Lemonade includes “Formation,” which was released as the album’s lead single.
Beyoncé released “Formation” on February 6, 2016, and performed it during the Super Bowl 50 halftime show the following day. The song’s lyrics and video address Black identity, Southern culture, police violence, and resilience, making it one of Beyoncé’s most discussed recordings.
Lemonade followed on April 23, 2016, as Beyoncé’s sixth studio album. It was released alongside an hour-long film on HBO and combines elements of R&B, pop, rock, blues, country, and soul.
The album received critical acclaim and was nominated for Album of the Year at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. “Formation” is sometimes treated as a standalone political anthem, but it is also the opening track of Lemonade and a key part of the album’s visual and thematic structure.