A BlackBiird on A Rainy Day

My thoughts on creativity, authenticity, and Beyonce's new joint.

It’s daytime and raining here. I’m sitting on my bed with a freshly braided head. I had added curls to the ends this time, so you know I’m fully in my black woman bliss. Beyonce is playing.

First, AMERIICAN REQUIEM. WOW! Anticipation and excitement set in.

Then, BLACKBIIRD and I stopped. I stopped right at BLACKBIIRD and tears immediately fell. The mixture of, not only Beyonce but of Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts, ALL black women, singing an iconic Beatles song. This was a little too much for my cancer girl heart to take. I replayed the song about 5 times after that first listen and each time, I grew more and more invested with its art.

Beyonce’s artistic mind is nothing short of genius.

Let us unpack it first for context, the song, the Beatles originally sang, Blackbird, was written about, to quote Paul McCartney, himself: “…A black woman, rather than a bird. Those were the days of the civil rights movement, which all of us cared passionately about, so this was really a song from me to a black woman, experiencing these problems in the States: 'Let me encourage you to keep trying, to keep your faith, there is hope.' As is often the case with my things, a veiling took place so, rather than say 'Black woman living in Little Rock' and be very specific, she became a bird, became symbolic, so you could apply it to your particular problem.". Paul would introduce the song during their "Driving USA" tour, explaining that the word "bird" was British slang for "girl," meaning that the song was really about a "black girl."

The Beatles credited early influence to many black musicians; starting their career covering artists like Little Richard and Chuck Berry. They wouldn’t be here without black music.

Imagine living in the 60s, a heavy time for civil rights, and this song comes out. This was huge! Writing a song about discrimination and racism during such a bleeding time in our history and it becoming an icon for then Beyonce to cover it and make it her own is a perfect full circle moment.

Now let’s take a closer look at Beyonce’s mind as an artist. She and 4 other black women sing a song about encouraging black women to keep hope and persevere. Though, I am not one for the stereotype of the strong black woman (because rest my good sis), WHO DOESN’T LOVE a song of encouragement?

Beyonce essentially made the black women's version of the Beatles. She chose Adell, Spencer, Kennedy, and Roberts, who all are artists in a white-dominated music genre, and blended perfectly together with them to create, BLACKBIIRD.

How beautiful! How artistic!

What a way to honor yourself, honor history, and honor art. As a black woman and artist, I am inspired deeply. The research this took, the execution, the creativity, and the showcase of other artists are the epitome of what I value when I work on or ingest art. Seeing Beyonce do that in this song and throughout the entire album of Cowboy Carter has lit a fire inside. The fire of authenticity and staying true to myself and my roots is burning ferociously.

That is what art is supposed to do right?

Invoke emotion, inspire change or beauty or empathy and hope, motivate. Beyonce always seems to do that and from one black girl to another, I am always so grateful.

Anyway, here is a poem I wrote inspired by BLACKBIIRD: