"Formation" is a song by American singer and songwriterBeyoncé from her sixth studio album,Lemonade (2016). Beyoncé wrote and produced the song withMike Will Made It, withSwae Lee andPluss as co-writers. Pluss formulated the song's original beat while Swae Lee freestyled the hook, after which Beyoncé's wrote its verses. The song wassurprise-released on February 6, 2016, throughParkwood Entertainment. It is atrap andbounce song in which Beyoncé celebrates her culture, identity, and success as ablack woman from theSouthern United States.
"Formation" was written byBeyoncé,Mike Will Made It,Swae Lee andPluss, and produced by Beyoncé and Mike Will.[1] Pluss formulated the original beat for the song in Atlanta, Georgia, implementing asynthesizer effect found in theVirtual Studio Technology plug-in onFL Studio.[2][3] In April 2014, Mike Will and the members ofRae Sremmund were driving toCoachella andfreestyling to beats in the car. For the beat that Pluss made, Swae Lee said: "Okay ladies, now let's get in formation."[2] Will loved the concept and thought it would be suited to Beyoncé, who had recently asked him to send new music ideas. Will believed it could be a hugefemale empowerment anthem in the same vein as Beyoncé's 2008 song "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", with the track being about women getting in line with the men they are in relationships with.[2][4] They recorded the line on a voice note and later played it back when in a recording studio in Los Angeles. Lee recorded a simple reference track, freestyling over the beat. Mike Will sent it to Beyoncé, together with five or six other reference tracks.[2][5] A few months later, Mike Will was at a party after a basketball game. Beyoncé appeared at the party and told him she really liked the "Formation" idea, and left it at that.[2]
Beyoncé then wrote all of the verses of the song in New York, while keeping the central hook about ladies getting in formation.[2][6] Beyoncé's verses took the song in a different direction from what Will intended and broadened its scope to turn it into an anthem about her identity, heritage, and culture.[7]Jon Platt ofWarner Chappell Music told Mike Will: "Yo, this shit's crazy, you got to hear this."[2] Will went to New York and spent a week with Beyoncé in Quad Recording Studios to complete the recording and production.[2][8] They added heavy, distorted808 beats with saturated upper harmonics to the track to make it "palatable to the culture", according to mixing engineerJaycen Joshua.[9] Beyoncé thought it could be a song thatmarching bands would play and asked for horns to be added to the track to evoke the sounds ofNew Orleans.[3] Will explained that Beyoncé "took this one little idea we came up with on the way to Coachella, put it in a pot, stirred it up, and came with this smash. She takes ideas and puts them with her own ideas, and makes this masterpiece."[2]
"Formation" is a Houstontrap and New Orleansbounce song.[10][11] The song is written in the key ofF minor incommon time with atempo of 123 beats per minute.[12] It has a minimalistic beat containing rubbery synths and a heavybass line, which transforms into ahorn-infused stomp reminiscent ofmarching bands andmilitary tattoos.[13][14][15] InThe Oxford Handbook of Social Media and Music Learning, Joseph Michael Abramo wrote that Beyoncé's implementation ofelectronic production,brass elements, andvocal fry in "Formation" acts as a tribute to the signifiers ofblack music, while also forming a critique ofinstitutional racism together with the lyrics.[16] The song has an unconventional structure that deviates from the norm ofpop music.[15][17] American singer-songwriterMike Errico called the songwriting "practicallyDylanesque", with no single clearchorus on the track, but instead a chorus followed by a "super-chorus" that "blows what we thought was the chorus out of the water".[17]
Beyoncé's vocals span from D3 to A♭4 in the song.[18] Beyoncé employs multiple delivery styles on the track, with the introduction being delivered in a hoarse, whispered tone that switches into a half-rapped, half-sung cadence as the song progresses.[11][15][19] Lauren Chanel Allen ofTeen Vogue commented that Beyoncé used "a lazy trap flow" instead of "her superhuman vocal range", which acts as a refusal tocode-switch and an embracing of blackness.[20]The Guardian's Alex Macpherson characterized Beyoncé's delivery as playful and carefree, noting the "amused drawl" of the opening line and the "sudden giddy exclamation as she lands on the word 'chaser' in the chorus".[15] Sheldon Pearce ofPitchfork described how Beyoncé raps on the track, implementing enunciated syllables, "hard-cracking consonant sounds and precisely-measured alliteration" that make the lyrics satisfying to recite.[21]
