Not a huge Bey fan but I think this is one of my favorite from her in the more recent years. It's the perfect blend of paying homage and keeping it fresh while displaying her talents.
Fun Fact... This album was actually Act i, initially, and Renaissance was meant as Act ii. In lieu of the pandemic, Bey decided to hold off on putting this one out. Once the shutdowns ended and we were able to get "back outside" she and her team decided that RENAISSANCE should go out first - because it was what the world needed. Dance, free expression, fun and partying. So this county genre-blend album has just been sitting for a few years and was supposed to be the FIRST album release, which is WILD when you consider it.
Rob! I can't believe you weren't posting music commentary onTH-cam like this years ago! I instantly recognised your face and voice but never knew your name until now. Instantly subscribed! Excited to hear the future music takes you post here! Edit: I was recently in the comment section for 'Country Cast'...They were not kind to Beyoncé 😅 I read a lot of: _"she's not Country",_ _"Country is not a genre it's a lifestyle"_ pointing out how she can take the sound but that her values/ how she dresses do not align with Country, ultimately telling her to "stay in her lane" and _"wear more clothes"._ They definitely weren't showing her any southern hospitality! 😳I for one, enjoyed Cowboy Carter, and understand that while it has many Country references, it's not faithfully or conventionally Country. It's loudly rebelling against categorisation and genre convention in many places on this album, and I think that was the intention. To me, the album ended up being a commentary on the idea of genre, with clear a didactic purpose to "bury old ideas" and encourage the listener to question and critique genre, and ultimately recognise how imperceptible genre becomes once you dare to toy with its conventions.
I couldn't agree more. I'm from the south so I'm familiar with country music and the history of it. I'm really glad you did your research and talked about it in detail especially with you being from NY.
This album is meant to serve as a musical education of the African Americans historic place w/in Country music, which would sound like Irish Folk (great in It's own right, mind you) if it weren't for the Blues & Gospel of the enslaved Africans. This includes the BANJO, which was created by enslaved Africans in the Caribbean then, later brought to The States. Yes, the banjo wasn't created by the Appalachians but by Africans. I could also go into the Black artists that many of the earlier big name white country artists learned from then portrayed as their style.... as it was with Elvis and Black artists like Roy Hamilton, Big Mama Thornton, Chuck Berry and Sister Rosetta Tharpe - The Godmother of Rock & Roll), but it would take awhile. ;) Beyonce adds a bit of those artists work into this album as well. Her last few projects have been a meld of grand musical production, a mosaic of Black History and how the two interconnect. It appears that Beyonce is in a period of the Reclamation and Rejoicing of African American Culture, trying to correct the record due to the erasure and gate keeping whilst also trying to push The Culture forward in Unity, Knowledge and Beautiful Experiences and Conversations. 😎 It's what she's become known for. The Superficial and surface level won't fully appreciate this album over the more curious and expansive minded.
No matter what you think about Beyonce doing "country" music, you can not say in good faith that this album is not important. Sure, she wants to be successful. No one in the music industry wants to flop, but her intentions here are clearly to break down a barrier she felt when she performed Daddy Issues with The Chick's. There's so many barriers put on Black Women specifically in music that I won't get into, but I think she's done what she had to with CC and Renaissance to make things better for the younger generations.
Not a huge Bey fan but I think this is one of my favorite from her in the more recent years. It's the perfect blend of paying homage and keeping it fresh while displaying her talents.
def a blend of paying homage and feeling fresh. I agree.
Been a Tanner Adell fan so I’m glad she got this look. This album is uplifting so many talented people and the album was so well done. -Vince
Fun Fact...
This album was actually Act i, initially, and Renaissance was meant as Act ii.
In lieu of the pandemic, Bey decided to hold off on putting this one out.
Once the shutdowns ended and we were able to get "back outside" she and her team decided that RENAISSANCE should go out first - because it was what the world needed. Dance, free expression, fun and partying.
