Beyoncé’s highly anticipated new album, “Renaissance,” has taken the music world by storm, following her 2022 release, “Cowboy Carter” 1. The album has been met with critical acclaim, garnering a score of 91/100 on Metacritic, indicating very positive reviews 4.
In a statement, Beyoncé described the album as “a beautiful journey of exploration” and “a place to scream, release, feel freedom” 3. While critics agree that “Renaissance” is a thrilling departure for Beyoncé, it may not be her best album 5. Nevertheless, the album has been praised on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, and fans eagerly await Beyoncé’s potential Super Bowl performance, where she may collaborate with artists like Dolly Parton or Miley Cyrus.
Album Overview
Beyoncé’s latest album, “Cowboy Carter,” released on March 31, 2024, is a sprawling 27-track opus that clocks in at nearly 80 minutes 4 5 7 8 9 10 12. The album serves as a well of discovery, full of samples, sonic Easter eggs, Knowles family callbacks, and an appreciation for pioneers in the country world 6. Drawing inspiration from Western films such as “Five Fingers For Marseilles,” “Urban Cowboy,” “The Hateful Eight,” “Space Cowboys,” “The Harder They Fall,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Beyoncé reimagines each song as a Western film 12.
The album is not strictly country but a ‘Beyoncé’ album, featuring an eclectic mix of instruments such as washboard, pedal steel, banjo, mandolin, Vibraslap, bass ukulele, and mandolin 11. It includes a fusion of country, hip-hop, bluegrass, Chicano rock, pop, rock, Jersey club music, operatic runs, soft rock, R&B, electronica, and opera 6 11 12. The production credits are diverse, challenging the ways country music has been defined 12.
“Cowboy Carter” features collaborations with country legends like Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Linda Martell, as well as new stars in the country field, such as Rhiannon Giddens, Shaboozey, Tanner Addell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts 12. The album also includes covers of country classics, such as “Jolene” by Dolly Parton 12 and The Beatles’ “Blackbird” (stylized as “Blackbiird”) 2. Produced by a team of accomplished musicians and producers, including The-Dream, Pharrell, No I.D., Raphael Saadiq, Ryan Tedder, Ryan Beatty, and Swizz Beatz 12, “Cowboy Carter” explores Beyoncé’s paternal lineage and legacies, with references to her father, Mathew Knowles 2.
Critics’ Praise for Eclectic Sound
Critics have lauded Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” for its ambitious scope and eclectic sound, blending a variety of genres and themes into a sprawling, 78-minute tour de force 4. The album’s sense of celebratory queer flamboyance and libidinal femininity has been particularly praised 3. Acoustic instruments form the backbone of the album, with minimal electronic elements and a heavy emphasis on vocal arrangements 5.
While some critics describe the album as experimental and at times uneven, they acknowledge its ability to blend whimsical and wistful themes of family, faith, and freedom 3. Standout tracks like “Texas Hold ‘Em,” “16 Carriages,” “Jolene” (Dolly Parton cover), “Bodyguard,” “Ya Ya,” and “Blackbird” (Beatles cover) showcase Beyoncé’s ability to bend musical styles to her will 6 8 10.
The album also serves as a significant release in the context of contemporary country music, exploring themes of Black culture, female empowerment, and social justice 7. Critics agree that “Cowboy Carter” is a joyous and playful journey, doubling as a political statement and a personal ode to Beyoncé’s roots 9 13. While some find the album’s length and numerous ballads occasionally boring 12, the overall consensus is that “Cowboy Carter” is an impressive, if unwieldy, display of Beyoncé’s artistic prowess 10 11.
Addressing the Album’s Length
While “Cowboy Carter” has been praised for its rich and diverse sonic palette, critics have pointed out that the album’s length could have used some editing 8. The nearly 80-minute runtime and five-year gestation might have resulted in a somewhat undercooked product, with some songs and collaborations not fully committing to their featured guests and their outlaw lyrics 2 7.
However, the album’s length serves as a political statement and a personal ode to Beyoncé’s roots, highlighting her country credentials and her fight for a major culture shift 8. It is a reflection of highly aggrieved times, where Americans continue to manufacture new ways to feel cheated out of something 4. The album’s penultimate track, “AOTY, I ain’t win,” is seen as a direct reference to Beyoncé’s perennial snubbings for the most coveted of Grammys 4.
Critics have pointed out that the album’s sour grapes make it feel zeitgeisty in the saddest possible way, comparing it to the grievances of wealthy Americans who continue to feel cheated out of something 4. Despite its length, there is enough gold to keep the stars and stripes aloft 8.
Intimacy Amidst Ambition
Despite the album’s ambitious scope and sprawling length, Beyoncé manages to infuse “Cowboy Carter” with a sense of intimacy and personal connection. The album explores sensuality and sexuality, with lyrics including references to being confident in one’s body and exploring sensuality 13. Beyoncé’s nuanced vocal performance lends a lot of gravitas to the album, with her pitch-perfect tones beautifully melismatic on ‘Virgo’s Groove’ and commanding on ‘Move.’