Lyrically, "Formation" is a celebration of Beyoncé's culture, identity, and success as a black woman from theSouthern United States.[22][23] Focusing on the theme ofblack pride, Beyoncé extols her Texan, Alabamian, and Louisianan roots and notes how she has remained closely connected to her heritage throughout her mainstream success.[24][25][26] She reclaimsoffensive terms for black people ("negro" and "Bama") and applauds her and her family's physical features ("I like my baby heir with baby hair andafros" and "I like my Negro nose withJackson 5 nostrils").[25][27][28][29] Beyoncé also references her global recognition on the track, dismissing aconspiracy theory that attributes her success to theIlluminati and celebratingself-made black businesswomen.[25][30][31]
"Formation" was released on February 6, 2016, accompanied by its official music video. It was a surprise release, having no prior announcement in a similar manner to Beyoncé's 2013self-titled studio album.[22] Writers such asDream Hampton suggested that the release date was intentionally selected, as it was the start ofBlack History Month, duringMardi Gras in New Orleans, the day afterTrayvon Martin's birthday, and the day beforeSandra Bland's birthday.[28][32] The release was accompanied by new merchandise on Beyoncé's website, with items and clothing citing lyrics from the song.[33] The release "broke the internet", according toRolling Stone, sparking widespread praise and discourse on social media.[34][35][36] It wasGoogle's most searched song of 2016.[37]
"Formation" was not an officialsingle, according to music industry trade publicationHits Daily Double.[38][39] The song was exclusively available as a free download via the subscription-basedmusic streaming serviceTidal.[40][41] It was not available for purchase or for streaming on other platforms, and Tidal did not report the song's streams toNielsen, the source ofBillboard's sales figures.[42] The song was also notpromoted to radio stations; however several stations still added it to their rotations.[9][43] Reggie Rouse,program director at Atlanta stationV-103, said: "If you were amainstream urban station that didn't play 'Formation,' you were left out in the cold. When Beyoncé releases a record or a song, it's an event — everyone listens. If someone else did that, it wouldn't have the same effect."[9] The song debuted at number 11 on the U.S.Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay with 16.3 million audience impressions, marking Beyoncé's highest career debut on the chart.[43] Based on the airplay alone, the song debuted at number nine on the U.S.BillboardBubbling Under Hot 100.[44]
"Formation" was met with widespread critical acclaim upon release.[55]Pitchfork named the song "Best New Track", with Britt Julious describing it as one of Beyoncé's "most instrumentally-dense and trend-forward productions" which is made specifically for black women, "an audience that might not receive the sort of mainstream, visually and sonically-enticing wisdom that Bey has perfected".[10] In a review for theNew Statesman, Anna Leszkiewicz praised the experimental nature of the track and wrote that Beyoncé presented "radical" sociopolitical concepts in a familial context, adding: "The more mainstream Beyoncé becomes, the more she functions as a marginal artist."[56] Similarly,Q'sShad characterized the song's lyrics as "deeply personal and political", and praised Beyoncé for celebrating her black Southern roots on a global stage.[57] Writing forThe Guardian,Daphne A Brooks described the "brilliance of the single's sonic arc", with the tension from Beyoncé's "restrained, raspy" vocals exploding in a "euphoric release" as she expresses her pride in black identity and culture.[58]
Omise'eke Natasha Tinsley, professor of African Studies atUniversity of Texas at Austin, wrote forTime that "Formation" differs from contemporary political songs by celebrating the breadth and beauty of black women's lives, rather than focusing on black men's deaths.[59]The New York Times'Jenna Wortham praised the song for its expression of black identity and wrote that it is "about the entirety of the black experience in America in 2016", encompassing topics such as beauty standards,police brutality, empowerment, and shared culture and history.[26] In an article forTheWashington Post, Regina N. Bradley wrote that the song sees Beyoncé forgoing a "more universally appealing trope of feminine blackness in favor of an experimental and boisterous black womanhood" that can voice critiques of social, political, and economic issues.[60] ARolling Stone journalist commented that the song "felt downright necessary" in theBlack Lives Matter era, deeming it "a powerful statement of black Southern resilience".[61]
In retrospective reviews, critics have considered "Formation" to be one of Beyoncé's best songs,[62][63] noting its broader cultural importance.[64][65][66]Rolling Stone's Robyn Mowatt described the song as "one of the 21st century's most thrilling and bracing pop music statements", as a rallying cry and call to arms with global impact.[64] Naming it Beyoncé's greatest song,The Guardian's head rock and pop criticAlexis Petridis characterized "Formation" as "a masterpiece", citing the "adventurous" music, Beyoncé's perfect vocal performance which switches "between playfulness and determination", and the lyrics that act as "a powerful statement of black resilience".[63]USA Today's Melissa Ruggieri described the song as one of Beyoncé's "most consequential musical creations",[66] whileEntertainment Weekly's Lester Brathwaite wrote that it "marked a seismic shift in the culture" as the "new Black national anthem".[65]Time's Raisa Bruner wrote that the song was "flawless", as a "seminal work" that reflected sociopolitical sentiments in the U.S.[67]
