Beyonce had us losing our breath last weekend, as she made history as the first woman of colour to headline the infamous Coachella festival. She accomplished this all before giving us the reunion we were hoping for, taking the stage with her Destiny’s Child band mates.
While the festival takes over Instagram feeds every year with flower crowns, palm trees, and the Queen of Coachella, Vanessa Hudgens, this year is all about Queen Bey.
Beyonce brought former band mates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams on stage during her star set at the Coachella festival just outside of Palm Springs desert, California on Saturday.
The three started their surprise recital with a medley of their early 2000’s hit Lose My Breath, following with Say My Name and Soldier.
It’s the first time they have sung together on stage since the Stellar Gospel Music Awards in 2015. The already iconic show took on militia subject matter, commencing with a brassy performance of Beyonce’s 2003 hit Crazy in Love played by a fully ensemble band. It started with the horns: trumpets, trombones, sousaphones and for most of the night, the superstar was backed by the ecstatic marching band.
This wasn’t a quick moment out on stage for Beyonce. The set, which took place for two hours, was a visual and theatrical masterpiece, incorporating inspirational quotes from civil rights advocate Malcolm X and feminist author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, as well as samples of Nina Simone.
“Thank you for letting me be the first black woman to headline Coachella,” said Beyonce on Saturday night.
“Ain’t that ’bout a bitch?”
Coachella has had a long running history, taking place for the last 19 years. One third of this year’s line up is female and it may go without saying that this has been a long time coming, but nothing could have prepared the Beyhive for the visual spectacle filled with fiery attitude, groundbreaking musical performances, and dazzling showmanship.
After postponing last year’s Coachella appearance due to her pregnancy, this year’s festival marked her first live performance since giving birth to twins Rumi and Sir Carter last June.
“I was supposed to perform at Coachella before, but I ended up getting pregnant,” she explained to the crowd of diehard fans who exchanged knowing laughter and cheers.
“So I had time to dream, and dream, and dream with two beautiful souls in my belly,” she continued, “and I dreamed up this performance.”
Some megastars prize simplicity, however Beyoncé showcases her work — the cameras captured the power and fortitude in her dancing, and also her sweat. This is a woman who works for it.
As Beyoncé’s artistry has matured, she’s been making music that’s increasingly visceral, both emotionally and historically. She is one of the only working pop stars who need not preoccupy herself with prevailing trends, or the work of her peers.
