WOOOAAAAH! I’ve been watching this channel for a long time and NEVER would I expect to hear you say “the horse is a metaphoric symbol for my face”. Very bold
I don’t know dude, I thought this album was excellent. I don’t really care that much about Beyoncé as an icon, I just like the jams. I don’t really think you can claim that she’s the weakest part of the album, because her vocal performances are easily some of the most impressive we’ve heard from her. The production is also legitimately insane in terms of quality. Not a single drum or synth seems out of place, and she floats over it all effortlessly. I love how varied yet cohesive this album is, and I really don’t know what you were expecting from the lyrical end of things. I think she really sounded like she was having a blast the entire time, and anything she said that was silly immediately became entertaining because of her endless charisma. I don’t know why you didn’t buy the fantasy of this album, but I certainly did.
@@tkn7390 maybe we can disagree with Mark without attacking his credentials? The guy is free to have these opinions and be respectful about them, the least we can do is not attack him when we disagree 🤷🏼♂️
@@JRJuggernaut1 I don’t know that he has any credentials when it comes to black music. He certainly tries to act like he does, but it comes off as very forced and disingenuous.
I actually enjoyed this album more than I expected. Though you made some valid points in your review, I still thought that this was a well-produced, charismatic, and even unhinged dance music experience from Beyoncé. It’s definitely not better than Lemonade but it will likely go down as an essential Beyoncé album for me.
“..the Donna Summer interpolation on ‘SUMMER RENAISSANCE’ - and this isn’t the underground or plunderphonics, you had to pay to get those cleared and that flies in the face of what sampling was like in that era.” I disagree with the point you were trying to make here. I don’t think Beyoncé’s use of the ‘I Feel Love’ sample was her trying to emulate the legal sample practises of a previous era of dance music or the underground/plunderphonics (especially not plunderphonics. I don’t think that The Avalanches/DJ Shadow/Beastie Boys was something Beyoncé was trying to pull from for inspiration on this album). I think it was just meant to be a tribute to one most important dance songs of all time and the lineage of dance music that Beyoncé is now a part of. It’s meant to be an homage, just like how Robin S is credited on Break My Soul even though Show Me Love wasn’t even sampled (it uses the same Korg M1 organ preset which has been used in dance music for decades, however its most prominent usage was on Show Me Love, and I think Beyoncé decided to credit Robin S out of respect for this fact, even though she didn’t need to, and other artists haven’t). I don’t think it was any attempt to be a throwback to more cavalier sampling practices that are found in the old school or underground more than it was just an acknowledgment of the already established and prominent music world that this album comes from. It’s also worth mentioning that the reason why artists from a previous era or the underground didn’t/don’t pay to clear samples was either because of a lack of money (in particular the case for underground producers) or less of a pressure for samples to be cleared in the past (i.e. the samples on Paul’s Boutique not being initially cleared. it wasn’t as strict back then as it is now thanks to stuff like the Grand Upright Music, Ltd. v. Warner Bros. Records Inc. lawsuit). I appreciate your analysis but I think you misinterpreted the intent behind the sample use on that song. Sampling is an intrinsic part of dance music but I don’t agree with the idea that Beyoncé clearing the ‘I Feel Love’ sample makes it inauthentic or anything. Some of the most respected house musicians of all time have had to pay to get samples cleared (Discovery by Daft Punk for instance, which is probably the most iconic and respected house album of all time).
okay so you're not wrong on any of that but also the thing that sticks out to me is that like. the very idea of quotation itself is waaaaaayyyyyy older than just producers in modern pop music! what we see as 'sampling' is a ludicrously heavily-constructed concept to fit within neoliberal capitalism and the very specific form of music that is the recording world. to go back to quote-unquote classical music (for what it's worth i hate that term and personally prefer to use CPP music, or common practice period music, because possibly the only uniting factor behind all the music that people call classical up until about debussy and stravinsky were their approaches to harmony and thus melody and arrangement in broad strokes), quotation could take up quite large amounts of songs, were used liberally, and no money was exchanging hands! shostakovich's love of quotation in his symphonic work and liszt's opera paraphrases were all done freely, with the understanding that art was a collective idea that individuals could push forward on, but only by acknowledging the shoulders of the bodies they stood on. and for shostakovich, that could include replicating other composers' sheet music note for note! the long, long arc of history has often favored this idea of free exchange, for centuries even. and as a member of the bourgeois stepping into art that was initially proletarian (as all art was), even with good intentions she's still forming part of the wall that stops free sampling no matter what. tl;dr money shouldn't exist and beyonce is a criminal for having lots of money and flaunting what she can do with it in front of everyone else's faces. also everybody check out ur classical history
I understand that mark is a writer and a critic, but like, does every artist have to have a dissertation-level intersectional screed on capitalism in every album? Is that a realistic expectation for any artist that even mentions something slightly political (and this album is hardly a political piece). Is it not more realistic that most artists are going to have surface level takes on what they perceive as "political issues"? Im no beyonce stan but this was a very solid and daring album for an artist of beyonces stature. Considering the state of modern pop, this is a welcome departure from the boring slog that usually climbs the charts.
The funny thing is that if i didn't mention the cultural critiques, I'd be called out by diehard fans for not going in-depth enough, especially when there are very purposeful sociopolitical elements here. Can't win
@@SpectrumPulse dude keep doing you, you are doing a terrific job overall :) do I always agree? nope. not the point at all. among the tons and tons of playing-it-safe reviews yours are HIGHLY appreciated.
I guess that’s a valid point if Beyoncé didn’t make a point to use old-school funk, disco, and ballroom culture from an era that is deeply important for the LGBTQ+ community (i.e. the AIDS Crisis). If she made that less of a point in the promotion or themes of the album, then yes of course Beyoncé doesn’t have to go into too much detail besides the aesthetic (which would’ve actually made the album worse imo) but with that intentional sampling comes the trap that you have to make sure you’re not using the struggles of the gay community to uphold your billionaire status. besides, using house and disco music will always be slightly political as long as the gay community has something to say about it.
