Dir: Melina Matsoukas
On the eve of another Super Bowl performance, Beyoncé surprise-released ‘Formation’, a video that doubles-down on the song’s strikingly pro-black, pro-woman lyrics: Beyoncé is flawless in formation, a child dancer stands up to police, and — in the video’s most memorable scene — Bey is baptized as a New Orleans police cruiser drowns. The Katrina references set the tone for a video that is unapologetically Southern, from the high couture in gothic mansions to the wig shops, crawfish and Mardi Gras parades. The video is a five minute reminder to never underestimate or mischaracterize Beyoncé.
