The influence of Beyoncé’s Renaissance

I had the pleasure of seeing Beyoncé for the second time on September 11th, 2024 when she performed in Vancouver for the Renaissance world tour.

Last night, I watched her film and I was filled with emotion. What I love most about Beyoncé is her work ethic. She spoke about the challenges that black women face when they are placed in leadership positions. As an artist and a visionary, Beyoncé taught herself all aspects of production. From engineering to sound design to lighting, she understood the terminology used and how each equipment were being utilized. Not only did Beyoncé spent years perfecting her craft as a musician but as a black women in the music industry, it was important to her to understand everything that takes place behind the scenes. We see Beyoncé being gaslit, spoken to condescendingly during the duration of the film. I couldn’t help but wonder how many women of color face these challenges and microagressions every day?

The Renaissance production took 4 years to be built. Beyoncè’s explanation of the process was beautifully done. Throughout the film, we see her constantly uplift her staff and crew members. We witness dancers and singers with different body shapes and diverse backgrounds illuminate the stage with their impeccable performances. We hear about their own personal journeys. The Renaissance film is a wonderful reminder to every artist struggling to stay true to their vision. It’s also equally important to learn how to finance yourself as an independent artist. I hope everyone takes a moment to see this film. It’s safe to say, that Beyoncé is the greatest artist of our generation.