In 2019,Essence[87] andParade[88] named "Formation" the greatest song of the decade (2010s).Consequence of Sound,[89]Paste,[90]Insider,[91] andTampa Bay Times[92] listed "Formation" as the third greatest song of the 2010s. ForPitchfork[93] andRolling Stone[94] it was the fourth best of the same period. TheBBC,[95]Billboard,[9] andGQ[96] included "Formation" in their lists of the songs that defined and shaped the decade.Vulture included the release date of "Formation" in their list of the 103 days that shaped music in the 2010s.[97]
The Independent included "Formation" on their list of the 40 best song lyrics of all time.[98]i-D ranked the song at number one on their list of the greatest pop comebacks of the 21st century.[99] In 2021,Rolling Stone placed the song at number 73 on its list of the500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[100]
"Formation" received three nominations at the59th Annual Grammy Awards:Record of the Year,Song of the Year, andBest Music Video, of which it won the latter award.[101] The song's losses in the former two categories sparked controversy, with some critics considering it asnub that demonstrates Beyoncé's lack of recognition in theGeneral Field.[102][103] The winner of the Record of the Year categoryAdele expressed recognition for Beyoncé in her acceptance speech, saying: "My dream and my idol is Queen Bey, and I adore you. You move my soul every single day. And you have done for nearly 17 years. I adore you, and I want you to be my mommy".[104]
At the2016 MTV Video Music Awards, "Formation" won all of its nominations, making Beyoncé the most awarded artist inMTV Video Music Awards history.[105][106] The video's win forVideo of the Year marked Beyoncé's second win in this category, tying the record for the artist with the most wins in the category in history.[107] With the song's win forBest Pop Video, Beyoncé became the only black artist to win the award in history.[108]
List of awards and nominations received by "Formation"
Beyoncé approachedMelina Matsoukas to direct themusic video for "Formation" a few weeks before its release. After Matsoukas agreed, Beyoncé invited Matsoukas to her house, where they discussed Beyoncé's family history, the South, and New Orleans.[129] Matsoukas found ideas for the video following hours of research on the works ofToni Morrison,Maya Angelou, andOctavia E. Butler. Matsoukas conceived scenes featuring events from throughout black history, includingslavery, theRodney King protests, andMardi Gras parades. Matsoukas toldThe New Yorker: "I wanted to show — this is black people. We triumph, we suffer, we're drowning, we're being beaten, we're dancing, we're eating, and we're still here."[129] She wrote out a treatment at 2 am and sent it to Beyoncé at 5 or 6 am, thinking that Beyoncé would reply later in the day. However, Beyoncé responded immediately and asked to discuss it further.[130]
Beyoncé filmed for the music video over two days.Arthur Jafa was hired ascamera operator; Jafa had been the cinematographer ofDaughters of the Dust, a 1991 film aboutGullah women in South Carolina, whose focus on black sisterhood was an inspiration for the "Formation" video. Matsoukas wanted to create a sense ofverisimilitude in the video, shooting some scenes with acamcorder and others with aBolex camera, the latter giving the scenes a grainy look resembling documentary footage.[129] Sets for the video included theFenyes Estate, which was decorated to evoke a "blackified"Southern Gothic mansion, and asoundstage with an artificial lake.[129][131]
The music video is set in New Orleans, exploring interpretations of the city's past, present, and futurein the wake of Hurricane Katrina, in turn forming a celebration ofblack pride and resilience. It features rapidly edited scenes that depict the variety and heterogeneity ofblack Southern culture.[132] This includesMardi Gras,black cowboys,stepping, wig shops,crawfish,cotillions,[133]grills, black preachers,[134]second lines, marching bands, bounce dancers,[24] and traditional courtship and burial rituals.[135] Beyoncé is seen embodying several archetypal Southern black women that span time, class, and space,[28][136] which artist and authorRyann Donnelly viewed as being nine distinct personas that recur throughout the video.[137] The video modifies the song to include spoken interpolations from the New Orleans bounce artistBig Freedia and YouTube personalityMessy Mya, who was murdered in New Orleans in 2010.[138]
