Homecoming: The Live Album

On January 4, 2017, Beyoncé was announced as a headlining act for the April 2017 Coachella festival. However, on February 23, 2017, she postponed her performance until the following year, due to doctor's concerns regarding her pregnancy with twins (born in June 2017). Playing her rescheduled dates in 2018, Beyoncé became the first black woman ever to headline the festival. In its nearly twenty years of existence, the festival has only had two other women solo headliners, Lady Gaga (who replaced Beyoncé in 2017) and Björk (2002 and 2007). Even prior to Beyoncé's performance, the nickname "Beychella" emerged for the 2018 festival. The set sampled Malcolm X and Nina Simone among others. The performance has been credited as paying a strong tribute to the HBCU experience. A full marching band played during much of the set, accompanied by majorette dancers. Writing for Mic.com, Natelegé Whaley stated that the band consisted of members from various HBCUs and played samples of songs that are often played at an HBCU such as "Swag Surf", "Broccoli", and "Back that Azz Up", along with samples of gospel and go-go music. Journalists also noted that the set incorporated various aspects of black Greek life, such as a step show along with strolling by probates (pledges). Reviewers noted the influence of black feminism on Beyoncé's performance, including her sampling of Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED Talk on feminism and the aforementioned appearances on stage of former collaborators Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child as well as her sister Solange; writing in Cosmopolitan, Brittney Cooper read Beyoncé's decision to involve these black women in the landmark performance as a gesture of sisterhood. == Critical reception ==

Homecoming: The Live Album was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, it received a weighted average score of 95, based on 6 reviews. Bernadette Giacomazzo of HipHopDX called the album an "artistically-sound triumph" as well as a "cultural touchstone and, quite possibly, the live album of a generation". Giacomazzo describes that what makes the album "so classic is that Beyoncé makes clear" that she is "Black Excellence, personified — and in her performance, she makes the audience believe that they, too, are Black Excellence personified". Writing for Rolling Stone, Brittany Spanos described the album as "triumphant" and "awe-inspiring". She noticed that the live album successfully felt like a greatest hits collection (reimagined to fit the college homecoming theme and marching band) due to its lack of connection to any specific album. In a review for Pitchfork, Danielle Jackson praised the album as a "stunning" preservation of Beyoncé's Coachella performance, commending its focus on historical black artists. She wrote that the performance showcased Beyoncé at her vocal and physical peak, while celebrating "complex, diasporic blackness". She also applauded the album's mixing and engineering, and concluded that the "wondrous, rapturous collage" could serve as one of Beyoncé's most important albums. AllMusic's reviewer Neil Z. Yeung had similar sentiments, concluding that "Homecoming is a master class in technical prowess, crowd pleasing, and soulful substance. Channeling the spirit of African queen Nefertiti (whose image she adopted for this show), Beyoncé proved to be a ruler in her own right, lording over Coachella for two career-defining nights." == Accolades ==

Homecoming: The Live Album debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200 with 38,000 album-equivalent units (including 14,000 in album sales) from only two days of tracking activity. It is Beyoncé's eighth solo US top 10 album. The following week, it rose to number four, earning 57,000 album-equivalent units (including 8,000 album sales). After the album's release, the studio version of "Before I Let Go" peaked at number 17 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales Chart as well as number 3 on the Billboard R&B Digital Song Sales Chart. In the beginning of May, "Before I Let Go" debuted at number 75 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart issue dated May 4, 2019. It peaked at number 65 in the US Billboard Hot 100 issue dated May 11, 2019. == Legacy ==

