Renaissance Roots to Cowboy Boots, This is NOT Her First Rodeo!
Cowboy Carter Review
“Time Heals Everything, I Don’t Need Anything, Hallelujah…I Pray To Her” - ‘Just For Fun’
True Artistry has NO Limitations
Genuine creative talent knows no boundaries, so when people try to confine an artist's genre or style, it often says more about their limitations. This applies to those who doubt Beyoncé's decision to make a Country album after years of evolving her sound and delivering consistently impressive albums and live performances.
Iconic black musicians, including Michael Jackson, Prince, and Tina Turner, have famously mixed music styles and genre-bending at their peak. Beyoncé isn't the first, nor will she be the last, as many artists explore different genres early on, gaining fans and positive feedback. Not to mention, as a native Texan, where country music reigns supreme—the genre was a big part of her family life growing up in Houston.
Cowboys vs Cowhands
When the term "Cowboy" was introduced in the late 1800s, it was used to refer to people of color, while the term "Cowhand" was reserved for white people. This term traces back to the Spanish word "Vaquero," which is a cattle manager riding a horse. Back then, calling men of color "boys" was common. Additionally, more than a third of America's original cowboys were of African and Latino descent, and many did not own cattle or land, although they were employed to care for them. Another reason why white people didn't initially identify with the term.
Many people don't realize this because Hollywood is known for inaccurately rewriting history and downplaying African-American stories. The whitewashed Cowboy aesthetic was developed purely for marketing purposes. If nothing else, I appreciate that Beyoncé is using her platform to reclaim the cowboy narrative, showing respect for historical and current cowboys of color that history too frequently ignores.
Cowboy Carter
A week before the album's release, Beyoncé released a tracklist that included 2 features by Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, paying homage to two of the greatest country music songwriters and artists (singer/guitarists) of the 20th century. Other featured artists include Shaboozey, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Linda Mertell, and her youngest daughter Rumi Carter among others.
If you remember, the album's first two singles were released at the beginning of the third quarter of the Super Bowl. If you need a reminder, the article is linked below.
This album has all the classic elements of country music, from soul-stirring ballads to foot-tapping honky-tonk beats, featuring cozy acoustics, banjos, fiddles, and harmonicas. The ballad ‘Blackbiird’ and spirited ‘Riverdance', embody these features perfectly.
Just when I thought Renaissance was her peak, Beyonce raises the bar with Cowboy Carter, a creation even richer and more moving than Lemonade. This album skillfully blends comfort with danger and brightness with shadow. ‘Bodyguard’, ‘Jolene’, and ‘Crocodile Tears’ embody the complexity of these emotions and how they often coexist. Cowboy Carter offers songs that become a comforting echo in life's ups and downs—a treasure for everyone, wherever they stand on life's road.
Fans are already speculating on the theme of the third act - whether it’s a rock theme or a rumored Destinys Child reunion, it’ll be equally supported based on the quality of the first two acts.
Beyoncé gifted us with the first country-themed album by a mainstream Black female artist, a perfect cap to Women’s History Month, and a testament to the versatility and boundless adaptability of women everywhere. The Queen of Rock and Roll, and our first African American female cross-genre artist, Tina Turner, would certainly admire this work of art if she were with us today.
Easy Listening, The Urban Music Enthusiast.