Be Alive

Album: King Richard soundtrack (2021)
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Songfacts®:

  • "Be Alive" is an anthemic ballad that plays over the end credits of King Richard. The biographical drama film chronicles the story of Richard Williams, the father and tennis coach of Venus and Serena Williams. The song contains inspirational and empowering lyrics radiating black pride and family pride that recall the Williams sisters' journey.
  • Beyoncé co-wrote and recorded "Be Alive" after attending a screening of King Richard and becoming inspired by Venus and Serena Williams. She linked up with Chance the Rapper collaborator Dixson for the song.
  • Dixson had been submitting songs to Beyoncé and her team for a while without getting any feedback. When out of the blue he got the call to help her pen a song for King Richard, he realized she must like what he was doing.
  • Dixson created the original song skeleton and played it for Beyoncé. The track took shape after Bey laid down some vocals and contributed rewrites and production notes. "The lyrics are super-important to this record," he told Billboard. "I know what it's like to fight for what you love. I think that's a universal message. Obviously, there are some pointed things that are aimed at the themes of the film, but others are universal - if you work hard, you get results."
  • "Be Alive" received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, earning Beyoncé her first Oscar nomination.

    The 2022 Oscars ceremony opened with Venus and Serena Williams introducing a pre-recorded performance of the song by Beyoncé at the Compton tennis courts where they practiced as kids. It lost to "No Time To Die" from the James Bond movie, performed by Billie Eilish.

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