Homecoming: The Live Album has been said to have set a trend of musicians releasing albums with complementary film projects on Netflix. Lonely Island's The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience, Thom Yorke's Anima, Sturgill Simpson's Sound & Fury, and Kid Cudi's Entergalactic are all cited as examples of projects that have followed the precedent that Homecoming: The Live Album set. Sheldon Pearce for Pitchfork wrote that Homecoming kickstarted the "ongoing uprising" where "black women have been demanding ownership of their outsized impact on culture"; Jamila Woods' LEGACY! LEGACY! and Rapsody's Eve, as well as exhibitions such as "Black Women: Power and Grace" and "Posing Modernity", are mentioned as later works that constitute the "formative syllabus" that started with Homecoming. Frankie Beverly, who originally sang "Before I Let Go", praised Beyoncé's cover of the song in Homecoming: The Live Album, saying "It's a blessing... She's done so much, this is one of the high points of my life." R&B legend Anita Baker also commented on Beyoncé's cover, describing Beyoncé as "Queen keeping R&B alive". Rolling Stone reported that the famed New Orleans band Rebirth Brass Band "gained new admirers" after Beyoncé sampled their song "Do Whatcha Wanna" on the track "Welcome". Music director Derek Dixie called working on Homecoming: The Live Album a "blessing", adding that being nominated for an Emmy Award means that "I've kind of accomplished something for the home team and family." Dixie also said "It was just months and months of prep work, making it sound authentic. She has tons and tons of classic records that when putting the show together, you have to maintain the classic feel of the record but make it feel like you're in a stadium at homecoming." A 9-feet-tall statue of Beyoncé as seen on the Homecoming: The Live Album cover was unveiled at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin. The "GO FIGURE" data visualization series explored the words and phrases that Beyoncé repeated throughout Homecoming and their impact on the viewer, with Semmi W. writing that Beyoncé "plants seeds of positive self-talk rather than doubt. Whether I was catching the subway or cleaning my apartment, her edict between my ears this weekend was cause for royal jubilee. In under two hours, Queen Bey kept declaring that we are all enough. In 162 sentences she told us to love, hustle, and claim what's yours. She repeatedly affirmed my intrinsic worth as a black girl-turned-adult." Through the tribute to HBCU culture in Homecoming: The Live Album (such as on the track "So Much Damn Swag"), Beyoncé increased people's interest in HBCUs. Students cited Homecoming as the reason that they were considering attending HBCUs, and Google searches for "HBCU" reached an all-time high after Homecoming: The Live Album was released. == Track listing ==