The video begins with Beyoncé crouching on top of a New Orleanspolice interceptor, which gradually sinks into floodwaters as the video progresses, acting as acriticism of the government response to Hurricane Katrina.[139] Another set of scenes portray Beyoncé as the mistress of an all-black household in aSouthern plantation-style house, as a subversion and reclamation of the legacy of slavery in the South.[23] Beyoncé and her dancers perform in an empty swimming pool in another scene, referencing the story of a recentlydesegregated public swimming pool in the 1950s being drained afterDorothy Dandridge dipped her toe in it.[140] In a later scene, a man holds a newspaper featuring an image ofMartin Luther King Jr. with the caption: "What is the real legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and why was a revolutionary recast as an acceptable Negro leader?"[141] The last sequence depicts a young boy in a hoodie dancing in front of a line of police officers in riot gear. When the boy holds up his hands, the officers reciprocate the gesture. The video cuts to a wall graffitied with the phrase: "Stop shooting us", echoing the demand of the Black Lives Matter movement forreform in policing andcriminal justice.[142][143]
The video premiered alongside the song on Tidal on February 6, 2016. It was also uploaded as an unlisted video on Beyoncé's officialYouTube channel, which prevented it from being accessed by search functionalities.[144] The video was met with widespread acclaim from fans and critics,[145] withThe Guardian's Syreeta McFadden writing that it presents black culture in a way that has not often been seen in popular culture.[28]Billboard named "Formation" the greatest music video of the decade in 2019,[146] whileRolling Stone placed it at number one on their100 Greatest Music Videos of All Time list in 2021.[147]
Beyoncé performed the song as part of a guest appearance during theSuper Bowl 50 halftime show, which was headlined byColdplay at theLevi's Stadium inSanta Clara, California on February 7, 2016. Her performance started afterBruno Mars finished with "Uptown Funk".[148] She wore a black leather outfit with golden sashes, inspired byMichael Jackson'sSuper Bowl XXVII halftime show, while her dancers' outfits were reminiscent of theBlack Panther Party.[149] At one point, her dancers formed an 'X' formation in an apparent reference tocivil rights activistMalcolm X.[150] The performance was met with international headlines and widespread acclaim, with many critics saying she stole the show from Coldplay.[150][151] The staff ofRolling Stone described the performance as "awe-inspiring",[61] whileJon Caramanica ofThe New York Times wrote that Beyoncé is the only artist capable of "walking the cultural tightrope of delivering a song with such potent declarations of black pride on a stage that prefers studied neutrality".[148]
"Formation" was the opening number on Beyoncé'sFormation World Tour, which began on April 27, 2016.[152] It was performed with the singer backed by dancers dressed in black sequined leotards and hats with wide brims.[153] The song was also performed as part of a five-songLemonade medley at the2016 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28, 2016.[154] She finished the performance with "Formation", with her dancers forming thefemale symbol at the end.[155]Rolling Stone'sRob Sheffield considered the performance to be "one of the most blood-chillingly great live performances in award-show history",[155] whileBillboard named it the greatest award show performance of all time.[156] Beyoncé performed "Formation" during a surprise set at a "Get Out the Vote" concert in support of theHillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign on November 4, 2016.[157] Beyoncé and her dancers worepantsuits, which is a piece of clothing that Clinton is known for.[158]
During her2018 Coachella performance, Beyoncé sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing", which is commonly known as the "Black National Anthem", and then transitioned into "Formation". Naima Cochrane ofBillboard described the placement of the songs as "thoughtful", tying "Formation" – "an anthemic call to action celebrating her power as a black woman" – to the civil rights movement anthem.[159] The performance was subsequently included in the 2019Homecoming film andlive album.[160] Beyoncé performed "Formation" during theOn the Run II Tour, her 2018 co-headlining stadium world tour withJay-Z.[161] The song was also performed at the 2018Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 charity concert in Johannesburg, South Africa, which commemoratedNelson Mandela's 100th birthday.[162] Beyoncé and her dancers each wore a different color and lined up in a row, forming a humanpride flag to show support for theLGBTQ community.[163] "Formation" was also part of the setlist of Beyoncé's 2023Renaissance World Tour. The song opened up the army-themed "Opulence" act of the show.[164] "Formation" was included on the 2025Cowboy Carter Tour setlist.[165]
"Formation" was met with criticism from various conservative figures, including those pictured above
