoncé drops breathtaking 'Black Is King' visual album with cameos from all the family", "Beyonce in talks for $100million deal to work on three Disney movies including Black Panther 2", "Everything we know about Beyoncé's secret project inspired by 'The Lion King, "Beyoncé Debuts Final "Black Is King" Teaser", "Papi's Here ★ on Instagram: "Black is King 7• 31• 2020 ( First Debut movie with @beyonce ) ❤️ God is good at all times , "Close to 100 South Africans were involved in the making of 'Black is King, "Nyaniso Ntsikelelo Dzedze on Instagram: "Loved this interview. [142], Black Is King received universal acclaim from critics, with praise for its visuals, direction, music, themes, and cultural relevance. And if I can't speak myself, I can't think myself. The Lion King: The Gift é uma trilha sonora produzida pela cantora norte-americana Beyoncé para o remake em renderização 3D The Lion King (2019), e mais tarde para o filme musical Black Is King (2020). The feature was well received by Twitter users and has led to several other brands implementing similar features, including Apple, NASA and the NBA. Black Is King was in production for over a year and was filmed across three continents. Producer Sharifah Issaka noted that Beyoncé used local Ghanaian talent for the production and paid them well, unlike most foreign crews when filming in Ghana, making Black Is King "a model for other brands that might be interested in creating content or engaging with the continent" to encourage them to provide opportunities to local talent. [33] Janell Hobson of Ms. stated that 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,[34] 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. "[74], 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. [154] Nathan Weinbender of Inlander praised Beyoncé's unique filmmaking style as one which fuses together mystic, surrealist and African cinematic influences. She was such a boss, directing, overlooking everything, and so sweet and warm. "[150] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating to reviews, the film has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. [63], The "Brown Skin Girl" segment was mainly filmed in London, as well as in Nigeria and Los Angeles. She also co-wrote and sang "Spirit". Director Jenn Nkiru chose to primarily feature South London, including her hometown of Peckham, due to its large black and South Asian communities. They chase him out of the kingdom, and the prince reclaims his throne. And if I can't be myself, I will never know me. Debusschere recalled sometimes working 23 hours a day on the film, with the "Scar" scene being filmed at 5 am and -2 °C weather. BEYONCE may have a starring role in The Lion King movie, but she is struggling to keep her claws in to her title as Queen Bey. As others are fleeing, the ancestor decides to place her baby in a basket and put it in the river to save the baby. [83] 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. A Twitter spokesperson said: "Because we know that some of the best moments deserve a little spark and delight, we are testing a product that lets partners customize Twitter's Like button animation with iconic imagery that complements their campaign." [69] Nigerian dancer and actor Stephen Ojo was also first recruited as a dancer for the "Spirit" music video. Beyoncé first rose to prominence as the lead singer of the R&B girl-group Destiny's Child, which … Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. Knight worked with Mary Jeanette Ramsey, executive director of Aqualillies, to choreograph the routine. His driver appears as his uncle, who taunts him with the golden scepter. [157], Chanté Joseph of The Guardian praised the film's messages of black unity and empowerment, describing how the film is storytelling led by African creatives showcasing African cultures that also speaks to black people in the diaspora searching for their identity. Bazawule continued: "It was so many voices, all singing in a chorus in a way that I’ve never witnessed in my life. In the spiritual plane, the ancestor is reunited with her baby. "Spirit" is a … ", "Beyonce's Black Is King is an ode to Black people and the diaspora in all its glory", "Why Beyoncé dances to 'My Power' in a church in 'Black Is King, "Akin Omotoso, Stephen Ojo And Other Nigerian Creatives In Beyonce's Black Is King", "Black Is King review – Beyoncé's love song to the black diaspora", "Beyonce's 'Black Is King' on Disney+: What to know and how to stream", "Beyoncé's Black is King is a breathtaking celebration of Black empowerment | Candice Frederick", "What to know about Beyoncé's 'Lion King'-inspired visual album 'Black Is King, "Opinion | With 'Black Is King,' Beyoncé has gone all in on Black. 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. It was released digitally on July 11, 2019, and physically on July 19, 2019, as part of the film's soundtrack. [13][14][15], With Black Is King, Beyoncé is providing a solution for this. [4]Com curadoria realizada por … Her other solo albums include I Am... Sasha Fierce, 4, Beyoncé, and Lemonade. When Beyoncé and co-director Kwasi Fordjour had creative differences over how the film should be, they made versions of the edit that spoke to both opinions and chose the edit that worked best. [76][77] Nkiru also asked Selma Nicholls, founder of casting agency Looks Like Me, to cast children for the video. [98][109] Filming also took place in Apple Valley in California and Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon; Black Is King was the first production to be filmed at Havasu Falls, with the Havasupai people granting special permission to Beyoncé. The Lion King is a computer-generatedremake film inspired by the 1994 traditionally-animated film of the same name. [86] Akers collaborated with American fashion designer Natalia Fedner on a gold chain headpiece covered in gold earrings of various styles and sizes for "Already." "[96] A scene where black men in suits jumping up and down in unison is a reference to the adumu Maasai jumping dance of Kenya and Tanzania, a ceremony in which men in a circle compete for who can jump the highest with a straight posture. They are all equally important. [63], Principal photography for Black Is King took place in the latter half of 2019 for four to six months. The "Nile" and "My Power" videos were filmed in November 2019 at the Cathedral of Saint Vibiana in Los Angeles, with Beyoncé as director. And if I can't think myself, I can't be myself. "[79], In New York, filming took place in the former plantation Sylvester Manor, the art gallery Guild Hall of East Hampton and Pier59 Studios. 