Beyonce
The Homecoming film and live album were recorded exclusively for Netflix in 2018 at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Not only was Beyoncé the first African-American woman to headline the high-profile music festival, but the event was dubbed "Beychella" due to her captivating performance. The film features the actual concert and behind-the-scenes footage. It also has voiceovers from the likes of Nina Simone, Maya Angelou, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi and Cornell West.
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This is what stood out for us from the doccie:
- She’s always wanted to experience Black American college culture: “Destiny’s Child was my college. My college was traveling around the world, and life was my teacher,” Bey says. Her dad, who’s part of the HBCU alumni, would take the entire Knowles family to watch the annual Battle of the Bands, which is what inspired the young Bey.
- Drew inspiration from iconic black shows: The multi award-winning performer paid homage to Spike Lee’s 1988 classic School Daze, during her rendition of Bug A Boo with an all-female dance crew.
- She’s the ultimate perfectionist: Beyoncé chose every performer and costume herself. Even the height of her spectacular pyramid stage was directed by her. She had three soundstages during rehearsals: one for the band, one for the dancing and a third for the creative staff – she personally supervised all three!
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- Getting her pre-baby body back was a struggle: “A lot of the choreography is about feeling,” Beyoncé says. “So it’s not as technical. It’s your own personality that brings it to life. And that’s hard – when you don’t feel like yourself.” Beyonce gained a whopping 98 kg during her second pregnancy. In order to “snap back” in time for her Coachella performance, she cut out all carbs, dairy and sugars, as well as bread, alcoholo, bread and meat.
