Rhetorical Analysis of Formation by Beyoncé

Queen B, Beyoncé has been a role model for all women, primarily Black women for a long time. She has always been associated with empowerment. Ever Since Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé's lyrics are instructions for empowerment everywhere. Telling women that we are beautiful, and we should feel powerful from our beauty. We should make our own money. We need to be independent and make our own success. Women should stick together. “Girls run the world.” “C’mon ladies now lets get in formation.”

She sings primarily to black women, which is natural because they bond over the same culture and roots.  She has always been associated with feminism, power and culture. Her music is her movement.  Beyoncé’s song “Formation” is a very creative multimillion-dollar hit made to make a bold statement to all and to make women feel powerful, independent, beautiful, and like they can do anything.

“Formation” was pieced together by using her roots, her family history, clips from New Orleans, significant events in New Orleans and Louisiana from the past, the B.E.A.T., and many other things mixed in with an amazing beat to symbolize her goal of the song. This song shows her power, independence, success, revenge, and her cultural pride. "Formation" speaks out to all women, especially black women who relate to her.

            In her song, Beyoncé sings about her family history and elements of black pride. For example she sings,

“My daddy Alabama, Momma Louisiana 


You mix that negro with that Creole make a Texas bama

I like my baby heir with baby hair and afros

I like my negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils

Earned all this money but they never take the country out me

I got a hot sauce in my bag, swag.”

The purpose of these lyrics is to allude to the pride she holds of her culture. It shows she is not ashamed. Beyoncé is showing off her culture and telling the world she is proud that she is rooted in the southern part of the United States. Another example of allusion in “Formation” is when she says, “I'm so reckless when I rock my Givenchy dress (stylin') I'm so possessive so I rock his Roc necklaces.” Meaning that she has power, Jay-Z is not being possessive of her, it’s her owning him. She shows she doesn’t need a man or a man’s possession, she owns her man. She has the power.

            Another example of allusion is a reference to Bill Gates, Beyoncé says, “You just might be a black Bill Gates in the making, cause I slay
I just might be a black Bill Gates in the making.” This alludes to her being able to make a lot of money and have a lot of success even though she is a black woman.

Another rhetorical strategy used in “Formation” is Juxtaposition. Beyoncé and her Group were in a parking lot wearing short shorts and crop tops then they were shown wearing antebellum-era dresses in a Louisiana mansion. This juxtaposes by showing the evolution and many facets of black culture and femininity.

The rhetorical strategies in “Formation” helps to reveal Beyonce’s pride and confidence in whom she is and the success and difference she has created. It also shows the confidence she has for women all over the world.