No Virtue in Subtlety: Reviewing Beyonce’s ‘Black is King’
“Life is your birthright/ They hid that in the fine print/ Take the pen and rewrite it.”
And, so begins Beyonce’s retelling of ‘The Lion King’. The pop icon released her visual album, ‘Black is King’ on the 31st of July. And, well, came near to breaking the internet – something she’s used to by now. There was never any doubt that her latest release was going to be met with recognition on a global scale. And, it has delivered on all expected fronts.
‘Black is King’: The Story
‘Black is King’, inspired by ‘The Lion King’, uses the childhood tale to trace a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, soaked in the context of Black identity. Combined with her dialogues from the 2019 film and her character as Nala, Beyonce details a celebration of black excellence.
Creating a parallel universe of her own (in dedication to her son), Beyonce’s ‘Black is King’ features all the original music from ‘The Lion King’ album, with the addition of three new tracks. The previously released ‘Already’, an extended version of ‘Black Parade’ and the MELO-X Remix of ‘Find Your Way Back’ mark new features on the deluxe edition of the album.
Beyonce’s Politics
In recent times, Beyonce’s career has been dedicated to celebrating and reclaiming the Black identity. Be it her Coachella stage, ‘Homecoming’, or her previous visual album ‘Lemonade’, the singer’s recent work is a musical map of expression, drenched in the singer’s politics. And, in no surprise, ‘Black is King’ follows the same journey. The interstitials of Beyonce’s dialogues points to her thoughts on womanhood, motherhood and more, aside from the overarching context of race. That being said, the music seems to be the only thing tying together a rather loophole-filled plot.
Early reactions to the film were unsurprisingly positive. Complete with political commentary, a relatable narrative (courtesy everyone’s favourite Disney film), and a runway of haute couture and high budget sets, the project was a sure shot hit from the start. Not to mention, it’s a visual album from Beyonce, which seems to be enough of a defining factor. But, if you get down to the nitty-gritty of it all, the film may fall flat.
‘Black is King’ Lacks Clarity
Though the songs are stitched to form a narrative, that’s all there is for a story. Beyonce’s random dialogue, the interstitials that speak of ideas of kingship and the peripatetic scene jumps are sure to create questions. And, while there is enough in this film to help the viewer chart a journey of birth, self-doubt, self-discovery and reclamation, the telling of the story itself could have benefited from the same level of detail given to wardrobe and set design.
The Aftermath
Following its release, Beyonce’s ‘Black is King’ met with some backlash. People felt that some shots portrayed African communities in a stereotypical light. In addition, others felt that the opulence and vibrant celebration of black culture and tradition misrepresented history and the current state of affairs.
Points and counterpoints will always follow. But, Beyonce has never been one for subtlety. Her M.O has always been to deliver an unmissable spectacle. She doesn’t do things low-key. And, given the current context – the magnanimity of the socio-cultural movements at play, what is the virtue in being subtle?
Beyonce’s ‘Black is King’ is a successful celebration and visual spectacle, but lacks as a film. If the goal was an acute political understanding, the telling of the tale leaves more to be desired. But, maybe being a water-tight script was never the point.
By: Ahalya Narayanan
