[137], An official trailer for Black Is King was released by Beyoncé on July 19, 2020. [48][110] Beyoncé and Emmanuel Adjei were the directors of the "Don't Jealous Me" and "Otherside" sections. "[66] All of Beyoncé's earnings were used to ensure that they used the best crew and production. & Chris Brown Lead 2020 Soul Train Awards Nominations: Here's the Complete List", "Disney+ Now Has 60.5 Million Subscribers Worldwide Exceeding Expectations", "Edited Transcript of DIS.N earnings conference call or presentation 4-Aug-20 8:30pm GMT", "THE MAKING AND UNPACKING OF BEYONCÉ'S BLACK IS KING", "Our one episode Black Is King analysis somehow turned into 7. Can't wait for yall to experience this", "Beyoncé Shares New Visual Album Black Is King", "How Black Is King Got Its African Lullabies", "How the Creator of 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' Finally Got His Due In 'Black Is King, "Beyoncé releases deluxe edition of The Lion King: The Gift, shares "Already" video: Watch", "DEETS: M-Net is bringing Beyonce's visual album Black Is King to Africa", "Beyoncé is dropping a new visual album that celebrates black culture. She showed him pages of picture references of traditional African hairstyles that she had spent time collecting, and they remained there until almost 4 am discussing the hairstyles. [110] There were 20 large setups around the mansion and the film crew totaled around 40 people in grip, electric and camera. It's her company, her thing, her money, and her vision that make this project. And if I can't think myself, I can't be myself. [132], On the night of June 27, 2020, a teaser trailer for Black Is King was posted on Beyoncé's website, the first official announcement of the film to the public. [167] Esquire named the film one of the 12 best movie musicals of all time. [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 Gift is a companion piece to the official Lion King soundtrack, featuring songs inspired by the story and its setting, rather than new interpretations of Circle of Life or Hakuna Matata. [144], Writing for Decider, Anna Menta called Black Is King "an undeniably breathtaking, personal, and political work of art". [44] Raisa Bruner of Time called the song "a tour-de-force of references: to black history, to African traditions, to her own family and past" and described Beyoncé as "the queen of a generation providing guidance and assembling her listeners with black solidarity". 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). Beyoncé then held meetings with other members of the crew, focusing on worldbuilding and logistics, as well as to discuss more detailed aspects of the production such as lighting. [111][112], "Bigger" and "Find Your Way Back" were directed by Beyoncé alone, and were filmed in Arroyo Burro Beach and Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, California. At the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, Black Is King was nominated for Best Music Film, while the "Brown Skin Girl" video was nominated for Best Music Video. [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. She performs rituals for the prince and joins other women who are also holding newborns. That could not work. [38] Beyoncé held meetings with the additional directors to decide on the general look and feel for each section. [212] Beyoncé's fashion in the film made her become the most influential woman in fashion in 2020. The process became a "travelling circus", according to Akers; a constant stream of packages were arriving to set, including some straight off the runway, and they were constantly making new costumes and calling designers at midnight with ideas. The prince realizes that pursuing material wealth is unsustainable, and he is encouraged to reclaim his purpose and identity ("Already"). She also co-wrote and sang "Spirit". [121], The film's score was composed by James William Blades, MeLo-X, and Derek Dixie, while Beyoncé and Derek Dixie acted as music directors. Here's how to watch it", "What's Trending On Disney+ | Black Is King | What's On Disney Plus", "Beyonce, BTS, and more make the 'Twitter from Home' quarantine report", "These were the most talked-about moments on Instagram in 2020", "Beyoncé Recognized for Humanitarian Work at BET Awards: 'Please Continue to Be the Change, "Beyonce to Release 'Black Is King' Visual Album on Disney+", "Honored to be working with @Beyonce this! The Bese Saka adinkra symbol was placed on the floor of the church to signify power, abundance and unity. [74][80] Shepherd described it as "a wonderful, wonderful experience" that she felt "so honored" to be part of. Obie concluded: "Just like the art, fashion, locations, musicians and actors who make up Black Is King and The Gift, we are stronger when we see ourselves connected in global struggle and glory. The Lion King is a computer-generatedremake film inspired by the 1994 traditionally-animated film of the same name. [172] Vulture named the "Already" video the sixth best music video of 2020, citing the "unimpeachable" visuals, fashion and "some of her career-best choreography", as well as its ability to uplift black people in a year "tragically marked by yet another spike in the countless murders of our own people". [55] The trailer shows Beyoncé reading from the 1971 book Black Gods and Kings, written by American art-historian Robert Farris Thompson to record the art history of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. Beyoncé was impressed by his performance and she sought him out, ultimately casting him in the lead role in Black Is King. [201], At The Walt Disney Company Q3 2020 earnings call, CEO Bob Chapek announced that Disney+ reached its five-year subscriber goal in eight months, crediting Black Is King for an increase of approximately 3 million subscribers. [94], For the "Mood 4 Eva" video, Beyoncé and Knight had a vision of a Busby Berkeley-inspired synchronized swimming routine, with swimmers creating formations such as a dolphin chain circle through which Beyoncé would swim. "Spirit" is a song composed by Beyoncé, IIya Salmanzadeh, and Timothy McKenzie for the 2019 remake of The Lion King. Men taught me some things, but women taught me a whole lot more. The prince reunites with his father and breaks down in front of him. [171], The "Already" and "Brown Skin Girl" videos contained within the film were named the best and second-best music videos of 2020 (as of August 28), respectively, by Insider. It was also released on the inspired soundtrack The Lion King: The Gift under the title "SPIRIT (From Disney's "The Lion King… This week, Disney is set to release The Lion King soundtrack, produced by Beyonce … Lyrically, the song discusses Simba's, the film's main protagonist's return home and is played during that particular scene in the film. At first, she intended to produce one-minute clips for some of the songs, with them shooting in her backyard in The Hamptons. [120], Black Is King is based on the music of The Lion King: The Gift, with each song on the album receiving corresponding visuals in the film. The teaser was then premiered on television a day later on June 28, to conclude the BET Awards after Beyoncé's acceptance speech for the BET Humanitarian Award. "[163] Writing for Vogue, Hayley Maitland opined that Beyoncé is "shifting the zeitgeist" with Black Is King, noting that the film's release feels especially timely after the resurgence of Black Lives Matter. [176] Several other publications included Black Is King in their lists of the best Disney+ films, including Rolling Stone,[177] The Daily Telegraph,[178] Radio Times,[179] Time Out,[180] Entertainment Tonight,[181] CNET,[182] Stylist,[183] and Digital Trends. Her references are spiritual and learned. In order to give the video a vintage look, director of photography Santiago Gonzalez employed Kowa Cine Prominar lenses – spherical lenses built in the 1960s – providing a warmer flare, good contrast and a saturation that imparts brightness and opulence. Paying homage to the originators, paying respect to our culture—some people might not care. When you get into the space where you're so interested and enthralled with creating worlds and spaces, it becomes fun, and she makes it fun. We went in. We’ve been created with this image that Black men are supposed to be this way. [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. We have beautiful history, and we shall create another in the future that will astonish the world. @Beyonce always pushes for greatness. 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[38][29] The fashion in the "My Power" video was designed according to the colors of the Seven African Powers, with each singer representing a different orisha. 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. [8], Sophia Ordaz of Slate noted that as well as the message of the film being "that Black kingship amounts to responsible manhood, Black femininity is just as integral". The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. [101] Beyoncé described the filming as "absolutely an adventure", stating: "I performed in the belly of sand dunes and I floated in the middle of the ocean. "Spirit" is a song by American singer Beyoncé for the soundtrack of the photorealistic remake of The Lion King and the companion album The Lion King: The Gift. Arboine also praised how the film showcases a diverse range of elements that constitute blackness, such as black debutante balls, London council estates and durags. Stephen Ojo and Caleb Bonney of dance group AVO (Africa's Very Own) Boyz were unexpectedly contacted by American choreographer JaQuel Knight and asked to fly out to Los Angeles the following day. "[28] Garvey's Pan-African flag, a symbol of black liberation, was the inspiration for David Hammons' African-American flag, which is seen in Black Is King being held up by a group of black men. She also posed as Alice in "Where Wonderland is Your Destiny" in the Disney Dream Portrait Series, voiced adult Nala in the 2019 film The Lion King, and directed, wrote, and starred in the