"Formation", its music video, and the performance at the Super Bowl received criticism from someconservative figures, law enforcement organizations, and social media users over perceivedanti-police,anti-American, andanti-white racist messages.[166][167][168]U.S. presidentDonald Trump thought the performance was "ridiculous" and "not appropriate", saying it warranted a national scandal.[169] FormerMayor of New York CityRudy Giuliani called the performance "outrageous", adding: "I don't know what the heck it was. A bunch of people bouncing around and all strange things. It was terrible."[170] CongressmanPeter King condemned the "Formation" video, saying that "no one should really care what [Beyoncé] thinks about any serious issue confronting our nation".[171] Canadian politicianJim Karygiannis said that theCanadian government should investigate Beyoncé and consider banning her from the country following her Super Bowl performance.[172] Conservative commentatorRush Limbaugh said that the song was "representative of the cultural decay and social rot that is befalling our country".[173] British media personalityPiers Morgan wrote that the song has a "police-hating theme" and characterized Beyoncé as an "agitating" figure who is playing therace card.[174] Conservative TV hostTomi Lahren directed a rant towards Beyoncé, accusing her of "ramrodding an aggressive agenda down our throats" and concluding: "Your husband was a drug dealer. For fourteen years, he sold crack cocaine. Talk about protecting black neighborhoods? Start at home".[175][176] Beyoncé requested to use thirty seconds of Lahren's rant for the Formation World Tour, but Lahren denied the request.[177]
An anti-Beyoncé campaign was started on social media titled #BoycottBeyoncé, which was met with a competing #IStandWithBeyoncé hashtag.[166][178] As part of the campaign, an anti-Beyoncé protest was held outside theNational Football League headquarters on February 16, 2016, citing the "hate speech & racism" in Beyoncé's performance, which encouraged acounter-protest to be organized.[179] In order to stoke unrest as part of theRussian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections, theKremlin-backedInternet Research Agency placed adverts onInstagram urging people to attend the protests.[180] Only three anti-Beyoncé protesters attended, while a larger counter-protest gathered, holding signs expressing statements such as "Pro-black doesn't mean anti-white".[181]
Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold blamed shots being fired outside his home on the "Formation" video.[182] TheNational Sheriffs' Association made a link between Beyoncé's performance and the killings of seven law enforcement officers in the U.S.[183] Police unions across the U.S. encouraged aboycott of The Formation World Tour.[184] The Coalition of Police and Sheriffs protested outside Beyoncé's concert atNRG Stadium on May 7, 2016. The protesters wore "Police Lives Matter" T-shirts, held a printout of Jay Z's mugshot, and shone a blue light toward the stadium.[185] President of theTampa Police Benevolent Association Vinny Gericitano urged a boycott of Beyoncé's music and tour, however ensured that her concert in Tampa would be properly policed.[186] Other law enforcement organizations did not join the boycott, such as those in Houston and Raleigh, the latter of which voted unanimously not to boycott the tour.[183][185]
Other public figures defended Beyoncé. WriterChimamanda Ngozi Adichie toldLe Monde that she "very much admires" what Beyoncé did with "Formation".[187] Adichie said that there is something in mainstream American culture "that says you cannot be too black", and questioned why people would feel uncomfortable with the song's message and not be outraged over police brutality.[187] The controversy was discussed onReal Time with Bill Maher, whereMaher mocked the right-wing response to "Formation". Rapper and activistKiller Mike explained how the song is not about white people, while comedianMargaret Cho added: "Black pride doesn't have to take anything away from white culture. I think this is what Black America needed. It's what all of us needed."[188] MinisterLouis Farrakhan backed the singer during a sermon and offered her the protection of theNation of Islam.[189] Singer-songwriterNe-Yo questioned why Beyoncé was being criticized for singing about her identity, stating: "Everybody else has the right to talk about their culture and their race and be proud of it, so why can't we? Why can't she?"[190] OnThe Daily Show,Jessica Williams defended Beyoncé and responded to commentators who said her performance was not "wholesome" enough, saying she did not realize singing about race was equivalent toJanet Jackson's Super Bowl controversy.[191]
Beyoncé responded to the backlash, tellingElle: "I'm an artist and I think the most powerful art is usually misunderstood."[192] She expressed respect and admiration for police officers and explained that the message of "Formation" was not anti-police but against police brutality and injustice. Beyoncé added: "If celebrating my roots and culture during Black History Month made anyone uncomfortable, those feelings were there long before a video and long before me. I'm proud of what we created and I'm proud to be part of a conversation that is pushing things forward in a positive way."[192] Beyoncé later sold "Boycott Beyoncé" merchandise at the Formation World Tour, acting as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the controversy.[193]The Atlantic's Spencer Kornhaber wrote that this was also a statement that Beyoncé was unwavering in her beliefs, which directly acknowledges "the people she's alienated and telling them she doesn't want them to come back".[194]
