Music has the power to turn heads, however, it is the artist who determines in which direction. Being a lifetime Beyonce supporter, it is hard to admit that a feeling of returned support was not found in her Superbowl Halftime Show. Rudy Giuliani, former New York mayor, brought attention to the fault he found in the strong political message that Beyonce sent during her performance. The release of her new song, "Formation," including its controversial music video, has been turning heads for the past week due to its references and ties between the Black Panther Party and the Black Lives Matter movement. While it is important that Beyonce is empowering a specific minority through her song, it is unnecessary for her to put another group down while doing so.
From hits like "Single Ladies" and "Run the World (Girls)," Beyonce has made her reputation based off of songs of female empowerment, crowning her with such nicknames as "Queen B" and "Goddess." Beyonce has become the powerful image to represent a "strong, independent woman who doesn't need a man to complete her" (she may be married to Jay Z, but she sure doesn't need him). Whether mothers across the country like it or not, Beyonce is one of the top influences for young girls today. Even in her new single, "Formation," the spotlight remains on the lady population, as shown in her halftime performance where she appeared with two lines of women behind her. Her emphasis on girl power and feminine strength is important to instill among female youth, especially at ages such as adolescence, when confidence is at a significantly low point for girls. Females have typically been viewed as the subordinate gender, and Beyonce is applauded for utilizing her music, fame, and power to change this view.
While singing about such topics have led to Beyonce's immense success, her new song introduces a new topic: race. Being partially black herself, Beyonce's performance highlighted clear references to the Black Panther Party, through the all-black costumes her and her entourage wore, and some even say to Malcolm X, through the dancers standing in an X formation during the show. Now, it is surely important for one to take pride in their racial and ethnic background. But when that pride becomes borderline threatening, it is no longer acceptable to be published. Featured in her music video, Beyonce sits atop a half-flooded police car, a nod to the current Black Lives Matter Movement. While she may be promoting her race, she is also promoting police brutality through this message. Never will it be justified to kill somebody who protects you everyday. Fox News anchor, Anna Kooiman points out the irony of Beyonce having "a police escort there, but then she gives a salute to the Black Lives Matter Movement." In other words, do not bite the hand that feeds you: and that is exactly what Beyonce did.
Beyonce fans are loyal. It seems they would stand by her even if she were to commit a murder: she is their Queen. This makes her music extremely powerful and influential over all of her followers. Although Beyonce sent a positive message of female and black empowerment in her song "Formation," she also sent a much more negative message through the allusion to police brutality. This minor uproar that she caused may have only lasted a week in the papers, but will cause an everlasting impression on her millions of listeners around the world.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/02/08/rudy-giuliani-beyonces-half-time-show-was-an-outrageous-affront-to-police/
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