Page 30 - aruba-today-20190430

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Tuesday 30 april 2019
New doc shows how Beyoncé changed Coachella, forever

By MESFIN FEKADU mances — giving the audi- people who look like you
Associated Press ence a rousing, terrific and on large screens.
Beyoncé is extremely pri- new show highlighted by a Beyoncé speaks, too, say-
vate, and only lets you full marching band, major- ing that she dreamed of at-
know what she wants you ette dancers, steppers and tending an HBCU, though
to know, when she wants more that is the norm at his- she explains: "My college
you to know it — typically, torically black colleges and was Destiny's Child."
in a surprise post be it on universities (HBCUs). She also says the impor-
her website or Instagram. The film takes it a step fur- tance of her Coachella
But throughout the years, ther to showcase what was performance was to bring
she's slightly cracked open happening to get to the "our culture to Coachella"
her door to reveal parts of historic moment: you see and highlight "everyone
This image released by Netflix shows Beyonce in a scene from her life and personality — a mother bouncing back that had never seen them-
her documentary "Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé." apart from what she gives from giving birth to twins via selves represented."
Associated Press through strong singing an emergency C-section; So many people were
and extraordinary dance an African American wom- represented during those
moves — to help remind us an embracing her family's performances last April
that though she is epic and history and paying tribute — her stage was packed
flawless, she is still mortal. to black college culture with about 200 performers,
"HOMECOMING: A film and honoring black art; from dancers to singers to
by Beyoncé," which pre- and the world's No. 1 pop band and orchestra play-
miered Wednesday on star defying the odds yet ers. Beyoncé kicked of the
Netflix, captures the hu- again and pushing herself performance dressed like
man side of the superstar to new heights, creating an African queen, walking
singer with behind-the- an even wider space be- up the stage as the jazzy,
scenes, intimate moments tween herself and whoever soulful big band sound of
of a mother, wife and artist is No. 2. New Orleans is played. Af-
tirelessly working on what's Simply put, Beyoncé ter letting her dancers and
already become one of changed Coachella — backing band shine, she
most iconic musical per- forever — and perform- emerges again, this time
formances of all-time: Be- ing after her is like trying to dressed down — like a stu-
yoncé's headlining show at out-ace Serena Williams or dious, eager, hopeful col-
the 2018 Coachella Valley dunk better than Michael lege student.
Music and Arts Festival. Jordan: You won't win. The musical direction and
The performance marked Woven into the film are song selection flows effort-
the first time a black wom- audio soundbites from lessly and was purposely
an headlined the famed popular figures to help nar- crafted to tell a story: the
festival and made Beyon- rate the story: Nina Simone first song is 2003's "Crazy In
cé just the third woman to speaks about blackness, Love," a massively success-
score the gig, behind Bjork Maya Angelou talks about ful No. 1 hit and her first
and Lady Gaga. Beyoncé truth, and Tessa Thompson apart from Destiny's Child.
took on the role seriously — and Danai Gurira explain Young, gifted and black,
as she does all live perfor- the importance of seeing indeed.q

Josh Ritter's 'Fever Breaks' is

especially engaging

a work of stacked marvels, fused environment — "And
the result of an auspicious I can't see the lighthouse/
collaboration with Jason Is- And the lighthouse can't
bell — who also produced scream."
— and his band, the 400 An unrelenting acoustic
Unit. guitar underscores the in-
In places raw, chilling and tensity of "On the Water,"
emphatic, while sensitive which urges its target to
and compassionate in oth- make their long-distance
ers, the 10 songs cover mur- relationship an intimate
der, love and politics while one, while the thirsting "I Still
This cover image released by ruminating on the wonders Love You (Now and Then)"
Pytheas Recordings/Thirty Ti-
gers shows "Fever Breaks," a and burdens of our exis- recalls an old flame who is
release by Josh Ritter. tence and its expiry date. far from extinguished in his
Associated Press Opener "Ground Don't heart.
Want Me" is a brisk-paced Protest songs have ben-
By PABLO GORONDI story of murder and a frus- efited from the age of so-
Associated Press trated search for rest, if not cial media — which has
Josh Ritter, "Fever Breaks" redemption. It is followed expanded their reach —
(Pytheas Recordings/Thirty by "Old Black Magic," while also having to over-
Tigers) where piles of guitars help come short attention spans
Josh Ritter's "Fever Breaks" is illustrate the blinding, con- and sensory overload. q