"Formation" has been used as an anthem for various sociopolitical movements, with its lyrics featuring on signs at protests
Upon its release, "Formation" dominated public conversation and ignited discussions on the topics ofculture,racism, andpolitics.[11][195][196] Many academic syllabuses, think pieces, ideological debates, and analyses were published in response to the song.[197][198] Puja Patel, editor-in-chief ofPitchfork, wrote that the song was "an awakening for a country in crisis" at first, and it has since evolved to "live on as a reminder of the slow, persistent, daily work of organizing and the power of resilience and protest".[93] Marquita Gammage wrote that the song forced Americans to address topics in American history that had largely been excluded from history books and public school syllabuses, such as theBlack Power movement, the Black Panther Party, and Malcolm X.[166] According to Kinitra D. Brooks, the song reclaimed the images of both the Black Lives Matter movement and Black Panther Party, which some Americans had associated with terrorism rather than liberation.[135] Describing the song as "revolutionary", Riché Richardson wrote that it "unsettled the prevailing national fantasies of apost-racial America" and challenged listeners to envisage a future nation that is more inclusive of race, sexuality, and gender.[199]
"Formation" garnered attention for the Black Lives Matter movement and raised awareness for issues facing black people before the2016 U.S. presidential election.[200] Charles Hughes, professor and director of the Memphis Center atRhodes College, said that music was one of the strongest influences on the 2016 presidential election and that "Formation" had the greatest influence of all songs. Hughes described the song as "invoking movement" and reminding listeners of the role of women in the Black Lives Matter movement.[201] InMichael Moore in TrumpLand, American filmmakerMichael Moore said that Beyoncé's performance of "Formation" at the Super Bowl was the breaking point of the shifting gender balance in American society, at which straight white men realized they were losing their power to women.[202][203]
"Formation" became known as aprotest song upon its release and has since been used as ananthem for varioussociopolitical movements.[204] The song became a Black Lives Matter anthem, being adopted by activists and played at protests worldwide.[11][205][206] Tamara Winfrey Harris explained how "music has a powerful ability to shape social values and beliefs", with "Formation" following in the footsteps of songs that provide "the support and soundtrack for civil rights", such asBillie Holiday's "Strange Fruit",Nina Simone's "Mississippi Goddam",Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come", andAretha Franklin's "Respect".[135]Nora Guthrie, daughter of American singer-songwriterWoody Guthrie, toldBillboard that she looks to Beyoncé to continue the work of her father and otherfolk pioneers who wrote protest songs in the 1960s. Guthrie compared "Formation" to the work ofLead Belly, adding: "Just because the music isn't based in acoustic guitar doesn't mean it isn't drawing from the same ideals."[207] Gerrick D Kennedy of theLos Angeles Times wrote that the song became part of the "soundtrack for a new generation of young black men and women during a renewed time of racial unrest" and helped Beyoncé become "the face of protest music" in 2016.[208] "Formation" continued to be one of the protest songs of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, with the track being played at theGeorge Floyd protests.[209] The song also became awomen's empowerment anthem, with it being used to show support for the#MeToo movement and its lyrics being featured on signs at theWomen's March.[93]
Critics and scholars considered "Formation" to have innovated popular music in the 21st century. The release of "Formation" was a defining moment of2010s music, according toBillboard's Bianca Gracie, with Beyoncé setting the standard for what popular music can be.[9]Glamour's Danielle Young wrote that the song revolutionized how music is consumed, with Beyoncé making listeners stop and experience the song together.[210] Writing forVice,University of Waterloo professor Naila Keleta-Mae commented that Beyoncé went from "manipulating the pop culture music industry machine to usurping it" with "Formation", setting the blueprint for how artists can explore political issues while holding mainstream attention.[211] In his 2025 bookBlank Space: A Cultural History of the Twenty-First Century,W. David Marx named "Formation" as "almost a perfect piece of pop culture", given that its creative innovation challenges the artistic and cultural decline that has defined the 21st century to date.[212] Marx cited the song's "adventurous" and "unique" sound and politically charged lyrics, describing it as "a perfect case of somebody using their stardom to innovate and create work that defines the time".[212]
