The thirst for a new Beyoncé album was slaked last weekend when the pop sensation dropped Lemonade, her ode to the power of black women. Now, it probably would have been more of a surprise had she not released a teaser clip about its pending arrival at the Home Box Office just a week before. Still, it’s unlikely anyone was prepared for the visual album that broke onto HBO’s shores last Saturday, and has already vanished into the ether, i.e., streaming services Tidal and iTunes (Jay Z knows what he did to lose the exclusive).
The album features collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Jack White, and James Blake, who will presumably share some of the glory with Beyoncé if/when the album is nominated for a Grammy or two next year. But the HBO release of the accompanying videos, including the delightful-yet-destructive romp for “Sorry,” has the pay-cable network ready to put it up for Emmy consideration. Variety reports that HBO will submit Lemonade in the variety special category at this year’s Emmys, which are once again being hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. The Emmys are also familiar territory for Beyoncé, who was previously nominated for her Super Bowl XLVII halftime show, as well as an On The Run Tour performance with Jay Z.
The various videos prominently feature black female athletes, performers, and activists, including Serena Williams, Zendaya, Winnie Harlow, Amandla Stenberg, and Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis. Beyoncé directed Lemonade along with Kahlil Joseph, with some help from “additional directors” Melina Matsoukas, Todd Tourso, Dikayl Rimmasch, Jonas Akerlund and Mark Romanek, who may or may not share the credit come nomination time. But it’s probably safe to assume that an Emmy win will find its way into this crackpot’s theory about Beyoncé’s ulterior motives.