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. Black Is King é um filme musical e álbum visual de 2020, dirigido, escrito e com produção executiva da cantora americana Beyoncé.O filme serve como um um complemento visual do álbum de 2019 The Lion King: The Gift, um álbum de ligação com curadoria de Beyoncé para o remake de 2019 do filme O Rei Leão.. Black Is King … Black Is King addresses this issue by presenting a black masculinity centered on leadership, community and the honoring of ancestors. [Beyoncé] actually came and personally greeted the Jamaican girls. Powerhouse Museum senior curator Roger Leong described how "tropes of African identity – 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". [68], Folajomi Akinmurele's acting debut was in the "Spirit" music video. [38], On July 19, 2019, The Lion King (a photorealistic computer-animated remake of Disney's traditionally animated 1994 film of the same name) was theatrically released in the United States. "[155] Writing for Vogue, Janelle Okwodu opined that the film shows Beyoncé "at her most commanding", with her vision tying the work of her collaborators. The Lion King Wiki is a FANDOM Movies Community. Beyoncé first rose to prominence as the lead singer of the R&B girl-group Destiny's Child, which became of the most successful girl groups in history. The representative then revealed who the project was for, but Novokshchenova still had doubts that it was a hoax until she met fellow Jamaican swimmer Nicole Chin Sue at the airport. "[39] 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 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". They showed Knight choreography to "Already" that they had made a few days prior for a class they were teaching. I review every second of footage several times and know it backwards and forwards. A basket floats down a river. This caught the attention of Beyoncé and her team reached out to them to invite them to feature in the film. In the spiritual plane, the ancestor leads the king's funeral, while the blue man sits alone ("Nile"). [98] The circle motif is also reflected by the inclusion of Lee Broom's Hanging Hoop Chair in "Find Your Back Way" and "Don't Jealous Me". She performs rituals for the prince and joins other women who are also holding newborns. [199], At the 2020 UK Music Video Awards, Beyoncé was one of the four artists leading the nominations, with her nominations including Best Music Film for Black Is King and three additional awards for "Already", of which it won Best Styling in a Video. You can't make that up. The ancestor brings the new king and queen their baby ("Spirit"), and the king lifts the baby in the air. [37] 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. That was probably the biggest moment of my career as a performer, as a synchronized swimmer, and as a Jamaican. The album is packed with star-studded names including husband and frequent collaborator Jay-Z, along with others such as … He lives in an extravagant mansion full of expensive clothes, servants, and feasts ("Mood 4 Eva"). The Lion King: The Gift é uma trilha sonora produzida pela cantora norte-americana Beyoncé para o remake em renderização 3D The Lion King (2019), e mais tarde para o filme musical Black Is King (2020). The Lion King: The Gift was included in Capital XTRA's 20 best albums of 2019 list, whereby "Spirit" was described as a "triumphant, gospel-inspired" track that "firmly cemented Beyoncé at the top of her game". [128], Upon release, Black Is King went straight to number one on the Disney+ Trending chart for the week ending August 2, 2020. [33] 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. "[43], 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. And every move was clean, sharp, crisp. [53] The filming was carried out across three continents, with Beyoncé wanting to include both the African continent and diaspora. In the same video, another hairstyle known as Orisha Bunmi can be seen, which is a Nigerian style worn for special events. [15][104] According to director of photography Santiago Gonzalez, the set represented "a temple dedicated to the power of femininity, sisterhood and motherhood". In real life, the prince grows up and moves to the city. "[60] Director Jenn Nkiru explained how in the set of the "Brown Skin Girl" video, there was "a huge presence of life", specifically a lot of flowers and plants, representing the themes of growth and nurturing. [48], Akers worked on the wardrobe for approximately three months. [143][144] Several publications declared Black Is King as Beyoncé's magnum opus, including GQ,[145] Vogue,[146] de Volkskrant,[147] Harper's Bazaar,[148] and Glamour. [200] At the 2020 Soul Train Music Awards, "Brown Skin Girl" won Video of the Year, marking her second win in this category out of nine nominations, the most of any artist. [1] [2] [3] Seu lançamento ocorreu em 19 de julho de 2019, por intermédio da Parkwood Entertainment e licenciamento … The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. As the project continuously grew, she hired a new team of seven people to work on the film. 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. You are going to make this. The prince is reunited with his childhood love ("Brown Skin Girl"). [63], The film was written by Beyoncé, poet Yrsa Daley-Ward, writer Clover Hope and Andrew Morrow. [70] The rest of the main cast were recruited from South Africa. She learnt about the story of Solomon Linda, the South African composer of the song "Mbube" who received no credit or royalties from the song being used as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in the original The Lion King. The couple gets married ("Keys to the Kingdom"), but he is plagued by self-doubt over his purpose. It was released on July 19, 2019, by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. Beyoncé's 'Lion King' Album Tells a Rich Story - The Atlantic