"Formation" was said to have reintroduced protest music to the mainstream. Jordan Bassett ofNME wrote that the song brought protest music back.[213]Yale University professorDaphne A Brooks agreed, writing forThe Guardian that the song has ushered in a new "golden age" of protest music, as an "inspired, insurgent assault" that "challenges us to ask how we can all make cultural forms work for us and not the other way around".[214]
The music video for "Formation" was also associated with a cultural impact on the music industry. According toTime's Raisa Bruner, the music video for "Formation" helped to move the art form forward, according .[67] Sonia Rao ofThe Washington Post wrote that it ushered in a "music video renaissance", igniting a trend of boundary-pushing music videos that explore political issues.[215]
"Formation" inspired the 2018 bookBeyoncé in Formation: Remixing Black Feminism byOmise'eke Natasha Tinsley. The book is based on Tinsley's college course "Beyoncé Feminism, Rihanna Womanism", which she teaches as professor atHarvard University and theUniversity of Texas at Austin, and analyses the cultural, political, andblack feminist themes inLemonade.[216] In 2017, theUniversity of Pennsylvania offered a course titled "Beyoncé, Protest, and Popular Music", which explored the risks that Beyoncé took when releasing "Formation", its place in the history of protest songs, and the role of gender and race in popular music.[217] At theUniversity of Hertfordshire, "Formation" was studied as part of the UK's first degree course focusing on the Black Lives Matter movement.[218] In 2016, theUniversity of Texas at San Antonio offered a class focusing on the "Formation" video andLemonade album. These projects were used as a basis to examine the sociocultural issues affecting black women through the study of black feminist theory, film, music, and literature.[219][220]
Texas Christian University offered a course titled "Beyoncé andIntersectionality", which used "Formation" and other Beyoncé projects "to explore deeper issues ofpatriarchy,racism,classism andsexism in society".[221] In 2021,Boston University offered a course that studied the "Formation" video as part of their exploration of how the South has been depicted in American fiction.[222] TheUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing analyzed the concepts and issues in "Formation" to explore topics such as intersections of black history, black femininity, and body politics, and how the Black Lives Matter movement has impacted health andhealth outcomes.[223] The 2017-18 Rabinor Lecture in American Studies atCornell University by Riché Richardson was inspired by "Formation", being titled "Writing Home: The Birth of Beyoncé and a Formation Nation". Richardson also taught a course titled "Beyoncé Nation", which studied "Formation" and other projects to examine Beyoncé's use of iconic symbolism, allusions topolice brutality, andfeminist themes.[224][225] The "Formation" music video is included in the syllabus for the BritishA-level inMedia Studies.[226][227]
Sales atRed Lobster increased by 33% after it was referenced in "Formation"
References within the lyrics of "Formation" have popularized certain brands and phrases. The mention of the American restaurant chainRed Lobster increased sales at the restaurants by 33%.[228] The chain wastweeted about over 42,000 times during the first hour of the song's release and trended for the first time in its history, according to Red Lobster spokesperson Erica Ettori.[228] Employees also renamed popular menu items after Beyoncé and called the effect the "Beyoncé Bounce".[229] Beyoncé's reference to theChevrolet El Camino in the song and its feature in the music video helped boost the car's public profile, withBloomberg's Hannah Elliott writing that Beyoncé "did more in 5 seconds for the El Camino thanGeneral Motors marketing did for years".[230]
The term "Bama" received a major boost in prominence after it was used in "Formation", with the word subsequently being added to theOxford English Dictionary.[231] The word "slay" (meaning "greatly excel") was also popularized after it was used in the song.[232][233] A novel method of screening drugs to combatantibiotic resistance was named SLAY (Surface Localized Antimicrobial Display) in reference to the song.[234]Presbyterian pastor Floretta Barbee-Watkins evoked the song in the opening devotion of the 2021Presbyterian Mission Agency Board meeting, where she called for thePresbyterian Church to "get in formation" by transforming the church in a time of volatility and complexity,[235] and ended the devotion with the call to action "'cause we slay".[236]
The lyric "I gothot sauce in my bag, swag" became a common refrain after the song's release and inspired people to produce related merchandise.[237] In an interview withThe Breakfast Club during her2016 presidential campaign,Hillary Clinton referenced the lyric, saying she carries hot sauce in her bag. This sparked controversy, with some saying that she waspandering to young black voters.[238][239]