Something really irks me about this thoroughly bourgeois artist adopting the aesthetics of working-class queer people and framing it as “escapism,” or even more egregiously, “activism.” It just reminds me of capital’s tendency to absorb anything that challenges its authority, turning cultural bases of authentic mass power into nothing but spectacle to be gawked at. I don’t know, maybe I’m overthinking this or missing something as someone who’s never really liked Beyoncé, but it’s a problem I have with pretty much every ultra-rich performer in that vein.
by the “working class queer people” you mean the black lgbt people who both wrote, produced, and enjoyed the album as the audience, correct? because it would be very interesting to exclude us from this “critique”…
All valid points but not when it comes to this album (methinks you didn't listen!) I'm not sure where on this album Beyoncé was trying to adopt any working-class queer aesthetics and frame it as "activism." Besides the 9-5 lyric in Break My Soul, this album is largely apolitical in its messaging and comes off as more of a celebration of self and one's entitlement to unyielding materialism/hedonism, moreso than anything on Lemonade (an era/album that actually does fit more within the critique you've laid out here). Beyoncé knows she's a cultural and commercial force divorced from any semblance of "struggle," which is why the lyrics for a lot of this album are actually appropriate because she's only talking about stuff she knows (being rich, famous and cooler than anybody listening). So, no, you aren't overthinking anything, but the reflexive desire to comment on something you didn't spend that much time engaging with is a trait I share as well and, with a star as big as Beyoncè, we've all got to get our hot takes out there somehow.
I strongly feel that the people in this comment section have never made the acquaintance of deep house, ballroom, or the queer aesthetic because those are the roots of this album and everyone passed them by so quickly. The chaos in the beats and vocal delivery are intentional, they convey a sense of freedom and cultural absurdity. This album wouldn't work if it was clean or straightforward, because that's not who it was for or what it's about.
I don’t care what anybody says, my favourite Beyoncé album was 2006’s B’Day, too much nostalgia and good memories listening to that album. My parents got me the CD for Christmas and I played that album non stop, It was also my first concert and I never forgot it. I never loved another Beyoncé album as much as B’day. The album is just one big, booming r&b party with amazing vocals. Most of the Beyhive wanted Renaissance to sound like a 2022 upgrade of B’Day (pardon the pun), but I still enjoy Renaissance unlike some stans who aren’t feeling it at all.
Why are ppl looking at this album as activism?? Nothing in what Beyoncé or her collaborators has said point to this being a political statement (like the Lemonade visual for example). She said very clearly this was an album inspired by her uncle who passed away and introduced her to this kind of music. She said a year before the album was even known to be coming that she was working on more joyful music because the pandemic had been so mentally taxing for everyone. This is only political insofar that she made sure to highlight neglected Ballroom Icons, made sure to utilize Black LGBTQ writers, producers, etc.
Making a dance album that explicitly celebrates black queer culture, is in and of itself activism. Sometimes activism isn't overt or loud, it's implied and subtle. I think Beyonce will always present some form of activism in every project she releases, it just won't always be as loud or abrupt as albums like Lemonade or The Gift.
@@charliez077 yeah but the other end of the that, is the “purposely-trying-to-ruffle-feathers-by-being-controversial-and-against-the popular-opinion” attitude. That’s just as insufferable and not genuine.
this album isn’t meant for you. it’s a celebration of house/dance black lgbt ballroom and vogue culture; which she did her research heavily and nailed it. it has the desired affect on the intended audience imo
Why can't you just think of her as an actress in a movie? She's doing this braggodocious attitude for the audience. Like people of minority (especially LGBTQ community) NEED this kind of music for their self-empowerment. The queer community loves all those high fashion brands, it's part of the culture.
Favourites : VIRGO’S GROOVE, CUFF IT,PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA, CHURCH GIRL, SUMMER RENAISSANCE, ALL UP IN YOUR MIND Worst song : THIQUE I was pleasantly surprised with this album. I’d give a strong 7 to a light 8 😊. A step down from Lemonade but I highly doubt she will top that
A pleasant surprise that I liked more than I thought I would. Break My Soul and Church Girl are my favorite tracks, and Thique is my least favorite track.
This was a good album. Hardly, if any, any skips. She sang a variety of vocals, delivered her iconic rap singing, played with different tones and used stellar production. It achieved its mission, which seems to be not well understood in this review, and yet it stayed true to Beyonce's core and what she wants her legacy to be during this leg of her career. I know everybody wants her to sing the songs that Adele sings, but Beyonce can sing everything that's out there on the radio right now without a hitch. The same cannot be said for these "singers" who cater to pop radio. This was experimental and intentional in the best way. Kudos, Bey!
It's almost like I can point to a timecode in my review where I said she effectively accomplished what she said out to do, like before I got in depth into specific elements. Or something.
I'd say overall, this album has more hits than misses. And honestly, I DO plan on revisiting this for a second listen as it MIGHT grow on me? Or its length will take its toll on me even more. On first listen, I found it kinda (and I don't know if this is the right word for it) masturbatory? Like Beyoncé is this untouchable force and she can pretty much do and say whatever she wants because she's Beyoncé. I couldn't pin down why I wasn't properly enjoying that until this review where you said that she didn't sound like she was having fun. That is EXACTLY the reason why. And for over an hour long, it eventually got tiring. Shame too, because like you said, the grooves on here are GREAT and there are plenty bops on this album. Maybe it'll grow on me, maybe it won't.
See that just sounds like neither of you understand what having fun sounds like. Which is very weird. Because it’s not something that is hard to notice.
@@AGEE_95 Well maybe I'm just an idiot because I didn't notice it enough on this album. She didn't sound loose enough on a good chunk of it to convince me. It was there in PLACES (which is part of why I still *like* the album overall) but not throughout the entire thing. She sounded like she had more fun on 4, especially with cuts like Love On Top.
This album didn't vibe with me. But that's true of most of her albums, except for Lemonade which is one of my favorite albums of all time. I think I'm one of those ppl who's probably outside of her target audience.
@@jeremyusreevu237 I'll say this about AJR fans, I might not get how in the hell they like that band, but they're one of the chillest fanbases in the comments when it comes to criticism.
