Lemonade is Beyoncé’s 2016 album that includes the song “Formation.”
Released on April 23, 2016, Lemonade began as a visual album on HBO and Tidal. It combines music with poetry and film, presenting a chaptered story about grief, anger, betrayal, reconciliation, Black identity, family, and heritage.
The album includes “Formation,” “Sorry,” “Hold Up,” “Daddy Lessons,” and “All Night.” Its visual component was directed by a team including Beyoncé, Kahlil Joseph, Melina Matsoukas, and others. The project drew on Southern imagery and references to African American history and culture.
Lemonade received widespread critical acclaim and earned a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. It is sometimes confused with the self-titled 2013 visual album Beyoncé, but the two projects have different release strategies and themes. Lemonade’s title also connects with the phrase “making lemonade from lemons,” a metaphor for transforming hardship into something constructive.