Disney+ visual album Black Is King. [74] A 30-foot braided wig that can be seen in "Water" was inspired by the women of Chad. A man with a snake asks the boy who he is, but the boy does not answer. Other scenes in the segment were inspired by Eddie Murphy's Coming to America and Hype Williams' Belly. Ordaz highlights a spoken word passage read by a man in the film, which states: "Many times, it’s the women that reassemble us. Black Is King therefore shows "how the world could thrive when Black men step into kingship", not one which is based on the "white supremacist ideas of hierarchy, dominance, and oppression", but instead one which embraces an "African egalitarian way" and is "rooted in stewardship to community". ""[51], Beyoncé and Derek Dixie acted as music directors, while MeLo-X, Derek Dixie, and James William Blades contributed to the score;[119] MeLo-X described working on the film on Twitter, writing: "Truly an amazing and eye opening journey. The sequins and crystals in the fashion were lit so that they could sparkle and glimmer to resemble stars. Together, we work to create the best comprehensive encyclopedia for the Lion King franchise. To research for the film, Beyoncé described how she "spent a lot of time exploring and absorbing the lessons of past generations and the rich history of different African customs". ‘The Lion King: The Gift’ Is Beyonce’s Love Letter to Blackness The soundtrack features over 20 artists from the United States, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Cameroon. 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. [95][75] French-Sudanese choreographer Kany Diabaté and American choreographer Ebony Williams choreographed the "My Power" video; Diabaté commented on her work on the film: "When you realize your wildest dream and tell the world you just CHOREOGRAPHED the biggest artist in this planet earth and the woman you been inspired for SO MANY YEARS!!! She voiced Nala in the 2019 remake of The Lion King. "[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. [58][59] Director Ibra Ake described Beyoncé as "a scholar" who wanted to learn about and discuss the meaning and history behind every detail that would be included in the film. However, her first theatrical film was for the 2002 film Austin Powers in Goldmember, as Foxxy Cleopatra.. By. On a beach in the spiritual plane, a newborn prince is held by his maternal ancestor while she tells him of his significance and purpose ("Bigger"). She then decided to create full-length videos for each song, and her idea later snowballed into a very large production. "[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. Allegra Frank writing for Vox described the song as "perfect" and "otherworldly good". The king comes to save him and is killed by a bike. ALSO MOST importantly... Why is itvso important that the…, "Beyoncé Unveils Trailer For New Film 'BLACK IS KING, "We Spotted These Hidden Meanings In "Black Is King, "Beyonce's Black is King Spotlights Black Artistic Swimmers", "GOD on Instagram: "Shout out to all my Tamil people I hope I did you all proud(msgs saying I most definitely did). Emba wrote: "Each Afrobeats-inflected track was a reminder that to be Black is not all sadness and struggle: Blackness is also joyful, audacious, unique, creative and proud. 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. Spirit is a song composed by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter for the 2019 remake of The Lion King which was digitally released on July 11, 2019 with a physical release on July 19 as part of the film's soundtrack. The Lion King: The Gift is a soundtrack album curated and executively produced by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé for the 2019 live-action remake of Disney's'The Lion King'. As he grows up into a man (Nyaniso Dzedze), the prince undergoes a journey of self-identity, using the guidance of his ancestor (Beyoncé), childhood love (Nandi Madida) and his own subconscious (Stephen Ojo) to reclaim his throne. Novokshchenova recalled: "I said, 'You people are crazy!' Beyonce dropped The Lion King: The Gift, an album accompanying the anticipated reboot of the beloved 1994 Disney classic on Friday.The … 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. And Beyoncé doesn't lose", "Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Builds Identity From Afrofuturism", "Afrofuturism, Dark Matter, and the Divine: A Conversation with Maxine Montgomery on Black Is King", "Is Beyoncé rooting for Pan Africanist movement with her film Black Is King? Gonzalez consequently kept the lighting bright with less of a key light, highlighting the women's natural beauty. [29] According to Brooke Obie of Esquire, this scene signifies "the political and communal unity of all Indigenous people of Africa, throughout the Diaspora". The symbolism and color...wow. Some of the members of the cast and crew were subsequently announced. He lives in an extravagant mansion full of expensive clothes, servants, and feasts ("Mood 4 Eva").