Author: Pia Bocanegra
As a person who doesn’t completely live under a rock, you know that Beyoncé’s new visual album, Lemonade, was released April 23rd. Although Beyoncé has dropped an album with little to no warning before, Lemonade still stunned fans and non-fans alike. As such, there were several reactions to Lemonade. Here’s seven of them.
1. The hype you feel when you find out that Queen Bey is back with a brand new album after three long years since 2013’s Beyoncé.
2. The indifference you feel when you hear Beyonce has dropped yet another album and has topped the charts. She’s pulled it off before; she’ll do it again.
3. The sadness you feel when you realize the album is only available on Tidal and it’ll probably stay that way for awhile. For now, you’ll have to play the waiting game until Lemonade is on Spotify.
4. The shock you have when you find out that Lemonade is about infidelity. In the chorus of “Don’t Hurt Yourself,” a song featuring Jack White from the White Stripes, she aggressively sings, “If you try that sh*t again, you’re going to lose your wife.” Talk about subtle. And if the lyrics weren’t obvious enough, Beyoncé is intensely fierce, assertive, and indignant in her 60-minute Lemonade film.
5. The state of doubt you’re stuck in because you’re left thinking: Did Jay-Z actually cheat on her? Is Lemonade a low-key divorce announcement? Is a world without them together even possible?
6. The adoration you have when you can’t handle her sound and aesthetic. Lemonade encompasses several genres, including what you’d expect, like R&B and hip-hop, as well as what you wouldn’t expect, such as rock, soul, and country. On top of that, the aesthetic of the Lemonade film, coupled with its subliminal social commentary, makes it a visual and meaningful masterpiece. HBO even plans to submit it as an entry for an Emmy in the Variety Special category.
7. The realization you have when you find out that the album is about much more than Jay-Z and infidelity. It’s also about the black woman experience. Beyoncé has always shared the black woman experience through her lyrics; however, it has been especially noticeable with her recent songs, such as Formation. The Lemonade film included several cameos by empowered black female celebrities, such as Serena Williams and Zendaya. Quvenzhané Wallis, a young actor often made fun of her hair and dark skin, also stands proudly next to Beyoncé in Lemonade.
Whether you’re a dedicated member of the Bey-hive or you’re simply aware that Beyoncé exists, you probably had a reaction to Lemonade. Whatever it was, you can’t deny that Beyoncé continues to “run the world.”
