This was spectacular. Beyoncé’s hotly-anticipated Coachella set sat somewhere between a musical and a movie, a high-octane 120 minute medley featuring impeccable choreography, an orchestra, political statements, tributes to leaders from black cultural history, high-profile guests, and a superhuman ability to move between hits with incredible rapidity and fluency. It was a night where she put her flag in the ground and announced herself as the world’s greatest living entertainer.
Pop queen she is, but she’s also a visionary, an auteur, and an athlete – to go through two hours at that level is, aside from the artistry, a display of incredible stamina. If you missed it, here’s what went down while you’re waiting for the full live link to be uploaded.
OLIVIER ROUSTEING PROVIDED THE LOOKS
SOLANGE JOINED HER ONSTAGE
DESTINY’S CHILD ‘REFORMED’
HER BAND PLAYED AFROBEAT PIONEER FELA KUTI
SHE PLAYED A RECORDING OF MALCOLM X’S “WHO TAUGHT YOU TO HATE YOURSELF” SPEECH AND MOUTHED THE WORDS
SHE SANG JAMES WELDON JOHNSON’S “LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING”, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE BLACK AMERICAN NATIONAL ANTHEM
SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SHE WAS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO HEADLINE COACHELLA
