It was difficult to imagine exactly how Beyoncé would insert herself into the Super Bowl halftime show after surprise-releasing the video for her new single, “Formation.” (If you haven’t watched it yet, now is the time.) The video is everything the halftime show historically has not been: politically charged, visually daring, sexy, confrontational, revelling in Southern black femininity. Here was Beyoncé, forcibly rejecting the milquetoast white center of popular culture before planning a visit to what has been, in many years, its main stage, as a guest of her friend Chris Martin. Would she provide a necessary disruption at the Super Bowl, or would she temper her message for America’s sake?