The album’s sophisticated vocal arrangements showcase Beyoncé’s vocal prowess and versatility 5. She sells it with her convincing vocal power, demonstrating her ability to adapt to various musical styles and genres.
Moreover, “Cowboy Carter” includes a dialogue in the Beyoncé mythos, building on ‘Lemonade’s’ dedication to Black empowerment and ‘Renaissance’s’ reclamation of House music for its Black progenitors 11. This personal touch adds depth to the album, making it not just a collection of songs but a reflection of Beyoncé’s artistic journey and social consciousness.
Standout Tracks and Collaborations
“Cowboy Carter” boasts an impressive lineup of collaborations, featuring country and Americana icons like Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Linda Martell, who set the tone for the album’s genre-bending sound 6. The album also includes covers of classic songs, such as Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” and The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” reimagined to challenge the traditional definitions of country music 6 11.
Beyoncé showcases her versatility as an artist, rapping nearly as much as she sings throughout the album 13. The standout track “Alien Superstar,” which samples Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy,” is a lyrical and musical highlight, with its pulsing rhythms and zigzagging melodies.
The album features an array of talented collaborators, including:
- Dolly Parton on “Jolene” and the intro of “Tyrant” 12 14 15 16 17 18 19
- Willie Nelson on “Smoke Hour” and “Smoke Hour II” 12 14 15 16 17 18 19
- Miley Cyrus on “II Most Wanted” 12 14 15 16 17 18 19
- Post Malone on “Levii’s Jeans” 12 14 15 16 17 18 19
- Shaboozey on “Spaghettii” and “Sweet Honey Buckiin'” 12 14 15 16 17 18 19
- Willie Jones on “Ya Ya” and “Just for Fun” 14 15 16 17 18 19
- Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts on “Blackbiird” 2 12 14 15 16 17 18 19
- Rumi Carter on “Protector” 14 15 16 17 18 19
Other notable musicians featured on the album include Pulitzer-winning folk revivalist Rhiannon Giddens, Grammy-winning soul artist Jon Batiste, session luminary Nile Rodgers, gospel pedal steelist Robert Randolph, blues rocker Gary Clark, Jr., and the legendary Stevie Wonder 1.
Beyonce’s Vision and Genre Subversion
Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” offers a history lesson in dance music by paying homage to the genre’s many forms 13. The album is designed to be consumed like a DJ set, with few real song breaks, and its meticulously crafted transitions reflect the shifting moods and physicality of the dance floor 3. Created during the pandemic lockdown, the album is an attempt to bring life back into a culture that has been stagnant 3. It serves as a tribute to Black dance music and queer cultural touchstones, drawing inspirations from early-nineties Chicago house music and the drag-ball culture of New York City 3.
The album’s release has sparked conversations about the representation and inclusion of Black artists in country music 6 7 8 9. It ignited a debate among country-music connoisseurs, with some refusing to cosign the artist’s genre pivot 9 10 20. Beyoncé’s father, Matthew Knowles, testified to his daughter’s Southern roots, saying she spent many summers with her country music-loving grandparents in Alabama 9 10 20.
“Cowboy Carter” is a sprawling Western epic, with each song being its own version of a reimagined Western film 1. The titular character is a searing image of the American West and South, existing in conversation with the history of Black cowboys and the loaded meaning behind the term 6. The album gives flowers to unsung pioneers, like Linda Martell, the first Black woman to play the Grand Ole Opry, and platforms new stars in the field who are still working their way through country music’s entrenched gatekeeping and redlining 6 11. It references the 1950s, a decade in which format-based radio emerged and country music’s racial lines were codified 11. The album cover shows Beyoncé riding onto the scene in the style of a Texas rodeo queen, making an act of reclamation in her own name, her family’s name, and by extension that of Black America’s.
FAQs
What makes Beyoncé such a significant figure in popular music? Beyoncé’s impact on music and visual media has established her as a leading figure in pop culture during the 2000s and 2010s. She is often recognized as the most pivotal popular musician of the 21st century, marking her influence on an entire era of music.
How does Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” stand out in the music industry? Despite any perceived imperfections, “Cowboy Carter” is regarded as an album worthy of admiration due to its sheer ambition. Beyoncé has crafted a work that stands out starkly against the conventional offerings of mainstream country artists like Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen, making it a unique and compelling addition to the genre.
Does “Cowboy Carter” qualify as a country album? Indeed, “Cowboy Carter” embraces the essence of country music. The album is rich with quintessential country elements, particularly the use of string instruments that form its core sound. Tracks like “DESERT EAGLE” and “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” feature slide guitars that harmonize seamlessly with Beyoncé’s delicate vocal style, cementing the album’s country credentials.
What inspired Beyoncé to create “Cowboy Carter”? The album “Cowboy Carter” is the fruit of a five-year creative journey, inspired by an experience Beyoncé had where she felt distinctly unwelcome, likely alluding to the racist backlash she faced following her 2016 performance at the Country Music Awards (CMAs). This challenging experience fueled the creation of the album.
