Some days, I just love how extra Beyonce is. It’s not enough that Queen B deigned to lend her voice to The Lion King. It’s not enough that she sang a new song for the soundtrack. It’s not enough that she’s front and center for all of the promotional materials. It’s not even enough that she’s creating a new African-music-infused album adjacent to The Lion King’s release. No, she also had to go to Africa to film the music video for the new single, “Spirit,” and she had to bring dozens of dancers and dozens of costume changes and y’all know she brought her wind machine to the Serengeti too. Behold, the music video for “Spirit.”
As I said last week, I actually like the song. Is it the best bop ever? No, but that’s not what it’s supposed to be. It’s supposed to be Lion King-themed and sort of spiritual too. And it’s nice. The video is SO over-the-top though, I love it. How many costume changes did she have? How many new dances did she work on? Was Blue Ivy’s hair only temporarily dyed? That waterfall was CGI, right? Anyway, I love it. Give her the Oscar! Seriously, I hope Beyonce is nominated for Best Song and I hope she wins. And I hope she decides that next year’s Oscars should be presented in Tanzania, just so can perform the song as intended.
Update: So it looks like she filmed this in Arizona? ALL of it? Or just parts of it? Oh well, I’m not changing it!
Screencaps courtesy of ‘Spirit’.
I think it’s important to say the job for this song was to be reminiscent, but not derivative of the impeccable and legendary Elton John’s Circle of Life. And this is exceptionally well done, so I am truly impressed by her work.
The video was shot in Arizona, not the Serengeti, Serengeti for one is a grassland and none of the desert scenes. There are even photos online of people seeing her in Arizona.
The clear blue waters and waterfall were filmed at Havasupai Falls, on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, in Arizona.
Agreed, the beautiful waterfall is in the Havasupai Indian reservation. The filmed there just last week, there were pictures online. And it is just as amazing as it looks.
The video’s fantastic. I just wish the song was as good.
To me it sounds like the kind of generic song Disney uses for their straight to DVD sequels.
The video is incredibly beautiful. The song wasn’t that enjoyable for me, but oh well!
Boring.
Yep!
Found one!
@OSLO you first hun. Because I’ve never said that. Ever. But what I DO find interesting about people who hate Beyonce is that it’s almost always white women. Perhaps people should ask themselves why they find her so triggering. Because it’s almost never about them just not liking her music. Now have a thousand seats.
They can’t handle black excellence. Not exclusive to yt women though. I know a few POC that are side eye worthy in their Bey criticism. (not in the Hive, lol)
I don’t hate Beyonce at all. I enjoy her music, and she seems like a very nice, sweet person. But the she-walks-on-water-and-can-do-no-wrong thing is major eye-roll inducing. I just don’t see what’s so special. And the idea that she’s above any and all criticism (even just finding it boring) is a bit too much for me. The perfectly curated life is weird to me.
I do think the smartest thing she ever did was stop giving interviews, though. That’s when her “mystique” really kicked in.
very boring except for the nice costumes. found the wildlife shots kind of inartfully spliced in at random intervals clunky. nice to hear her singing in her lower register though.
Yes, quite dull.
I heard that she also filmed in the Grand Canyon, but don’t hold me to it. The word came from TMZ and I don’t always find them reliable.
They had a video of her filming the waterfall scene, so yeah they were right with this one.
@Maddy Thanks for the input. Glad I wasn’t mistaken!
Havasupai Falls, near Grand Canyon.
@Meeee, thanks so much for the info!
Cue the triggered haters in 5…4…3…and we’re off.
They’re so thirsty.
I think they could have done a lot better with the choreography at certain points especially during her soaring swelling vocals. And those steps Beyoncé does in that green dress, are they some African dance steps because they resemble Kathak puspads (the mudra or handgesture that involve twisting around the wrists resembling flowers blooming common in Kathak, an Indian classical dance)?
I don’t think she would get nominated for the Oscars. She might win a Grammy, those runs are crystal clear and her voice, she is so damn underrated as a vocalist, just imagine Adele or someone with a conventionally pretty tone with her skill and technique. She is one of the best vocalists ever. But those lyrics are too simplistic and the song is not particularly melodic and the production is not as good, compared to say Listen from Dreamgirls.
@Udi The visuals are amazing, and Beyonce’s instrument is golden, which makes the song even more disappointing
But Queen B is being so nice. The Beyhive is properly fed and nourished. A new album, interviews, premiere pics, music videos, a movie. And she got 4 Emmy nominations out of 6 Beychella/Homecoming was nominated for. We are so happy!!!!!
I love Beyonce’s music and a few years ago decided to just claim my fan status instead of being a hater BUT I don’t quite like this as a whole. I liked seeing Blue, I liked some of the choreography, and….that was about it. The vocals were good but the lyrics are not. The lyrics are mediocre.
I’m with you. It’s a sweet Disney song-not a Beyoncé song.
it’s a mega video, but I feel she took some notes from Solange. Go yell at me but I see it. Also, how can they not have a better crane total than the one with a guy tripping in a shot in the blue dance scene? It’s a lovely video all in all and total Oscar song. Queen better get it.