@@shadez123 Thanks. I can't speak for all AJR fans, but I just like their theactrical and unique production, the Met brothers' fantastic vocals, and their unique and relatable lyrics.
Waiting for the "wHiTe MaN!!1 🤪" comments discrediting your review. But it's funny when a white critic gives critical acclaim to the album, all of a sudden their opinion matters 🤔
@@comeawaywithme Nice counterargument, wouldn't want to use too many braincells with that one. Keep pretending Beyoncé's fanbase isn't toxic AF. She deserves better, honestly.
@@shadez123 all of this frustration...for what? people you don't know being idiots online? there's a difference between me calling out a racist dogwhistle and you being upset that a (likely POC) beyoncé fan was rude to you online once. get a grip
You wouldn't believe people from minority -- when they're being excluded or isolated, they go to music for escape. Alien Superstar is the kind of song that will probably save someone'e life, to make them feel unique or strong enough to survive another day. Not commanding or Not powerful is the last thing a GAY album needs.
As someone who thinks Beyonce's discography can be hit-or-miss, I thought "Renaissance" was a surprisingly great album and it lived up to it's title. Also, "Alien Superstar" is a cool futuristic sounding banger.
To me, Renaissance was a mixed bag. It had some great songs like Cuff It, Pure/Honey, Virgo's Groove, and Plastic Off The Sofa, but it also had some awful songs like Thique, Heated, and Energy (the last one mainly for the beat, which is just, like, the worst)
Im having a hard time understanding why you can't just accept that this is a FUN straight to the point loud obnoxious Lyrically spontaneous highly sampled Dance Trap Soul album that purposefully becomes inaudible at times. Instead of comparing it to your own personal taste of purely Organic music that tells a story. Every aspect of everything beyonce especially her albums is one hundred percent intentional. This album received higher acclaim by the critics than Lemonade with a score of 93. You can't be a proper judge of an artist you already don't care much for singing a genre you also don't care for. You liked Lemonade because it was mostly Clean, Campy, Soulful and Mellow. Ofcourse your going to dislike it's opposite.
@@shadez123 He talked about her previous catalog. Something that is irrelevant. He always does this, a artist doesn't have to stick to one style their entire career. He's hating on the album for being loud vulgar and edgy instead of judging cohesion lyrics and song quality.
@@shadez123 no hes extremely petty, he even shunned the 2 strongest tracks Virgos Grove and Cuff It talking about shes too emperor, like what is he even talking about? These 2 songs are literally perfect. 😂 He even said she sounds like she's not having fun when this is her most joyous project.
@@cavalrystyles8776 Look I'm not going to write a huge thesis here, if this is what you got from what he said, you didn't really understand what he is saying. Anyway, if you like the album, awesome, this is just some guy's opinion on it, and this barrage of clearly heated comments isn't healthy for you. Just keep enjoying it and don't mind what people say. You don't need strangers to validate what you like.
Because this is low tier. Nobody in the group has dived into the music even if they said they have. Heck, they couldn't even tie with the original songs they sampled.
You know after you said it I can't unhear it. Beyonce's voice is good because it's Beyonce's voice, but I don't think she brings the energy these songs need. Break My Souls sounds good, but it would have been much better with a much more energetic singer. Maybe someone like Jessie J (saying this just because I'll get hate. In not saying Jessie J is a better singer. Im saying her vocal style would work better for these songs than Beyonce.)
I understand completely whatcha saying there and the frustrating part you feel from the record. Not that I feel that way, but I understood where or what you are trying to say here to make sense Either way, I still love this album. Maybe it could've, I MEAN COULD'VE go experimental or harder (perhaps on the Act 2 or 3) this is still fantastic record imo Glad you fairly enjoyed it :)
Music is subjective. I actually enjoyed this album more than I expected but it’s no where near Lemonade in terms of the contexts and the richness of music.
I think it’s good but I’m not particularly interested in it past one listen. That said, I’m glad pop music is moving back to dance/ having fun. There’s been perhaps a bit too much feigned serious political messages which fail to be interesting or good. IlAtleast it’s fun I guess.
I know people dislike the comparisons but I really see why people compare Beyonce to Michael Jackson cause I have never seen an album criticized celebrated changed and reacted to with mixed reactions since Jackson put out History 30 years ago. Also History was spilt up like rennsance is
It’s almost worse with Beyoncé, because the general public views Nicki Minaj as a bit of a washed-up jerk already, whereas their adoration for Beyoncé has been inescapable for a decade now.
damn Beyonce is got a hit on her hands with a white man using all those terminologies and dictions of words. this album is going to be big for her. she got everybody exactly what you want. great marketing Beyonce you know what you doing. get ready to get the check go to the bank and put some more money
I unsubbed a long time ago, and periodically check in to see if you'd regain some semblance of credibility but I am disappointed every time. You are just unable to overcome your incredibly narrowed subjective biases and appreciate quality music when it slaps you in the face.
@@SpectrumPulse It is, but it shouldn't all be filtered through such a narrow lens that its merits are disregarded almost entirely. Art reviews should balance inescapable subjectivty with an attempt to assess its objective qualities as well. It is impossible to not feel something is not "for you" while simultaneously noting that it is effective in terms of what it is trying to accomplish.
@@PrincipalSkinner3190 lol, putting aside that "objective qualities" are not a thing, did you not watch the review where the final third was loaded with praise? Why does it feel like you're just annoyed i didn't like it as much and raised critiques you didn't expect? :)
@@SpectrumPulse There are obective qualities to any art form, number of brushstrokes/form/tempo/key/etc. It is how they are interpreted that is subjectivr. I also would have no issue if you shredded the album based on how it performs sonically... which I don't feel you did here. My issue is that your review seems coloured by your subjective biases and perception of what the album "should/could have been". The slight praise you gave the album seems to smell of throwing the audience a bone to save face, moreso than a a genuine attempt to critically assess the merits of the album.