So this county genre-blend album has just been sitting for a few years and was supposed to be the FIRST album release, which is WILD when you consider it.
yeah i peeped when she said that in her press release, really interesting how she ended up switching them,
Rob! I can't believe you weren't posting music commentary onTH-cam like this years ago! I instantly recognised your face and voice but never knew your name until now. Instantly subscribed! Excited to hear the future music takes you post here!
Edit: I was recently in the comment section for 'Country Cast'...They were not kind to Beyoncé 😅
I read a lot of: _"she's not Country",_ _"Country is not a genre it's a lifestyle"_ pointing out how she can take the sound but that her values/ how she dresses do not align with Country, ultimately telling her to "stay in her lane" and _"wear more clothes"._ They definitely weren't showing her any southern hospitality! 😳I for one, enjoyed Cowboy Carter, and understand that while it has many Country references, it's not faithfully or conventionally Country. It's loudly rebelling against categorisation and genre convention in many places on this album, and I think that was the intention. To me, the album ended up being a commentary on the idea of genre, with clear a didactic purpose to "bury old ideas" and encourage the listener to question and critique genre, and ultimately recognise how imperceptible genre becomes once you dare to toy with its conventions.
I cant believe I was posting sooner myself, Im not gonna lie. I love the "bury old ideas" angle. Feels like that to me too!
Thank you for sharing that story about Linda Martell. It’s tragic how she was ostracized. I’m glad she is being heard again.
yeah i just learned about her myself. I heard her daughter is working on a documentary
You are making me cry, some things i knew, some i didnt.
wow making you cry? Wow. Glad you watched
wow this was dope, so many gems i didn't even know about.
I couldn't agree more. I'm from the south so I'm familiar with country music and the history of it. I'm really glad you did your research and talked about it in detail especially with you being from NY.
thank you for checking it out and listening to a northern on such matters lol
Another great think piece, thanks Rob!
thank you for tuning in
Yes, Rob. Keep this going. Another great podcast.
Great initial impressions. Would love a deep dive at some point, when you have more time to analyse the lyrics. Much ❤
if the people want it, i just might. thank you for watching
We show up cause you the real deal!
😃
Enjoyed this video! I wish this blew up more because hearing you touch on different genres would be dope imo.
We seriously missed you Rob keep going bro.
Keep’’em coming Rob! You’re doing great solo! 🙌🏾❤️
Thank you fr.
This album is meant to serve as a musical education of the African Americans historic place w/in Country music, which would sound like Irish Folk (great in It's own right, mind you) if it weren't for the Blues & Gospel of the enslaved Africans. This includes the BANJO, which was created by enslaved Africans in the Caribbean then, later brought to The States.
Yes, the banjo wasn't created by the Appalachians but by Africans.
I could also go into the Black artists that many of the earlier big name white country artists learned from then portrayed as their style....
as it was with Elvis and Black artists like Roy Hamilton, Big Mama Thornton, Chuck Berry and Sister Rosetta Tharpe - The Godmother of Rock & Roll), but it would take awhile. ;) Beyonce adds a bit of those artists work into this album as well.
Her last few projects have been a meld of grand musical production, a mosaic of Black History and how the two interconnect.
It appears that Beyonce is in a period of the Reclamation and Rejoicing of African American Culture, trying to correct the record due to the erasure and gate keeping whilst also trying to push The Culture forward in Unity, Knowledge and Beautiful Experiences and Conversations. 😎
It's what she's become known for.
The Superficial and surface level won't fully appreciate this album over the more curious and expansive minded.
No matter what you think about Beyonce doing "country" music, you can not say in good faith that this album is not important.
Sure, she wants to be successful. No one in the music industry wants to flop, but her intentions here are clearly to break down a barrier she felt when she performed Daddy Issues with The Chick's.
There's so many barriers put on Black Women specifically in music that I won't get into, but I think she's done what she had to with CC and Renaissance to make things better for the younger generations.
agreed!!!!!
jolene jolene jolene joleneeee
Im not a country fan but shout out to B for reminding people who created it