Beyoncé’s music has been sweeping the nation for over a decade, inspiring many people to follow their dreams by looking within themselves and finding true power. “PURE/HONEY” and “Formation” are very similar songs in the way Beyoncé inspires us to go after what we want in life and preaches self-love. However, while, “PURE/HONEY” focuses more on being a leader and a motivator, “Formation,” on the other hand, concentrates on self-love and not denying who you are.
The intro to “PURE/HONEY” starts with a melody you must hear when you see people bumping their heads up and down in unison. This puts me in the mindset that I should be focused, and I’m about to be educated. In addition, the beginning lyrics of “Check my technique” reveal a dominant tone, expressing that I should take notes. The following beats and lyrics discussing music encourage me to become a leader in my own life; this transition provides that student-to-teacher feel and adds a refreshing sense of feminism in music.
Like “PURE/HONEY,” “Formation” starts with a feeling that demands your attention. However, as the beats get faster, it becomes a song that encourages movement that allows you to feel your body in a way that shows your love for it. Yes, she does call for “ladies to get in formation,” giving that mentor/mentee relationship feel. Yet, when she continues, the hardcore melody gives off an energy that the women she is singing to are not to be trifled with. This was built from the song’s beginning when Beyoncé talks about embracing her best Black self and how she wouldn’t stop loving those parts of herself no matter how famous she gets. It empowers me with enough self-love to believe that I don’t have to hate the parts of myself that people might look down upon, but, instead, allow myself to flourish in them because that’s just who I am, and it makes me a baddie.
“I don’t have to hate the parts of myself that people might look down upon.”
Tiyrah Miller
Although both songs provide the same advising type of feel, their meanings slightly differ. “PURE/HONEY” explicitly explains how we all need people to inspire us — that way, we can inspire others. That leadership provided in the “PURE/HONEY” is also evident in “Formation”; however, in “Formation”, it’s used to teach women how to love themselves instead of just preaching lessons and ideology presented by Beyoncé.