@@PrincipalSkinner3190 So here's the thing: I've been reviewing Beyonce for damn near a decade, and listening to her music for longer. I have an established idea (read: biases) surrounding the sounds that she does well and what I like/dislike from her (as does everyone). I'd prefer to be very open with that right from the jump and while of course I'm open to being surprised or proven wrong, I can't deny that this doesn't move me emotionally in the same way 'Lemonade' or '4' does. So the follow-up question is why, which is where we drill into the lack of distinctive instrumental melodies or Beyonce not sounding like she's having fun, and the appropriation of queer subtext through capitalist framing. And it's frustrating because as much as you don't buy the praise I did give the album, there are songs I like and that I praised on Billboard BREAKDOWN just yesterday - the midsection of the album starting with 'CHURCH GIRL', the hyperpop flair of 'ALL UP IN YOUR MIND', when this album does experiment and plays into Beyonce's strengths as a performer, which of course leads to the natural question of what could have / should have happened. At the same time I get why people like the stuff I don't, which I also mentioned at length, but I'm reviewing my experience with the art, not the public's at large. What I think becomes interesting is the clash of where the majority drives their affection for Beyonce compared to where I do, because they don't always intersect - which is what I brought up in the intro - so while I'll mention that context and interpretation, I have my own and I'm not about to kowtow to popular opinion. If there are alternate interpretations of themes or ideas where something might have been missed, I'd love to dig into that - hell, when I covered 'ALIEN SUPERSTAR' yesterday there was a whole bit of added context surrounding Barbara Ann Teer that was an interesting discovery, it's not like Beyonce and her team weren't aware of the history. My gripe is that it's a distinctly shaded and revisionist history and that does the art a disservice. So yeah, I did my homework alongside this, it's not just the children that are wrong. ;)
I'd sum this album up as being really good despite Beyonce. I wish we could get an album with the same production, but with someone like Rihanna on it.
Beyonce is starting to prove YEAR AFTER YEAR she is out of creativity. Destiny's Child was CREATIVITY PERSONIFIED. They stood on their own with their own style and sound. Beyonce when she first came out copied Tina Turner, Copied Josephine Baker at one point, and over the last decade in her solo career she has sampled many other artist music without permission. There is nothing special about this, just trendy. She needs to bow her head respectful, raise the kids and move on.
Not really, it contextualizes it, if you think that makes his opinion irrelevant, then you can disregard it. Acknowledging it is exactly the opposite of being a hypocrite.
@@SpectrumPulse Im having a hard time understanding why you can't just accept that this is a FUN straight to the point loud obnoxious Lyrically spontaneous highly sampled Dance Trap Soul album that purposefully becomes inaudible at times. Instead of comparing it to your own personal taste of purely Organic music that tells a story. Every aspect of everything beyonce especially her albums is one hundred percent intentional. This album received higher acclaim by the critics than Lemonade with a score of 93. You can't be a proper judge of an artist you already don't care much for singing a genre you also don't care for. You liked Lemonade because it was mostly Clean, Campy, Soulful and Mellow. Ofcourse your going to dislike it's opposite.
@@shadez123 - I thought I was clear - what is his talents - can he sing, write songs, play an instrument? Unless you are criticizing what you have direct knowledge of - you are just “bumping your gums” That’s like a trash man telling me what’s wrong with the process of developing a vaccine- if you are not an Immunologist - then I don’t think I am going to take you seriously. I understand music is a matter of taste - but he gave us a Dissertation on that album!
Here roots are displayed in all the genres she gave. They all came from the Black music community. Beyoncé snatched them all back! House, Disco, EDM, Bounce, Trap, etc all came from Black culture. Maybe that's what disturbs you most.🤷🏿♀️
WOOOAAAAH! I’ve been watching this channel for a long time and NEVER would I expect to hear you say “the horse is a metaphoric symbol for my face”. Very bold
Hey Brad.
this is a breat comment
😂😂😂
I don’t know dude, I thought this album was excellent. I don’t really care that much about Beyoncé as an icon, I just like the jams. I don’t really think you can claim that she’s the weakest part of the album, because her vocal performances are easily some of the most impressive we’ve heard from her. The production is also legitimately insane in terms of quality. Not a single drum or synth seems out of place, and she floats over it all effortlessly. I love how varied yet cohesive this album is, and I really don’t know what you were expecting from the lyrical end of things. I think she really sounded like she was having a blast the entire time, and anything she said that was silly immediately became entertaining because of her endless charisma. I don’t know why you didn’t buy the fantasy of this album, but I certainly did.
He obviously doesn't have a strong music background
@@tkn7390 maybe we can disagree with Mark without attacking his credentials? The guy is free to have these opinions and be respectful about them, the least we can do is not attack him when we disagree 🤷🏼♂️
@@JRJuggernaut1 I don’t know that he has any credentials when it comes to black music. He certainly tries to act like he does, but it comes off as very forced and disingenuous.
I actually enjoyed this album more than I expected. Though you made some valid points in your review, I still thought that this was a well-produced, charismatic, and even unhinged dance music experience from Beyoncé. It’s definitely not better than Lemonade but it will likely go down as an essential Beyoncé album for me.
Disagree. 🤷🏽♀️
“..the Donna Summer interpolation on ‘SUMMER RENAISSANCE’ - and this isn’t the underground or plunderphonics, you had to pay to get those cleared and that flies in the face of what sampling was like in that era.”
I disagree with the point you were trying to make here. I don’t think Beyoncé’s use of the ‘I Feel Love’ sample was her trying to emulate the legal sample practises of a previous era of dance music or the underground/plunderphonics (especially not plunderphonics. I don’t think that The Avalanches/DJ Shadow/Beastie Boys was something Beyoncé was trying to pull from for inspiration on this album). I think it was just meant to be a tribute to one most important dance songs of all time and the lineage of dance music that Beyoncé is now a part of. It’s meant to be an homage, just like how Robin S is credited on Break My Soul even though Show Me Love wasn’t even sampled (it uses the same Korg M1 organ preset which has been used in dance music for decades, however its most prominent usage was on Show Me Love, and I think Beyoncé decided to credit Robin S out of respect for this fact, even though she didn’t need to, and other artists haven’t). I don’t think it was any attempt to be a throwback to more cavalier sampling practices that are found in the old school or underground more than it was just an acknowledgment of the already established and prominent music world that this album comes from.