• Credits adapted from Beyoncé's official website. • All songs are produced by Beyoncé and Derek Dixie, except "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing", "So Much Damn Swag (Interlude)", "Bug a Boo Roll Call (Interlude)", "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing (Blue's Version)", which credit no producers, and the bonus tracks, "Before I Let Go" and "I Been On", that were produced by Tay Keith & Beyoncé and Timbaland & Beyoncé, respectively. Notes • "Welcome" contains elements of • "Family Feud", written by Shawn Carter, Dion Wilson, Elbernita Clark and Beyoncé, and performed by Jay Z and Beyoncé; • "Humble", written by Kendrick Lamar, Michael Williams and Asheton Hogan, and performed by Kendrick Lamar; • "Ffun", written by Michael Cooper, and performed by Con Funk Shun; • "Emerald City Sequence", written by Quincy Jones and Charles Smalls, from The Wiz. • "Crazy In Love" contains elements of • "Back That Azz Up", written and performed by Terius Gray, Dwayne Carter and Byron Thomas; • "Dance (Ass)", written by Sean Anderson, Marcos Palacios, Ernest Clark, Marlyn Banks, Alonzo Miller, Stanley Kirk Burrell, Rick James, and performed by Big Sean. • "Freedom" contains elements of • "Let Me Try", written by Frank Tirado, and performed by Kaleidoscope; • "Collection Speech/Unidentified Lining Hymn" and "Stewball", from Alan Lomax and John Lomax Sr., performed by Prisoner "22" at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman; • "Down for My N's", written by Awood Johnson, Calvin Broadus, Corey Miller, Craig Lawson, and performed by C-Murder, Snoop Dogg and Magic. • "Sorry" contains" elements of • "Me, Myself and I", written by Beyoncé, Scott Storch and Robert Waller, and performed by Beyoncé. • "Bow Down" contains elements of • "Sorry", written by Beyoncé, Sean Rhoden and Diana Gordon, and performed by Beyoncé; • "Crown", written by Shawn Carter, Jacques Webster, Mike Dean, Kirk Bennett, Ebony Naomi Oshunrinde, Miguel Orlando Collins and Bobby Dixon, and performed by Jay Z. • "I Been On" contains elements of • "Plan B", written by Craig Bazile, Percy Miller and Mia Young, and performed by Master P. • "Drunk In Love" contains elements of • "Irreplaceable", written by Shaffer Smith, Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Hermansen, Beyoncé, Amund Bjørklund and Espen Lind, and performed by Beyoncé; • "Swag Surfin'", written by Alviticus Bryant, Jared Rice, Keishaun Watts, Kevin Michael Erondu, Michael Gordon Jr. and Sedarius Spearman, and performed by Fast Life Yungstaz; • "Rocket", written by Beyoncé, Miguel Jontel Pimentel, Timothy Mosley and Justin Timberlake, and performed by Beyoncé; • "Lilac Wine", written by James Shelton for the 1950 Broadway musical Dance Me a Song. • "Diva" contains elements of • "Headlines", written by Aubrey Graham, Anthony Palman, Matthew Samuels, Noah Shebib, and performed by Drake; • "Everybody Mad", written and performed by O.T. Genasis; • "Dirt off Your Shoulder", written by Shawn Carter and Timothy Mosley, and performed by Jay Z. • “Flawless / Feeling Myself” contains elements of • "SpottieOttieDopaliscious", written by Andre Benjamin, Antwan Patton and Patrick Brown, and performed by OutKast; • “Trophies”, written by Aubrey Graham, Chauncey Hollis Jr., Noah Shebib, Marvin Thomas, Raymond Martin, Bernard Gérard, Sharon Abshire, and performed by Drake; • “Bugatti”, written Antoine McColister, William Leonard Roberts II, Nayvadius Wilburn, Michael Williams and DJ Khaled, and performed by Ace Hood, Future and Rick Ross; • “*wokeuplikethis”, written by Jordan Carter, Symere Woods and Jordan Jenks, and performed by Playboi Carti and Lil Uzi Vert; • “Awwsome”, written by Marquis King and Manuel Alvarenga, and performed by Shy Glizzy; • "Crown", written by Shawn Carter, Jacques Webster, Mike Dean, Kirk Bennett, Ebony Naomi Oshunrinde, Miguel Orlando Collins & Bobby Dixon, and performed by Jay Z. • "7/11" contains elements of • "Jumpman", written by Aubrey Graham, Leland Tyler Wayne and Nayvadius Wilburn, and performed by Drake and Future. • "Bug a Boo Roll Call" contains elements of • "Shining", written by DJ Khaled, Beyoncé, Shawn Carter, Floyd Hills, Jahron Brathwaite, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and performed by DJ Khaled, Beyoncé and Jay Z; • "Ave Maria", written by Amanda Ghost, Beyoncé, Ian Dench, Makeba Riddick, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, and performed by Beyoncé; • "Work It Out", written by Beyoncé, Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, and performed by Beyoncé. • "Don't Hurt Yourself" contains elements of • "When the Levee Breaks", written by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham, and performed by Led Zeppelin. • "Mi Gente" contains elements of • "Standing On The Sun", written by Sia Furler, Greg Kurstin, Beyoncé, Noel Fisher, Brian Soko, Rasool Diaz and Andre Eric Proctor, and performed by Beyoncé and Mr. Vegas; • "Mine", written by Noah Shebib, Aubrey Graham, Beyoncé, Jordan Ullman, Sidney Brown and Dwane Weir, and performed by Beyoncé and Drake. • "Baby Boy" contains elements of • "Fever", written by Adidja Azim Palmer, Linton Timajae White and Mario Dunwell, and performed by Vybz Kartel; • "Freaks", written by Quame Riley and Douglas Davis, and performed by Vicious. • "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" contains elements of • "Bam Bam", written by Ophlin Russell and Wiston Riley, and performed by Sister Nancy. • “Hold Up” contains elements of • “Maps”, written by Brian Chase, Karen Orzolek and Nick Zinner, and performed by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs; • "Can't Get Used to Losing You", written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, performed by Andy Williams; • "Turn My Swag On", written by DeAndre Way, Antonio Randolph and Kelvin McConnell, performed by Soulja Boy. • "Countdown" contains elements of • "Uhh Ahh", written by Michael Bivins, Nathan Morris and Wanya Morris, and performed by Boyz II Men; • "Broccoli", written by Shelley Massenburg-Smith, Miles McCollum, Rogét Chahayed, Karl Rubin and Julian Gramma, and performed by DRAM and Lil Yachty. • “Déjà Vu” contains elements of • “Zombie”, written and performed by Fela Kuti; • “Soul Makossa”, written and performed by Manu Dibango; • “Green Light”, written by Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams and Garrett Hamler, and performed by Beyoncé; • "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)...", written by Shawn Carter, Levar Coppin, Deleno Matthews and Sean Combs, and performed by Jay Z, which itselfs samples “Make the World by Walking”, written by Thomas Brenneck, Michael Deller, Leon Michels, Dave Guy, Bosco Mann, Homer Steinweiss, and performed by Menahan Street Band. • "The Bzzzz Drumline" contains elements of • "Ego", written by Harold Lilly Jr., Elvis Williams and Beyoncé, and performed by Beyoncé; • "No More Play in G.A.", written and performed by Pastor Troy; • "Hay", written by George Clinton, Ralph Leverston, Corey Johnson, Marrico King, Wondosas Martin, Grace Hazel, and performed by Crucial Conflict. • "Run The World (Girls)" includes elements of • "Pon de Floor", written by Thomas Pentz, David Taylor, Nick van de Wall and Adidja Azim Palmer, and performed by Major Lazor, Vybz Kartel and Afrojack; • "Can You Feel It", written by Michael Jackson and Jackie Jackson, and performed by The Jacksons; • "Why Don't You Love Me", written by Angela Beyince, Beyoncé, Solange Knowles, Jesse Rankins, Eddie Smith III, Jonathan Wells, and performed by Beyoncé. • "Lose My Breath" contains elements of • "Girl", written by Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Patrick Douthit, Sean Garrett, Angela Beyincé, Don Davis and Eddie Robinson, and performed by Destiny's Child. • "Soldier" contains elements of • "California Love", written by Tupac Shakur, Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Mikel Hooks, Norman Durham, Ronald Hudson, Woody Cunningham, Joe Cocker, Chris Stainton and James Anderson, and performed by 2Pac and Dr. Dre; • "U Don't Know", written by Shawn Carter, Justin Gregory Smith and Bobby Byrd, and performed by Jay Z. • "Get Me Bodied" contains elements of • "Drag Rap (Triggerman)", written by Orville Hall and Phillip Price, and performed by Showboys; • "It's Goin' Down", written by Chadron Moore and Jasiel Robinson, and performed by Young Loc. • "Love On Top" contains elements of • "Ffun", written by Michael Cooper, and performed by Con Funk Shun. == Personnel ==

