Lemonade

It's what we make when life throws lemon at us. And the recipe, perfected by Beyoncé in her album, Lemonade.

Lemonade, Lemonade, where do I begin? I was moved, empowered by this collection of songs. Hearing the album was one. Watching it was far more emotional. Beyoncé has justified why it is called a "visual album" and to hear her thoughts before each song make it all the more powerful. Knowing the underlying story behind the song, so unabashed, so audacious, Lemonade makes you want to grab your life and set it together at the very instant. Her songs are anthems that will pulsate through you long after you've stopped playing it. Especially, Formation, my personal favourite from the album; "slay trick or get eliminated." Here she sings that women are capable of anything and can take up the role of a man today. I am in love with the power beats of this song. Loop all the way! All Night is next thanks to the intro given to the video version of the song, it's indescribable when she says "the audience applauds, but we can't hear them."

Lemonade reeks of feminism in many of its songs. It is not an album for everybody, not even for every woman; it is not easy to stomach. It is an album by a woman who proudly flaunts her culture, celebrates her roots and comes out shining. Beyoncé is at her rawest and has echoed the struggles of so many women over the years, the ones who listen find a part of themselves somewhere in this 60 odd minute work of art.

Yes, a work of art. It's unfortunate she only got a Grammy for Urban Contemporary album. Lemonade is experimental, it has broken barriers in music, it spans genres, the songs open with a heart rending poem and it can be called brazen as it is so far from mainstream music (the likes of Adele). It wholeheartedly deserved awards but perhaps not from a possibly cowardly jury of this year who continue to furnish Adele and her rehashed formula of doleful songs. She is an excellent singer but she has been doing it for years but there's no growth, no change. And the Grammys seem to love tradition. C'est la vie?

The times are rough with xenophobics ruling nations and Lemonade stands out ever so significantly, exhorting you to be true to your roots, your principles and your struggles and brandish it to the world, wildly and honestly. Quoting Beyoncé from All Night, "...nothing real can be threatened."