It’s also worth mentioning that the reason why artists from a previous era or the underground didn’t/don’t pay to clear samples was either because of a lack of money (in particular the case for underground producers) or less of a pressure for samples to be cleared in the past (i.e. the samples on Paul’s Boutique not being initially cleared. it wasn’t as strict back then as it is now thanks to stuff like the Grand Upright Music, Ltd. v. Warner Bros. Records Inc. lawsuit). I appreciate your analysis but I think you misinterpreted the intent behind the sample use on that song. Sampling is an intrinsic part of dance music but I don’t agree with the idea that Beyoncé clearing the ‘I Feel Love’ sample makes it inauthentic or anything. Some of the most respected house musicians of all time have had to pay to get samples cleared (Discovery by Daft Punk for instance, which is probably the most iconic and respected house album of all time).
okay so you're not wrong on any of that but also the thing that sticks out to me is that like. the very idea of quotation itself is waaaaaayyyyyy older than just producers in modern pop music! what we see as 'sampling' is a ludicrously heavily-constructed concept to fit within neoliberal capitalism and the very specific form of music that is the recording world. to go back to quote-unquote classical music (for what it's worth i hate that term and personally prefer to use CPP music, or common practice period music, because possibly the only uniting factor behind all the music that people call classical up until about debussy and stravinsky were their approaches to harmony and thus melody and arrangement in broad strokes), quotation could take up quite large amounts of songs, were used liberally, and no money was exchanging hands! shostakovich's love of quotation in his symphonic work and liszt's opera paraphrases were all done freely, with the understanding that art was a collective idea that individuals could push forward on, but only by acknowledging the shoulders of the bodies they stood on. and for shostakovich, that could include replicating other composers' sheet music note for note! the long, long arc of history has often favored this idea of free exchange, for centuries even. and as a member of the bourgeois stepping into art that was initially proletarian (as all art was), even with good intentions she's still forming part of the wall that stops free sampling no matter what.
tl;dr money shouldn't exist and beyonce is a criminal for having lots of money and flaunting what she can do with it in front of everyone else's faces. also everybody check out ur classical history
@@smidlem1117 wasn't the comment about samples?
I’m gonna go to the club on Friday and I’ll be glad when these tracks come on. As a dance album it’s fantastic but I was hoping for something else
Mark doesn’t understand what Mark doesn’t understand.
Damn he’s already getting roasted in the comments…to be fair it’s kind of deserved for putting alien superstar as the worst song 😆
I understand that mark is a writer and a critic, but like, does every artist have to have a dissertation-level intersectional screed on capitalism in every album? Is that a realistic expectation for any artist that even mentions something slightly political (and this album is hardly a political piece). Is it not more realistic that most artists are going to have surface level takes on what they perceive as "political issues"? Im no beyonce stan but this was a very solid and daring album for an artist of beyonces stature. Considering the state of modern pop, this is a welcome departure from the boring slog that usually climbs the charts.
The funny thing is that if i didn't mention the cultural critiques, I'd be called out by diehard fans for not going in-depth enough, especially when there are very purposeful sociopolitical elements here. Can't win
@@SpectrumPulse dude keep doing you, you are doing a terrific job overall :) do I always agree? nope. not the point at all. among the tons and tons of playing-it-safe reviews yours are HIGHLY appreciated.
I guess that’s a valid point if Beyoncé didn’t make a point to use old-school funk, disco, and ballroom culture from an era that is deeply important for the LGBTQ+ community (i.e. the AIDS Crisis). If she made that less of a point in the promotion or themes of the album, then yes of course Beyoncé doesn’t have to go into too much detail besides the aesthetic (which would’ve actually made the album worse imo) but with that intentional sampling comes the trap that you have to make sure you’re not using the struggles of the gay community to uphold your billionaire status.
besides, using house and disco music will always be slightly political as long as the gay community has something to say about it.
Something really irks me about this thoroughly bourgeois artist adopting the aesthetics of working-class queer people and framing it as “escapism,” or even more egregiously, “activism.” It just reminds me of capital’s tendency to absorb anything that challenges its authority, turning cultural bases of authentic mass power into nothing but spectacle to be gawked at.
I don’t know, maybe I’m overthinking this or missing something as someone who’s never really liked Beyoncé, but it’s a problem I have with pretty much every ultra-rich performer in that vein.
by the “working class queer people” you mean the black lgbt people who both wrote, produced, and enjoyed the album as the audience, correct? because it would be very interesting to exclude us from this “critique”…
@@jisforjae exactly, and on top of that the people who create art as a response to opression in fact do it as a form of escapism lol.
All valid points but not when it comes to this album (methinks you didn't listen!) I'm not sure where on this album Beyoncé was trying to adopt any working-class queer aesthetics and frame it as "activism." Besides the 9-5 lyric in Break My Soul, this album is largely apolitical in its messaging and comes off as more of a celebration of self and one's entitlement to unyielding materialism/hedonism, moreso than anything on Lemonade (an era/album that actually does fit more within the critique you've laid out here). Beyoncé knows she's a cultural and commercial force divorced from any semblance of "struggle," which is why the lyrics for a lot of this album are actually appropriate because she's only talking about stuff she knows (being rich, famous and cooler than anybody listening).
So, no, you aren't overthinking anything, but the reflexive desire to comment on something you didn't spend that much time engaging with is a trait I share as well and, with a star as big as Beyoncè, we've all got to get our hot takes out there somehow.
I strongly feel that the people in this comment section have never made the acquaintance of deep house, ballroom, or the queer aesthetic because those are the roots of this album and everyone passed them by so quickly. The chaos in the beats and vocal delivery are intentional, they convey a sense of freedom and cultural absurdity. This album wouldn't work if it was clean or straightforward, because that's not who it was for or what it's about.
I don’t care what anybody says, my favourite Beyoncé album was 2006’s B’Day, too much nostalgia and good memories listening to that album. My parents got me the CD for Christmas and I played that album non stop, It was also my first concert and I never forgot it. I never loved another Beyoncé album as much as B’day. The album is just one big, booming r&b party with amazing vocals. Most of the Beyhive wanted Renaissance to sound like a 2022 upgrade of B’Day (pardon the pun), but I still enjoy Renaissance unlike some stans who aren’t feeling it at all.
