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Jay-Z, Beyonce imagine daughter as US leader in new video
NEW YORK, Dec 30, 2017 (BSS/AFP) – President Blue Ivy Carter? Music power
couple Jay-Z and Beyonce have imagined their daughter as a transformative US
leader in a new video.
Blue Ivy, who turns six on January 7, is depicted as leading an all-female
constitutional convention in 2050 in a video released Friday for her father’s
song “Family Feud.”
The video — shot by “Selma” director Ava DuVernay, one of the most
prominent African-American women in Hollywood — tells a story with echoes of
“Game of Thrones” and Shakespearean tragedy as it depicts a futuristic
conflict.
The plot cuts back to 2050 as “America’s founding mothers” — a cheeky
take on the “founding fathers” who established the US political system —
passionately debate whether to preserve the constitution’s Second Amendment,
which protects the right to bear arms.
The women needed to revise the constitution at a time “when some thought
that making America great meant making us afraid of each other,” a descendant
is heard saying — in an unmistakable critique of President Donald Trump and
his campaign slogan.
The convention ends with a forceful appeal from the meeting’s leader:
“America is a family, and the whole family should be free.”
The descendant mentions wisdom she learned from her father — and her
identity becomes clear as the story shifts to the year 2018 and the real-life
Blue Ivy is seen with Jay-Z in church.
Jay-Z then opens his song, appearing as if he is giving confession as
Beyonce — sporting robes and a cap resembling the miter worn by Catholic
cardinals — dances about.
“Family Feud” does not explicitly depict Blue Ivy as president, but the
video quickly sparked chatter online.
“President Blue Ivy 2050. #FamilyFeud. I’ll be 79 when I cast this vote,”
hip-hop drummer and producer Questlove wrote on Twitter.
The song appeared on Jay-Z’s Grammy-nominated album “4:44,” in which the
rapper acknowledged infidelity to Beyonce, although “Family Feud” lyrically
looks largely at his place in hip-hop.
Jay-Z and Beyonce, who together are worth an estimated $1 billion, have
been increasingly outspoken about their left-leaning political views and are
friendly with former president Barack Obama.
The “Family Feud” video, which appears only on Jay-Z’s Tidal streaming
platform, features cameos by multiple film and television stars including
Jessica Chastain, America Ferrera, Rashida Jones, Mindy Kaling and Brie
Larson.
BSS/AFP/MRI/ 0948 hrs