One of the hairstyles that Beyoncé wore in the music video, with longcornrows with a deep side part, has since been termed "lemonade braids" after the album and remains a popular hairstyle for black women.[240] The black powerberet was given "a new lease of life" after the performance of "Formation" at the Super Bowl, according toThe Guardian's deputy fashion editor Priya Elan, triggering the hat's comeback as a symbol of black power.[241]Piping became the defining trend of the spring/summer 2016 fashion season after Beyoncé wore a piped shirt in the "Formation" video.[242]
The cover ofMarvel's 2017America comic book paid homage to the "Formation" music video, with its illustrator saying "America is a comic that is all about representation, feminism and fighting for what's right... I could think of no better parallel than Beyoncé."[243]Saturday Night Live performed a sketch titled "The Day Beyoncé Turned Black" as a result of the release, airing February 13, 2016. Presented as a trailer for ahorror movie, the sketch satirizes some white people's reactions to the "unapologetically black" song.[244] It was named "the bestSNL skit ever" by Tre'vell Anderson of theLos Angeles Times.[244] ActressGoldie Hawn and comedianAmy Schumer produced a parody of "Formation", which also featuredWanda Sykes andJoan Cusack.[245] The West End and Broadway musicalSix references the song, with the character ofAnne of Cleves singing "Okay ladies, let's get inReformation".[246]
Several white musicians releasedacousticcovers of "Formation".[247] Jonny Hetherington, frontman of Canadian rock bandArt of Dying, posted a cover of the song on February 18, 2016. In contrast to the original track, Hetherington sings with a clear vocal accompanied by piano chords. This video, among the other covers, sparked controversy as they were perceived to be trivializing the specific blackness of the song.[16][248] InThe Oxford Handbook of Social Media and Music Learning, Joseph Michael Abramo wrote that it is "striking and uncomfortable" to see a white man sing lyrics such as "I like my negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils", which celebrate black features that have been "denigrated by white conceptions of beauty".[16] Abramo added that Hetherington's delivery eliminates the "grittiness" of the track, in turn eliminating "the criticism of institutional racism it represents".[16] In response to these covers,Black Twitter posted trap covers of songs by white artists, such asTaylor Swift's "You Belong With Me",the Beatles' "Hey Jude", andQueen's "We Will Rock You".[247][249] This also ignited a wider debate on theappropriation of black culture in music.[247]
American electronic musicianLotic released a remix of "Formation" titled "Formation (Election Anxiety/America Is Over Edit)" on November 9, 2016, in response to the results of the U.S. presidential election. The song evokes Lotic's trademarkindustrial sound as well as that of marching bands, acting as a reference to Beyoncé's Super Bowl performance of the song and as a tribute to the South.[250][251] The song was named "Best New Track" byPitchfork, withPhilip Sherburne writing that it "turns Beyoncé's strutting call to arms into a cry of pain and defiance".[251]
Australian fashion brand Misha Collection concluded itsAustralian Fashion Week show on May 16, 2016, with models led byBella Hadid walking to "Formation". This received criticism, as there were no models of color cast in the show, which acts in contrast to the song's message of celebrating blackness.[252][253] This incident was used to initiate conversations on the lack of diversity in the fashion industry.[254] The opening notes of "Formation" played on a loop during the 2016off-Broadway production ofSuzan-Lori Parks'sThe Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World, directed byLileana Blain-Cruz.[58] Blair-Cruz toldThe Interval that "Formation" was a major inspiration, due to its cultural impact and the way it "captures where we are at the moment".[255] Daphne A Brooks wrote forThe Guardian that the use of the song was "chilling", showing how it "remains the soundtrack for a black revolution still under way but shifting gears".[58] "Formation" was also used inGoogle's 2021Women's History Month commercial, which celebrated women who became "firsts" in their respective fields.[256]
^Joseph, Ralina L. (2018).Postracial resistance: Black women, media, and the uses of strategic ambiguity. Critical cultural communication. New York:New York University Press.ISBN978-1-4798-6282-5.
^Snider, Idrissa Nichelle (January 2019). "Self-Defined: A Womanist Exploration Of Michelle Obama, Viola Davis, And Beyonce Knowles".Wayne State University Dissertations.2227.
^Abdurraqib, Hanif (2021).A little devil in America : notes in praise of Black performance (First ed.). New York.ISBN978-1-9848-0119-7.OCLC1158510350.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^McCorquodale, Sara (2020).Influence : how social media influencers are shaping our digital future. London. p. 197.ISBN978-1-4729-7191-3.OCLC1108693604.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^"Classifiche".Musica e Dischi (in Italian).Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. RetrievedJune 7, 2022.Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Formation".
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