Why are ppl looking at this album as activism?? Nothing in what Beyoncé or her collaborators has said point to this being a political statement (like the Lemonade visual for example). She said very clearly this was an album inspired by her uncle who passed away and introduced her to this kind of music. She said a year before the album was even known to be coming that she was working on more joyful music because the pandemic had been so mentally taxing for everyone.
This is only political insofar that she made sure to highlight neglected Ballroom Icons, made sure to utilize Black LGBTQ writers, producers, etc.
Making a dance album that explicitly celebrates black queer culture, is in and of itself activism. Sometimes activism isn't overt or loud, it's implied and subtle. I think Beyonce will always present some form of activism in every project she releases, it just won't always be as loud or abrupt as albums like Lemonade or The Gift.
Can't say how much I missed solo reviews
💯
She sampled Donna on her first album. Why are we talking about capitalism in sampling lol?
The preface was a little to cynical for my tastes. Felt mean spirited. She seems like a kind person, so that take just felt mean
Your review is the most genuine i found
Mark is throwing rocks at a Beyhive with this one
Mark has always had some controversial opinions.
@@jeremyusreevu237 which is SOOO refreshing among the zillions of safe and cautious-not-to-anger-stans reviews
@@charliez077 yeah but the other end of the that, is the “purposely-trying-to-ruffle-feathers-by-being-controversial-and-against-the popular-opinion” attitude. That’s just as insufferable and not genuine.
this album isn’t meant for you. it’s a celebration of house/dance black lgbt ballroom and vogue culture; which she did her research heavily and nailed it. it has the desired affect on the intended audience imo
Why can't you just think of her as an actress in a movie? She's doing this braggodocious attitude for the audience.
Like people of minority (especially LGBTQ community) NEED this kind of music for their self-empowerment. The queer community loves all those high fashion brands, it's part of the culture.
My third favorite Beyoncé album, only below Self titled and Lemonade
If you're going to judge a DANCE album you should judge according to the Standard of DANCE not that of Lemonade.
THIS!!!!!!!!
Favourites : VIRGO’S GROOVE, CUFF IT,PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA, CHURCH GIRL, SUMMER RENAISSANCE, ALL UP IN YOUR MIND
Worst song : THIQUE
I was pleasantly surprised with this album. I’d give a strong 7 to a light 8 😊. A step down from Lemonade but I highly doubt she will top that
Yes! Thique is so bad!
@@jeremyusreevu237 it’s the only song on the album that I didn’t like at all tbh. Pretty obnoxious track imo
@@jeremyusreevu237 true its awful.
@@calebwilson8415 Same
A pleasant surprise that I liked more than I thought I would. Break My Soul and Church Girl are my favorite tracks, and Thique is my least favorite track.
This was a good album. Hardly, if any, any skips. She sang a variety of vocals, delivered her iconic rap singing, played with different tones and used stellar production. It achieved its mission, which seems to be not well understood in this review, and yet it stayed true to Beyonce's core and what she wants her legacy to be during this leg of her career. I know everybody wants her to sing the songs that Adele sings, but Beyonce can sing everything that's out there on the radio right now without a hitch. The same cannot be said for these "singers" who cater to pop radio. This was experimental and intentional in the best way. Kudos, Bey!
It's almost like I can point to a timecode in my review where I said she effectively accomplished what she said out to do, like before I got in depth into specific elements. Or something.
I'd say overall, this album has more hits than misses. And honestly, I DO plan on revisiting this for a second listen as it MIGHT grow on me? Or its length will take its toll on me even more.
On first listen, I found it kinda (and I don't know if this is the right word for it) masturbatory? Like Beyoncé is this untouchable force and she can pretty much do and say whatever she wants because she's Beyoncé. I couldn't pin down why I wasn't properly enjoying that until this review where you said that she didn't sound like she was having fun. That is EXACTLY the reason why. And for over an hour long, it eventually got tiring. Shame too, because like you said, the grooves on here are GREAT and there are plenty bops on this album.
Maybe it'll grow on me, maybe it won't.
See that just sounds like neither of you understand what having fun sounds like. Which is very weird. Because it’s not something that is hard to notice.
@@AGEE_95 Well maybe I'm just an idiot because I didn't notice it enough on this album. She didn't sound loose enough on a good chunk of it to convince me. It was there in PLACES (which is part of why I still *like* the album overall) but not throughout the entire thing.
She sounded like she had more fun on 4, especially with cuts like Love On Top.
this review feels oddly out of touch in comparison to your usual ones, tbh
Monaes album was brilliant.
This album didn't vibe with me. But that's true of most of her albums, except for Lemonade which is one of my favorite albums of all time. I think I'm one of those ppl who's probably outside of her target audience.
So I’m the only one who loved everything is love lmao 💀
Uh oh.
Mark gave his honest opinion on freaking Beyonce.
What will be worse? The ARMY or the BeyHive? Only time will tell.
AJR Fans: First time?
@@jeremyusreevu237 I'll say this about AJR fans, I might not get how in the hell they like that band, but they're one of the chillest fanbases in the comments when it comes to criticism.
@@shadez123 Thanks. I can't speak for all AJR fans, but I just like their theactrical and unique production, the Met brothers' fantastic vocals, and their unique and relatable lyrics.
Does this gentleman play an instrument or write songs?
@@dpearson2427 Did Siskel and Ebert direct films?
dude be fr, you call her our for using a "costume" and you are commenting on black queer music
9/10. Contender for pop album of the year
This is without a doubt one of the most insightful and intelligent music reviews I’ve ever had the pleasure of digesting. Great work Mark 👌🏻
Good nature :)
Waiting for the "wHiTe MaN!!1 🤪" comments discrediting your review.
But it's funny when a white critic gives critical acclaim to the album, all of a sudden their opinion matters 🤔
Funny how no one has said this, making this easily the most racist comment here
@@comeawaywithme There's at least one comment saying it, and it's a common occurance, but sure keep being in denial.
