When Beyoncé hit the Coachella stage last year, many of us expected amazing live vocals, her iconic hits, and memorable choreography. Instead, when she hit the stage, the audience at Coachella and those watching online were left in awe when Beyoncé delivered more than just a regular performance. In a 105-minute set, Beyoncé presented a statement on Black culture and history. No one could’ve guessed one of the many songs she performed would be The Black National Anthem. No one expected Beyonce to have a full marching band (from Historically Black Colleges and Universities) to help lead her performance. And of course, no one expected a Destiny’s Child reunion.
Beyoncé’s Coachella performance was not only celebrated because of her amazing talent, but because it was a tribute to Black American culture. In the film, Beyoncé said she “wanted every person that has ever been dismissed because of the way they look to feel like they were on that stage.” And that night, she did just that.
A year later, Netflix set the internet on fire when they released the trailer for Homecoming. The trailer included a voiceover from Maya Angelou discussing the honor of representing her race through her art. Though Homecoming included the entire Coachella performance, there were interviews and rehearsal footage of Beyoncé sprinkled throughout. Those clips detail Beyoncé’s extensive eight-month rehearsal for the performance plus her journey post pregnancy. The excellence in Homecoming is not just the actual performance, but being able to witness what it takes to be the undisputed greatest performer of our generation.
In the film, not only do we hear Beyoncé struggle with her ridiculously strict diet post giving birth, but we witness her calling all the shots from the shape of the stage, the lights, and costumes, all the way down to the camera shots. We see Beyoncé hold meetings with her team demanding them to do better and then leave to take care of her two infant children. We hear Beyoncé, who we have crowned the Queen, doubt her performance abilities after giving birth to twins. Homecoming is a masterclass on excellence because Beyoncé never makes excuses nor does she slack off. She gathers her crew, has three sound stages and rehearses for eight months straight. Homecoming shows that the brilliance of Beyoncé does not come from magic, but from determination. Seeing the blood, sweat, and tears she puts into her performances and seeing her leave her heart out on that Coachella stage, reinforced the truth that Beyoncé has no equals.
It’s impossible to watch Beyoncé at her peak and not be inspired. However, the beauty of it is Beyoncé doesn’t make you want to be her, she inspires you to be the best version of yourself. She inspires women who watch her, to be excellent at whatever it is they do. Beyoncé shows women that there are no limits to the greatness within us.
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Why Beyoncé’s Homecoming is a Masterclass on Excellence: Featured Image: @Beyonce on Instagram