I was just gonna say the video looks like it was directed by Solange!
Yep. Solange did similar things in her videos from A seat at the Table, specifically the dance sequences with female dancers and the similar costumes with weird details (like the attached at the hip sleeves.) Beyonce does sound good–and Blue looks more like a Knowles every year, I think.
Song is ok. I love her huskier and lower vocals. B and Blue looked beautiful and I loved the makeup and dresses – so colorful. I wished she danced more vs sexy posing.
Vocally and visually beautiful.
The song has grown on me after a few listens. I LOVE the video, esp the colour palette and they way it contrasted with the background/location. It was beautifully shot and worked well with the clips from the movie. She is def gunning for an Oscar nom.
I love it!!! I LOVE HER! Im here for Lion King and everything that comes with it! This year has been amazing for Beyonce and im so hopeful she”ll win an EGOT soon!
Meh. The visuals from the actual movie are gorgeous, but the song is just OK and I think the scenes that are designed to showcase her sexuality are not appropriate. This could have been a better video sans her unnecessary writhing in a suggestive manner.
No, it’s fine, she’s just got curves and is unapologetically feminine. Nothing she did in that video was A Distraction or damaging 4 children or anyone who isn’t a prude. A 4-year-old could watch this video.
Agree with Otaku fairy here. I don’t see sexy here at all–she’s gorgeous and voluptuous, but there’s no suggestive content.
I like the video, but I got annoyed with the cut-ins of the Lion King remake. I know that’s why we have the song in the first place, but the movie looks so disappointing, I would’ve stayed with her and her dancers for the whole thing.
Some people don’t know what they are looking at and others are being deliberately obtuse. Yes, it is a commercial music video – but infused with very significant deep symbolism and culture in the form of Orishas, Ashe and Ubuntu, linking elements from many African cultures, including spirituality that was adapted and survived through the violence of the middle passage. Don’t even get me started on the intergenerational love with her baby at her side.
Wow. Thank you for this post!
Your welcome. Also – pop culture constantly references the continent of Africa as a wild space devoid of people. Lots of cartoons with talking animals, or stories with white people exploring the “wilds”. The video centers people of African descent and links them to their own spirituality and notions of humanity.
They sure don’t, just like they didn’t understand what she was doing with her Coachella set. It doesn’t stop them from tripping over themselves to let everyone know how unimpressed they are and to complain about Blue Ivy being in the video. 🙄
1) The chorus is so rhythmic and catchy….I can already hear my daughters signing it constantly already! lol.
2) Wow, the dancers and the dance scenes…..I could watch all day everyday, there is just something about those movements that are soooo captivating.
3) I hear Beyonce being a little bit more versatile with her signing range….its ok I guess, not mind blown about it or anything.
4) And yes, I agree with someone up thread that said the cut a ways to the Lion King movie was a bit much, would have been nicer (for me) if they focused on the dancers and the visuals from the music video.
5) I saw the Lion King when I was a younger, looking forward to seeing this remake with my kiddos!
I don’t get why they couldn’t have filmed the video in Africa? Africa is known for its beautiful sceneries and animals.
Song is a bit boring and I like Speechless a lot better.
Beyoncé looked gorgeous though.
I feel like there is this new trend of poor enunciation in singing and it’s so strange. Maybe it’s a new thing in sound design, akin to the “loudness wars” of the early 2000s. I can’t understand what she’s saying, and it’s only happened here, not with Lemonade or previous albums. Same issue with Ariana Grande, Adele, Imagine Dragons, etc… it’s so bizarre. And before y’all wanna get snarky with me, i did have my hearing checked and it’s just fine.
I agree with you and am always grateful when there is a lyrics video so I can learn the words. lol Love Beyonce and think this song and video will do well. She’s such a talented artist.
I thought it was an ok song but the video was nice. Beyonce is a special entertainer and I love her power, even if I’m not a fan. Blue is so beautiful!
Blue really is !
Can someone explain to me how this new Lion King movie is “live action”??? There are no humans in it. It’s all CGI…how is that live action ?
I cried. ❤️
I found the song to be underwhelming but the visuals are beautiful. I am looking forward to her upcoming album with artists from different African countries. Can’t wait to hear the songs she did with my people Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, Yemi Alade etc.
I think the video is visually stunning. Can’t wait to see The Lion King. The original came out when I was pregnant with my first child and I remember how much I loved the movie.
Arizona is the new Africa I guess? Not impressed, and why does she need to throw her kid into the spotlight?
PSaltaaaaaay!!!
@cherrie The beyhive attacks are embarrassing and pointless. Not everyone worships Beyonce.
I am not a worshipper of Beyonce or Jay-Z, never seen her in concert, don’t know any of her songs, but I thought this video was beautiful and the song totally appropriate for the movie. It actually moved me.
Did I like it? No, I loved it. Just in 2:45 I was all in awe with the high part of the song and then… she lower it down, lol. Like the thread says, it’s not iconic or unique, but it’s outstanding still.
She’s fantastic but this was underwhelming.
Havasupai Falls here in AZ! Friend of mine was there while she was filming.
There are several parts that were filmed in California. Those are rocks in apple valley.