@@shadez123 cry me a goddamn river
@@comeawaywithme Nice counterargument, wouldn't want to use too many braincells with that one. Keep pretending Beyoncé's fanbase isn't toxic AF. She deserves better, honestly.
@@shadez123 all of this frustration...for what? people you don't know being idiots online? there's a difference between me calling out a racist dogwhistle and you being upset that a (likely POC) beyoncé fan was rude to you online once. get a grip
You wouldn't believe people from minority -- when they're being excluded or isolated, they go to music for escape.
Alien Superstar is the kind of song that will probably save someone'e life, to make them feel unique or strong enough to survive another day.
Not commanding or Not powerful is the last thing a GAY album needs.
As someone who thinks Beyonce's discography can be hit-or-miss, I thought "Renaissance" was a surprisingly great album and it lived up to it's title. Also, "Alien Superstar" is a cool futuristic sounding banger.
To me, Renaissance was a mixed bag. It had some great songs like Cuff It, Pure/Honey, Virgo's Groove, and Plastic Off The Sofa, but it also had some awful songs like Thique, Heated, and Energy (the last one mainly for the beat, which is just, like, the worst)
Im having a hard time understanding why you can't just accept that this is a FUN straight to the point loud obnoxious Lyrically spontaneous highly sampled Dance Trap Soul album that purposefully becomes inaudible at times. Instead of comparing it to your own personal taste of purely Organic music that tells a story. Every aspect of everything beyonce especially her albums is one hundred percent intentional. This album received higher acclaim by the critics than Lemonade with a score of 93. You can't be a proper judge of an artist you already don't care much for singing a genre you also don't care for. You liked Lemonade because it was mostly Clean, Campy, Soulful and Mellow. Ofcourse your going to dislike it's opposite.
You absolutely did not understand a word he said.
@@shadez123 He talked about her previous catalog. Something that is irrelevant. He always does this, a artist doesn't have to stick to one style their entire career. He's hating on the album for being loud vulgar and edgy instead of judging cohesion lyrics and song quality.
@@shadez123 no hes extremely petty, he even shunned the 2 strongest tracks Virgos Grove and Cuff It talking about shes too emperor, like what is he even talking about? These 2 songs are literally perfect. 😂 He even said she sounds like she's not having fun when this is her most joyous project.
@@cavalrystyles8776 Look I'm not going to write a huge thesis here, if this is what you got from what he said, you didn't really understand what he is saying. Anyway, if you like the album, awesome, this is just some guy's opinion on it, and this barrage of clearly heated comments isn't healthy for you. Just keep enjoying it and don't mind what people say. You don't need strangers to validate what you like.
Because this is low tier. Nobody in the group has dived into the music even if they said they have. Heck, they couldn't even tie with the original songs they sampled.
Great review.
I don't think this review is gonna age well tbh...
None of his reviews do
You are funny …I like the album
But appreciate your criticism..it’s fair
Destiny's Child is S tier for me.
Renaissance, and Lemonade are Equal IMO. Both had songs I either don't like or find Boring while liking the majority.
You know after you said it I can't unhear it. Beyonce's voice is good because it's Beyonce's voice, but I don't think she brings the energy these songs need. Break My Souls sounds good, but it would have been much better with a much more energetic singer. Maybe someone like Jessie J (saying this just because I'll get hate. In not saying Jessie J is a better singer. Im saying her vocal style would work better for these songs than Beyonce.)
I mean, but she is BEYONCE, of course she's rich and glamorous ...
I understand completely whatcha saying there and the frustrating part you feel from the record. Not that I feel that way, but I understood where or what you are trying to say here to make sense
Either way, I still love this album. Maybe it could've, I MEAN COULD'VE go experimental or harder (perhaps on the Act 2 or 3) this is still fantastic record imo
Glad you fairly enjoyed it :)
Alien superstar worst??!?! Oh no boo
Great album review.
I don't know what was disappointing this or the new Amon Amarth record
Light 6
My opinion:
Beyonce - Renaissance
6/10
Best Songs: CUFF IT, Plastic Off the Sofa, Virgo's Groove, Pure/Honey, Break My Soul
Worst Songs: Thique
Music is subjective. I actually enjoyed this album more than I expected but it’s no where near Lemonade in terms of the contexts and the richness of music.
Yea I did enjoy the album 2 . She really is this decades Madonna cause I got such Madonna and Janet Jackson vibes from this album.
You’re right. Beyonce is NOT making music for YOU!
Oh and bye the way the Album breaking all kinds of record
Wasn't into this album. I don't hate it, but the record is just not my thing
Same, although the pair of "Plastic Off The Sofa" and "Virgo's Groove" sounds gorgeous.
Imagine being middling on BREAK MY SOUL 😂
Mark review an album without going off on a tangent about capitalism challenge (impossible).
This Album is Awesome
This is the first Beyoncé album that I dislike from beginning to end, I don't even hate it, I feel no strong emotion about ti.
I think it’s good but I’m not particularly interested in it past one listen. That said, I’m glad pop music is moving back to dance/ having fun. There’s been perhaps a bit too much feigned serious political messages which fail to be interesting or good. IlAtleast it’s fun I guess.
I know people dislike the comparisons but I really see why people compare Beyonce to Michael Jackson cause I have never seen an album criticized celebrated changed and reacted to with mixed reactions since Jackson put out History 30 years ago. Also History was spilt up like rennsance is
Sad how her talent is overshadowed by her delusional stanbase. Like Nicki
Yea Nicki is a joke right now.
don't you DARE compare Beyoncé to that rapist and pedophile enabler
Anyone who collaborates with 6ix9ine does not deserve my respect.
It’s almost worse with Beyoncé, because the general public views Nicki Minaj as a bit of a washed-up jerk already, whereas their adoration for Beyoncé has been inescapable for a decade now.
@@jeremyusreevu237 based Jeremy
This album is excellent
thats a nice shirt on u :D
damn Beyonce is got a hit on her hands with a white man using all those terminologies and dictions of words. this album is going to be big for her. she got everybody exactly what you want. great marketing Beyonce you know what you doing. get ready to get the check go to the bank and put some more money
I unsubbed a long time ago, and periodically check in to see if you'd regain some semblance of credibility but I am disappointed every time. You are just unable to overcome your incredibly narrowed subjective biases and appreciate quality music when it slaps you in the face.