Production • Beyoncé Knowles-Carter – live performance direction, executive production, music direction • Derek Dixie – music direction, music mixing engineering, post audio engineering • Teresa LaBarbera – audio production supervision • Mariel Gomerez – music coordination • Stuart White – music mixing engineering, post audio engineering • Daniel Pampuri – recording engineering • Lester Mendoza – music mixing engineering, recording engineering, post audio engineering • Eric Hoffman – post audio engineering • Daniel Pampun – assistant engineering • Scott Kramer – assistant engineering • Colin Leonard – mastering • Kevin "Kwiz" Ryan – live performance audio engineering, recording engineering Instrumentation Band • Simone Bozyermini • Janee Dixon • Chris Gray • Arnetta Johnson • Chris Johnson • Corbin Jones • Marie Katre • Ariel O'Neal • Peter Ortega • Lauren Robinson • Crystal Torres • Rie Tsuji • Lessie Vonner • Venzella Joy Williams • Vidie Williams The Bzzzz (drumline live) • Rasaq Adeyemi • Larry Allen • Mathew Ashraf • Jacques Bell • Alex Blake • Tallie Brinson • Issac Carter • Kadeem Chambers • Brandon Cunningham • Jalen Harvey • Rashaad Horne • Keir Garner • Dasmyn Grigsby • Michael Jones • Giovanni Luevano • Lomario Marchman • Maurice Mosley • Naderah Munajj • Joey Oakly • Sjoerd Onley • Ralph Nadar • Jason Price • Loubins Richard • Erin Robinson • Travord Rolle • Brian Snell • Nathaniel Spencer • Sean Torres • Wayne Westley Background Vocals • Tiffanie Cross • Jasmin Cruz • Steve Epting • Naarai Jacobs • Jamal Moore • Dwanna Orange • Kiandra Richardson • Tiffany Moníque Ryan (assistant vocal arranger, lead background vocalist/ choir director) • Jerome Wayne • Chimera Wilson • Cameron Wright • George Young Strings • Crystal Alforque • Nathalie Barret-Mas • Amber Camp • Jasmin Charles • Rhea Hosanny • Jessica Mcjunkins • Ezinma • Chala Yancy • Crystal Brooke == Charts ==

Weekly charts Year-end charts == Certifications ==