Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment/Disney
The concept of the visual album is not necessarily new. It could be argued that The Beatles' A Hard Days Night was the first "visual album," providing a short film that accompanied the hit record. Certainly, Prince's Purple Rain took that concept and expanded on it with a full movie, and not only brought the album to life but also garnered critical praise, including two Oscar wins for Best Original Musical and Best Original Song Score. However, in April of 2016, Beyoncé elevated the concept to a whole new level with her groundbreaking visual album Lemonade. In just 65 minutes, Beyoncé took viewers on a journey through the powerful lyrics of the album with moving visuals, incredible choreography, and plenty of meme-able moments. It's safe to say she set the bar pretty high for visual albums, so when it was announced that Beyoncé would return with another visual album that was tied to the live-action remake of Disney's The Lion King, many were understandably excited to see how she could possibly top Lemonade. I'm thrilled to say that Black is King absolutely lives up to the hype.
Beyoncé's latest visual album is a mesmerizing experience, and this is mostly thanks to the way it looks. The visuals are absolutely stunning and include breathtaking cinematography of African nations such as South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria. From spectacular waterfalls to vast deserts, lush jungles to ornately decorated villages, every scene is filmed with the intention of leaving you in awe. I gasped and said "wow" out loud numerous times throughout the film. Additionally, the indoor sets are just as dazzling and impressive. They exude all the emotions they're intended to evoke, whether it's a sense of fear and tension, or an aura of unity and beauty. These shots are all complimented by eye-catching framing and captivating angles that draw you in brilliantly.
In addition to beautiful backdrops, the costumes in this film are phenomenal. Many of them are highlighting the vibrancy of African culture, but many others are more contemporary but equally remarkable. From sleek suits to luxurious dresses, everyone looks incredible in this film, and it helps to make the message of the film and the lyrics that much more powerful.
Not only does everyone look great, but they dance magnificently as well. The dancing can be both gentle and graceful, or assertive and powerful, depending on what the song calls for. It incorporates elements of cultural dance while also feeling very relevant with touches of hip hop and contemporary dance, in essence making it feel almost timeless. Beyoncé alone is a fantastic dancer and performer, but she has certainly brought along a talented troupe to back her up as well. Everyone is at their best here, and their commitment to the choreography shines through.
Finally, let's talk about the lyrics and how they're interwoven into a larger narrative. As a reminder, this film is essentially an adaption of Beyoncé's curated album The Gift, which was a tie-in to the 2019 Disney film The Lion King. The album itself was an attempt to bring themes of the film into the modern world. I had personally never heard the album until watching this film, but after finishing it, I believe Beyoncé succeeded in her goal. By using audio clips from the latest movie, we are told the tale of a young prince being groomed to be the next king, and all the struggles that come along with that pressure. There are also clips from empowering speeches about what it means to be a "king" and the importance of raising our young men, particularly Black youth, to know their worth, respect their elders, and never forget where they came from. The lyrics and audio clips, as well as Beyoncé's narration, reflect this very well, and by the end of the movie I felt empowered and emboldened to be better and do better. A star-studded set of cameos from around the world, both in person and through song, drive the message even further and give it a more universal vibe. As I mentioned earlier, some of the songs are moving ballads that get their point across in a softer way, while other songs are more arresting and demand your attention more forcefully. But no matter how the message is conveyed, it is one that is received loud and clear, and that is important to hear, especially right now: "Black is king. We were beauty before they knew what beauty was."
CONCLUSION: Black is King is a mesmerizing masterpiece of Black pride and empowerment, told by one of the most iconic artists of our generation. Through the power of song, dance, and cinematography, Beyoncé poetically and powerfully sends a striking message of the sublime beauty of Black culture by incorporating the messages of Disney's memorable film into modern society. It elevates the concept of the visual album higher than Beyoncé had already set before with Lemonade, and showcases her immense talent both in front of and behind the camera.
FINAL SCORE: 5/5
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