All art and its assessment of quality is subjective, bub ;)
@@SpectrumPulse It is, but it shouldn't all be filtered through such a narrow lens that its merits are disregarded almost entirely. Art reviews should balance inescapable subjectivty with an attempt to assess its objective qualities as well. It is impossible to not feel something is not "for you" while simultaneously noting that it is effective in terms of what it is trying to accomplish.
@@PrincipalSkinner3190 lol, putting aside that "objective qualities" are not a thing, did you not watch the review where the final third was loaded with praise? Why does it feel like you're just annoyed i didn't like it as much and raised critiques you didn't expect? :)
@@SpectrumPulse There are obective qualities to any art form, number of brushstrokes/form/tempo/key/etc. It is how they are interpreted that is subjectivr. I also would have no issue if you shredded the album based on how it performs sonically... which I don't feel you did here. My issue is that your review seems coloured by your subjective biases and perception of what the album "should/could have been". The slight praise you gave the album seems to smell of throwing the audience a bone to save face, moreso than a a genuine attempt to critically assess the merits of the album.
@@PrincipalSkinner3190 So here's the thing: I've been reviewing Beyonce for damn near a decade, and listening to her music for longer. I have an established idea (read: biases) surrounding the sounds that she does well and what I like/dislike from her (as does everyone). I'd prefer to be very open with that right from the jump and while of course I'm open to being surprised or proven wrong, I can't deny that this doesn't move me emotionally in the same way 'Lemonade' or '4' does. So the follow-up question is why, which is where we drill into the lack of distinctive instrumental melodies or Beyonce not sounding like she's having fun, and the appropriation of queer subtext through capitalist framing.
And it's frustrating because as much as you don't buy the praise I did give the album, there are songs I like and that I praised on Billboard BREAKDOWN just yesterday - the midsection of the album starting with 'CHURCH GIRL', the hyperpop flair of 'ALL UP IN YOUR MIND', when this album does experiment and plays into Beyonce's strengths as a performer, which of course leads to the natural question of what could have / should have happened. At the same time I get why people like the stuff I don't, which I also mentioned at length, but I'm reviewing my experience with the art, not the public's at large.
What I think becomes interesting is the clash of where the majority drives their affection for Beyonce compared to where I do, because they don't always intersect - which is what I brought up in the intro - so while I'll mention that context and interpretation, I have my own and I'm not about to kowtow to popular opinion. If there are alternate interpretations of themes or ideas where something might have been missed, I'd love to dig into that - hell, when I covered 'ALIEN SUPERSTAR' yesterday there was a whole bit of added context surrounding Barbara Ann Teer that was an interesting discovery, it's not like Beyonce and her team weren't aware of the history. My gripe is that it's a distinctly shaded and revisionist history and that does the art a disservice.
So yeah, I did my homework alongside this, it's not just the children that are wrong. ;)
I'd sum this album up as being really good despite Beyonce. I wish we could get an album with the same production, but with someone like Rihanna on it.
Beyonce is starting to prove YEAR AFTER YEAR she is out of creativity. Destiny's Child was CREATIVITY PERSONIFIED. They stood on their own with their own style and sound. Beyonce when she first came out copied Tina Turner, Copied Josephine Baker at one point, and over the last decade in her solo career she has sampled many other artist music without permission. There is nothing special about this, just trendy. She needs to bow her head respectful, raise the kids and move on.
Saying you're not the intended demographic defeats the purpose of this review. The contradiction renders you a hypocrite.
Not really, it contextualizes it, if you think that makes his opinion irrelevant, then you can disregard it. Acknowledging it is exactly the opposite of being a hypocrite.
My granny once told me those with no talent become critic!
i dont like this review. disliked
It's woke. Repetitive. Sampled. Masculine. Insecure. Unnecessary language. No substance. Shit.
woke? masculine? you're insane
He never seems to have anything positive to say, always nit-picking
Seems like you should actually watch the review or something.
he usually loves beyoncé actually lol
@@SpectrumPulse Im having a hard time understanding why you can't just accept that this is a FUN straight to the point loud obnoxious Lyrically spontaneous highly sampled Dance Trap Soul album that purposefully becomes inaudible at times. Instead of comparing it to your own personal taste of purely Organic music that tells a story. Every aspect of everything beyonce especially her albums is one hundred percent intentional. This album received higher acclaim by the critics than Lemonade with a score of 93. You can't be a proper judge of an artist you already don't care much for singing a genre you also don't care for. You liked Lemonade because it was mostly Clean, Campy, Soulful and Mellow. Ofcourse your going to dislike it's opposite.
@@SpectrumPulse I did watch it along with all your other reviews of Beyoncé past albums & it seems to me you nit-pick a lot that’s all I’m saying
lol...... LOL You must not know Beyonce and her roots.
Interesting perspective colonizer!
The salt, damn.
What?
@@shadez123 - what is this talent?
@@dpearson2427 ?
@@shadez123 - I thought I was clear - what is his talents - can he sing, write songs, play an instrument? Unless you are criticizing what you have direct knowledge of - you are just “bumping your gums” That’s like a trash man telling me what’s wrong with the process of developing a vaccine- if you are not an Immunologist - then I don’t think I am going to take you seriously. I understand music is a matter of taste - but he gave us a Dissertation on that album!
When an opinion was never asked for.....Beyonce makes art, others sit on a couch.
Here roots are displayed in all the genres she gave. They all came from the Black music community. Beyoncé snatched them all back! House, Disco, EDM, Bounce, Trap, etc all came from Black culture. Maybe that's what disturbs you most.🤷🏿♀️
Cute. Almost like that's an observation I made in the review and doesn't align with anything I actually said. Nice projection, though
@@SpectrumPulse guess I missed it with all the unnecessary surly babble.
@@SpectrumPulse lol. That doesn’t even make sense. What are they projecting?
This entire album is amazing.