Beyoncé released “Formation” in 2016, with a video depicting a New Orleans parade.
The song was released as a surprise single on February 6, 2016, one day before Beyoncé performed at the Super Bowl 50 halftime show. Its video, directed by Melina Matsoukas, uses imagery associated with New Orleans, including Creole culture, Hurricane Katrina, police confrontation, and Black Southern identity.
“Formation” later appeared on Lemonade, Beyoncé’s 2016 visual album. Its lyrics and imagery made it one of her most explicitly political and culturally focused major singles. The recording won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video and Best Rap/Sung Performance in 2017.
The video’s New Orleans setting is sometimes reduced to a generic Southern backdrop, but specific references include the city’s architecture, Mardi Gras Indian traditions, and the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina.