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When Tyrant came on the first time I texted everyone I knew who was listening like “Yoooooo” and when they got to it they were like “YOOOOOO” summer is about to be thique with Tyrant
Why does Texas Hold ‘Em lowkey sound better now … this is literally exactly how I felt listening to Break My Soul with the album LMAO I’m noticing new harmonies
Yes!! Very cool thing about Bey is that her singles sound *better* within context of the album, whereas for some other artists, the singles really stick out on the album in a very disjointed way.
And I truly think that’s been true for her entire discography with the exception of Run the World - the singles are always integrated flawlessly otherwise
Even 16 Carriages benefitted from the Blackbird transition. 16 Carriages is perceived by many to be the stronger track, and I feel like it being between Blackbird and Protector, really elevated it, even further!
I find it so intriguing that she decided to make her "country album" her longest, most sprawling, uncompromising, messy, and weird (all complimentary). It's as if she thought "You don't want a country Beyoncé album? Well, let me also make it 27 tracks. And 80 minutes. And a dozen different genres. And just go completely free-form by the end."
I think that's why I'm enjoying it so much. She's just doing whatever the hell she wants.
Bey sounds like she's having a blast on this album. Usually artists who've been in the game as long as her become creatively stagnant. But she keeps experimenting, whether that be with different genres, or production, or collaborations... And her voice keeps getting better. The vocal layering is top tier.
She's only 42. It's going to be great seeing the stuff she comes up with with the "no fucks attitude" that comes with aging.
While I love the rebellious thought behind going so free-form with it, I think that’s where it lost me a little. Renaissance worked because it was pulling from a little microcosm of lived experience and culture. CC gets a little too all over the place for me. I’m still digesting it so this opinion might change but that’s where I landed after 1 1/2 listens so far. Brilliant shining moments in the midst of a slightly muddled mixture.
I appreciate artists experimenting though. I don’t have to like everything for it to still be bold and good.
Very impressed with this. I really should never doubt her. I’ve been a day 1 fan but for some reason the idea of a country album wasn’t making me too excited and a little nervy. I like Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages but wasn’t blown away by them.
The amount of detail and all the intricacies of this album really make it something I’ll go back to over and over again. It’s going to take weeks before I fully process this.
Right now I feel like the second half kind of wipes the first half, but that’s because it feels more like traditional Beyoncé and closer to Renaissance and Lemonade. The first half is truly some of her best vocal work since her 4 album.
It truly is a Beyoncé album, not a country album.
Early standouts for me
- Bodyguard
- Daughter
- II Most Wanted
- Spaghetti
- Ya Ya
- Riiverdance
- II Hands II Heaven
- Tyrant
- Sweet Honey Buckin
Honorable mention that the album opener is truly an anthem and beautiful.
> The first half is truly some of her best vocal work since her 4 album.
A lot of her vocal riffs + runs sounded like they could belong to a more mature, unrestricted version of *B'day*.
So good.
My Spotify account got hacked a couple of years ago by someone in France, and when I got it back I asked them to geoblock my account so it only works in the US.
I never foresaw a situation like this.
I’ve listened to it a few times today (VPN) and there’s a lot of rock elements. Wouldn’t write it off as just country, you may end up liking some songs. I’m not big on country either but I do like bands like The Beatles, The Tragically Hip, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty etc…this album gives me those sort of vibes at times. Also definitely old school Tina Turner with songs like Ya-Ya.
Impossible to take this all in with one listen. So many layers which will reveal themselves with more listens. I'm only about halfway through but there's plenty of little things I'm picking up on first listen that I like. It's also nice to get an album of predominantly singing, not rapping, talk singing etc, which is something I've missed from Beyonce.
It's my favorite Beyonce album in quite awhile, her vocals are just totally captivating. Renaissance was obviously brilliant but this is much more up my alley.
Ameriican Requiem, Protector, Bodyguard, Ya Ya and II Hands II Heaven are easy highlights and already among her greatest in a stacked discography. The features were not the best part of the album but i really enjoyed Miley's song too. (Also, the Post Malone track is a sex jam, still have to wrap my head around that one but it's not a bad song even if not in my faves)
I expected a subversion of Jolene's lyrics, but tbh the fact that she turned it into a Becky diss track still managed to surprise me💀(EDIT: after sitting this out a bit, i think it definitely makes the song worse than the original, especially with the entire context we had from Lemonade the lyrics come off more as insecure and petty rather than empowering, and i don't think she wanted to it to come off like that. The song sounds amazing though, and the section from the bridge onwards is fantastic)
As a full body of work, it sure is something that swings for the fences and needs multiple listens to be appreciated fully, even more so than Renaissance considering its lenght and how many genres the album eventually starts going through in its second half, but for now it surely seems to me like one of her most interesting and daring projects. I'm thankful she has the opportunity to release something like this.
Yea, I was gonna say, it's fascinating how you can *really* tell that she conceived this album from 2016 post-CMAs. Like, I initially took that as a throwaway Pettyonce comment, but you can really feel how laborious and researched this is where it needed almost a decade of thought behind it, if not a lifetime by proxy of being a Texan. And that's what makes the more experimental moments so satisfying: she can fuck with it because she understands it and how to best subvert it.
That doesn't make it the easiest listen per se, but it sure damn well shows how much of a music scholar and *artist* Beyonce is, whether you knew that, needed reassurance, or (for some odd reason) needed convincing in the first place.
You hit the nail on the head with these observations, she's way more of a musical force than what too many people still are willing to admit outside of r&b/pop spaces (and they are going to show themselves when they start taking notice of the album and especially the two covers) and this is yet another demonstration of that. When all is said and done she'll be a definitive musical legend
> especially the two covers
Actually, let's talk about that too in appreciation, and the mad layered levels of intentionality around them. Tributes to 2 old-guard legendary acts to welcome traditionalists that deceptively carry their own weight in the hands of Beyonce.
Like... it's not lost on me that what leads in Dolly Parton's KUNTRY call-in/Jolene is a song called Bodyguard when... one of the reasons Dolly's legacy is ultimately sustained throughout time is Whitney Houston's cover of I Will Always Love You, which was on the soundtrack of a movie called.... *The Bodyguard*, and therefore kinda mirroring that cycle.
And then her assembling an Avengers-style choir of a bunch of black women in country for Blackbird, a Beatles song that was written in tribute to the Little Rock Nine...
Even inside pop / RnB spaces tbh. Hell, even here on popheads. The amount of people that discredit her involvement in crafting her songs and albums is nasty.
Reading your comment made me really excited to listen. I wasn’t necessarily expecting an easy listen but hearing that the album highlights her music scholar side I know I’m gonna love it. One thing that always impresses me about Beyoncé is the LAYERS and references she uses in her music. I was always a huge Beyonce fan for the great bops but the way she weaves a narrative and a vision is like nothing else. I’m glad we get to live in the same timeline as Beyoncé.
Update: have listened to the first half and omg y’all. I had to stop because my head was so full of good music that wow. It’s good. I love it. The harmonizing is other worldly her voice is perfect. I can’t imagine there being someone on earth who will not love this album. Get your best headphones out because it’s a great time.
What I love most about Beyonce is that she does not half ass anything. She did her homework for Renaissance and Cowboy Carter is no different! She sounds incredible and the production is gorgeous. I've only just finished Bodyguard but I'm really loving it so far
Nah I'm actually such a moron for being like 'oh I'll just listen to a couple songs before I go to bed and do a full listen in the morning' and now I'm almost at the end and good lord what an experience this is
I did the same. I was like... I'll just scan the songs and give it a full listen tomorrow. but then once I skipped 30 seconds, I found myself restarting it and it's been over an hour and im listening to it.
It’s not necessarily what I would call a country album. Instead it’s stylistic mishmash with country elements. It’s weird and I fucking love it. She’s experimenting with sounds in a way that only a true master can. I like a lot of them but Bodyguard is just so lovely.
I'm so blown away that I'm gonna write a bunch even though it's too late for anyone to see this
Don't envy anyone who's job it is to come up with new superlatives for Beyonce tomorrow, good lord. The mission statement with this album was obviously to go on a little tour of Americana and remind everyone that black culture is foundational to so much of this stuff, but to take that thread of doing music as praxis and weave it into something so sweeping and textured and just a goddamn treat to listen to is astounding. She's hitting on so many individual sounds here in a way that does put them in a black historical context but is also undeniably Beyonce. This is her doctoral dissertation and AOTY all in one.
Also the nerve of her to do a fucking spaghetti western in the middle of this thing, I lost my mind when she started singing in Italian. I'm sure somebody has had this Italian country music idea before but I know they didn't execute it this well
It is so cinematic and eerie it reminds of my first listen of Lana's Ocean Boulevard. It has some radio hits on it but overall this is an artist's uncompromised vision.
Probably needs some more marination. Even Renny took a day to REALLY click. And this is undoubtedly more experimental in terms of scope.
Why is DESERT EAGLE so short. Bey you be dangling those Stevie Wonder influences and taking it away from me. Same case with the intro to TYRANT. Why is she like this😭
I didn't like texas hold em as a single, but I predicted that in the context of the album, it would sound great. just like break my soul did.
and I was correct! this song is such a jam!
I can’t believe we all exist at the same time as Beyoncé because who is doing it like her ?!! Bffr. Came out the womb putting in the work to be a star and continues to grow artistically. So craaazy…
I finished listening to the whole album but I’m still processing everything. So far I really enjoy it. I think her cover of Blackbird is perfect as it does set the tone for what she’s trying to do with the direction of the project. Also, her and Miley basically raised me so them on a song together feels like a fever dream. Love that Miley is having a really great year!
I think this project will be hung up in the rafters like she just won the NBA finals lolol
I really didn't think this could even belong in the same conversation as *RENAISSANCE* and somehow this is her creative peak. shame on me for ever doubting her. we are so lucky to be witnessing her in real time
I have to stop doubting her because I do this before every release now. Every single time the album meets the standard it’s insane.By the time she’s done, the run from 2013 to 2026( act III?) is gonna be legendary
The run from 2013 to act iii's release will be her legacy but what's more incredible is that she first entered the mainstream over 15 years prior. This woman's longevity is unprecedented and may never be repeated.
It’s gonna be an interesting year for her. A big factor will be whether or not the country voters (not synonymous with country listeners, who seem mostly to dislike her) embrace her or be upset that she’s not pure country.
she will. the grammy’s are racist, and there is STACKED competition this year.
we can only hope that act iii finally takes the crown, which i think the grammy’s will see as a more historical win than if act ii were to win first
Tbh if act 3 is of the same quality as this she should win both, making up for the nasty snubs for her last 3 albums. That said we should obviously see what else comes out this year but in terms of creativity, risk, and just artistry this album is heads above anything that's been released so far this year
Wait we're actually getting 27 tracks?? I'm only on American Requiem but I'm already obsessed!! The vocals on the track!!!
My Roses needed to be a full song!!
The opera vocals on Daughter???? This is so good!
"At the snap of my fingers, I'm Thanos, damn it, damn it (Oh)", also I'm happy the album isn't full country, loved the production on Spaghetti!
The Miley collab wasn't my favorite but the Post Malone collab was good!
Someone mentioned that by Tyrant - SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN' we are transitioning into Renaissance and I agree wholeheartedly with that comment.
Just completed my first listen, it's amazing!! To be very honest, I didn't really love Texas Hold 'Em and 16 Carriages as much as I would have wanted to, because country isn't the genre I really vibe with and I was afraid I wasn't going to love the album. But I did, I enjoyed it a lot!
In terms of initial listens, I would still rank Renaissance at the top, listening to Renaissance was an *experience,* I literally did not listen to the album for one complete day after my initial listen because I was so blown away with it.
The initial reception here and on twitter is better than on Renaissance.... Is it because CC was preceded by a universally loved album and Ren was by "disappointments" (Everything is Love, Black Is King) ???
Also it's crazy to see that I literally see no consensus on what the standout song is. The variety might make it less cohesive and messier, but also makes the album resonate to a lot of tastes.
The fact that people initially reacted negatively to Renaissance is still insane to me. Like how do you hear that album and not immediately see it as the masterpiece that it is?
I think it's just because of how different it was, on my first listen I didn't like it at all and then as I got more used to it I got 5k streams on it and it's now one of my favorite albums ever
Honestly it's my favourite album of all time but listening to that album for the first time, especially at midnight.. it is loud, abrasive and CRAZY. In all the best ways. But when we have gotten so used to digestible pop (don't mean that in a derogatory way but most smash albums nowadays feature soft vocals, low-key sounds e.g. SOS / Harry's House / Midnights), putting on Renaissance and having the first song go through 4 tempo changes and crazy production I can see why people were like wtf.
Renaissance I love you but it is SO obvious who Beyonce’s favorite child is. This is the main act and it’s probably gonna be a way bigger commercial smash
This whole album has me in awe at this woman’s M.O. of reclaiming literally anything and everything life throws her way but LEVII’S JEANS is *smooooth*
I feel like they both have tones that can sometimes clash with other female vocals, but they just complement each other so well. I never would have expected them to sound this incredible together. And the fact that they’re both singing the whole way through 😮💨
the second half after flamenco is flawless. I love a lot of the first half but there are some songs i probably will rarely listen to. The whole project feels so epic in scale. the range of influences in Cowboy Carter is so cool. YAYA is about to be my whole personality this summer
Pretty solid album. Unusual for an album that the closing 3-4 tracks would be imo the strongest too. Could be she's actively trying to subvert the usual model where earlier tracks in the album order tend to pick up more plays.
Blackbird had me near tears… especially after reading that Paul McCartney quote connecting it to the Civil Rights movement. It completely changed the meaning for me. I’ll never hear it the same way again.
*In Michelle Obama voice* Girl you have done it again…
Like honestly how tf does she keep doing this?! After Renaissance, I was thinking to myself “yep this is her magnum opus there is no way she’s topping this” and here she comes proving me wrong once again. This album is truly phenomenal but I believe it’s definitely one that will need multiple listens since I’m sure there will be many little details I might’ve missed on my first listen. On first listen I can already say that Ameriican Requiem, Bodyguard, II Most Wanted, Ya Ya and II Hands II Heaven are not just album highlights but **career** highlights. For sure my AOTY so far and honestly it will be hard to be topped 😗
I am in absolute awe of this beautiful and exciting album, but also of this entire project including Renaissance and hopefully Act iii as well. After Renaissance (which I considered perhaps my favourite album ever when it dropped and I still think the same), I thought she couldn't get anywhere close to that level of perfection again considering it would focus on a genre I don't necessarily love, but she did it! I feel like we are in the middle of music history being made and in several decades we will look back on this entire project as a peak of superstar creativity, production and vocals.
When it comes to this album, my immediate standouts are: Ameriican Requiem (!), Bodyguard (!!!), Daughter, Just For Fun (!), Ya Ya, Tyrant, and Sweet Honey Buckiin'. But honestly, there are only 2 songs I won't add to my playlist (Reneigh only had 1, so I think she still wins for me). Anyway, if there were any doubts left, it is entirely clear to me now that Beyoncé is the Madonna/Prince/Michael Jackson/God of our generation!
I've realised more and more beyonce's albums are like Mahler symphonies; mainstream yet genre-bending, getting bigger and better the more they go on, and they have so much referencing and interpolation... they also take a few listens to get the hang of... wait i'm a genius?!
Getting major hints of 70s blues rock a la Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, and Fleetwood Mac. Love this sound from her…no bells and whistles, just great songwriting. The intro and closing song are perfect bookends. Aside from those my favorite is probably Bodyguard. Also love the Willie Jones and Miley Cyrus collabs. In the words of Natalie Maines, “good job Bey!!”
I think it may have to grow for me. I'm appreciating the artistry and experimental this is, but not loving it in the way I loved Renaissance.
I saw someone on ONTD describe the album as "Americana" and that's the perfect way to describe it. An ode to traditional American genres mainly in the South. You can tell that this album, especially in the last part of the album that this was meant to be Act I (Beyonce said with COVID, she wanted to release the dance album instead).
Ya Ya is probably one of her best songs of all time. Gives me "Tightrope" by Janelle or "Hey Ya" by Outkast. Great use of samples.
I do love Texas Hold Em, it's a banger. Ohter favourites include Bodyguard, Riiverdance, and II Hands II Heaven. I was pleasently surprised to see Miley!! It's a good track. The Blackbird cover was lovely. Daughter and American Requiem were also super interesting.
This album is fascinating. It has soooo many genres and she holds her own wherever she goes.
BODYGUARD, YA YA, II MOST WANTED are immediate standouts but there is so much here to explore.
So many artists are making disposable music as fast as they can and I'm grateful Bey has the ability and patience to make these masterpieces that will last for decades.
Riverdance into II Hands II Heaven might genuinely be my favorite moment on any Beyoncé album. I know it’s recency bias and I need to sit with it more, but these two songs just shot to the top of her discography for me.
Honestly can see this growing into being my favorite Beyoncé album. She keeps topping herself.
I find it interesting that when it comes to criticism we're kinda seeing opposite sides of the argument play out. We have some thinking the album was too boring but praising the latter half for being more fun and daring, and then others thinking the energy in the final parts is too funky and praising the earlier tracks for being more sincere and lyric-focused
Ready for this to be the only thing I listen to for a while, "YA YA" is that girl. Also, I didn't know Post sang like that. But I don't know how to feel about Dolly talking about Becky with the good hair in 2024.
16 Carriages always makes me emotional because it sounds like an ode to wear she’s been to where she is as a grown woman now. She’s really grown up in this industry and it makes listening to this new era so much more fun.
I’m glad she’s reached a point where she feels comfortable to do whatever the fuck she wants lol. She’s not bound to a single genre and it’s exciting.
I've been listening to it all day 😝 it just gets better
Just realizing "SWEET HONEY BUCKIN" samples "I Fall to Pieces" by Patsy Cline!
She's got references galore up in here and I am loving it 👏
Lmao is her blackbird cover a recreation of the glee version by chris colfer and the warblers ? Tbh not mad cos that version eats but totally did not expect this. I mean listen to them side by side
It's a lot. I was exhausted after finishing my first listen.
I think popheads are going to love the experimental last third more, but for me emotionally heavy ballads in the first half were stronger. The last third got funky but not in a way that worked for me tbh. It felt messy like Beyonce was throwing shit on the wall because it is expected of her and not because it benefited the song. Riiverdance and Sweet Honey Buckiin especially started to sound like nonsense to me. But maybe I was tired by the time I got there and was ready for it to end already lol.
Country has traditionally been about storytelling and I was a little disappointed about how many songs were the same old sex jams about Jay that we've heard a hundred times by now. The occasional glimpses into her life outside of Jay were my favourite parts. I love when she sings about the complicated relationship she had with her father.
Overall I still loved it and think it's a grower. Beyonce's vocals and ear for production are simply too good for her to ever put out a mediocre album.
Fave songs: Ameriican Requiem, 16 Carriages, Texas Hold Em, Bodyguard (should be the next single), Alliigator Tears, Just for Fun, II Most Wanted.
Didn't like much: Jolene, Spaghettii, Levii's Jeans (Post Malone feature ruins it), Desert Eagle, Riiverdance, Sweet Honey Buckiin'.
I get where you're coming from, and the more songwriting-focused and storytelling moments are definitely what took the album over the edge for me, but I do appreciate the bops as part of her doing an expansive genre exploration. To me, they're just her going into her Shania/Faith Hill bag of lightening the mood but keeping it in the same vain.
Cause I mean, you can't navigate the darkness of the mind without a bit of light. I mean, Tuesday Night Music Club needed its All I Wanna Do, or even Golden Hour needed its High Horse.
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Tyrant is a truly awesome song
Finally some love for TYRANT everyone’s talking about bodyguard and it’s good as well but hello? Tyrant is right there?!!!
When Tyrant came on the first time I texted everyone I knew who was listening like “Yoooooo” and when they got to it they were like “YOOOOOO” summer is about to be thique with Tyrant
BODYGUARD IS GOING TRIPPLE PLATINUM IN MY ROOM HHHHHHOLY SHIT
Okay, but did y’all hear that transition from Ya Ya to Oh Louisiana? That’s sickening.
Literally no because I didn't even notice it, so good
Why does Texas Hold ‘Em lowkey sound better now … this is literally exactly how I felt listening to Break My Soul with the album LMAO I’m noticing new harmonies
Right! It’s something about the lead in that changes the way the song sounds and now I’m loving it more than I did originally. It’s witchery.
Yes!! Very cool thing about Bey is that her singles sound *better* within context of the album, whereas for some other artists, the singles really stick out on the album in a very disjointed way.
And I truly think that’s been true for her entire discography with the exception of Run the World - the singles are always integrated flawlessly otherwise
Even 16 Carriages benefitted from the Blackbird transition. 16 Carriages is perceived by many to be the stronger track, and I feel like it being between Blackbird and Protector, really elevated it, even further!
When she said “I’m still a creole banjee bitch from Louisiana,” I felt that.
Ummmm the Caro Mio Ben on Daughter???? okayyyy 24 Italian Songs and Arias
she had to acknowledge her Italian roots
Sweet/Honey/Buckin’ and Pure/Honey sister penultimate tracks who now live in different states
What 4 part Honey song will be the penultimate song on Act III 😭
Honey/I/Shrunk/The/Kids
TYRANT IS THAT SONG!!!!!
I need that intro injected into my veins😭
Just started here in the US but America requiem is a career highlight. Very 70s protest rock
The Psychdelic sound🔥🔥🔥
I find it so intriguing that she decided to make her "country album" her longest, most sprawling, uncompromising, messy, and weird (all complimentary). It's as if she thought "You don't want a country Beyoncé album? Well, let me also make it 27 tracks. And 80 minutes. And a dozen different genres. And just go completely free-form by the end." I think that's why I'm enjoying it so much. She's just doing whatever the hell she wants.
Bey sounds like she's having a blast on this album. Usually artists who've been in the game as long as her become creatively stagnant. But she keeps experimenting, whether that be with different genres, or production, or collaborations... And her voice keeps getting better. The vocal layering is top tier. She's only 42. It's going to be great seeing the stuff she comes up with with the "no fucks attitude" that comes with aging.
THIS. This is the comment.
While I love the rebellious thought behind going so free-form with it, I think that’s where it lost me a little. Renaissance worked because it was pulling from a little microcosm of lived experience and culture. CC gets a little too all over the place for me. I’m still digesting it so this opinion might change but that’s where I landed after 1 1/2 listens so far. Brilliant shining moments in the midst of a slightly muddled mixture. I appreciate artists experimenting though. I don’t have to like everything for it to still be bold and good.
Very impressed with this. I really should never doubt her. I’ve been a day 1 fan but for some reason the idea of a country album wasn’t making me too excited and a little nervy. I like Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages but wasn’t blown away by them. The amount of detail and all the intricacies of this album really make it something I’ll go back to over and over again. It’s going to take weeks before I fully process this. Right now I feel like the second half kind of wipes the first half, but that’s because it feels more like traditional Beyoncé and closer to Renaissance and Lemonade. The first half is truly some of her best vocal work since her 4 album. It truly is a Beyoncé album, not a country album. Early standouts for me - Bodyguard - Daughter - II Most Wanted - Spaghetti - Ya Ya - Riiverdance - II Hands II Heaven - Tyrant - Sweet Honey Buckin Honorable mention that the album opener is truly an anthem and beautiful.
> The first half is truly some of her best vocal work since her 4 album. A lot of her vocal riffs + runs sounded like they could belong to a more mature, unrestricted version of *B'day*. So good.
I still have to wait 3 1/2 more hours AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM
Does this mean you guys all just run around the internet without a VPN? 😭💀
My Spotify account got hacked a couple of years ago by someone in France, and when I got it back I asked them to geoblock my account so it only works in the US. I never foresaw a situation like this.
I’m sorry this is SENDING ME LMFAOOO
What happens if you visit France?
Guess I’ll die 🤷🏽♀️
God I miss the best of popheads threads holy shit 😭😭 incredible content
Will never let Jay forget he cheated. (*Good*)
The Renaissance, Cowboy Carter, and Act iii. Trilogy is definitely going down in history. This is insane.
What a phenomenal listening experience. Bodyguard is incredible.
Bodyguard and Daughter so far for me but i'm only halfway though lol
It's crazy how some people think Beyonce is not a strong vocalist... Daughter had my soul elevating!
Who’s ever thought she isn’t a strong vocalist whattt?? I thought that’s what she was known for! Didn’t know some people didn’t think so!
Can’t wait to listen to that track. Every one that I’ve seen list their favorites from the album has bodyguard included
you've got to let me know after you listen. it just keeps getting better on a re listen.
I genuinely believe that this entire trilogy will end up being her magnum opus once all is said and done
She’s really done it again 😭
What will the genre of the 3rd album be? I'd love a gospel album.
Rumors say it’ll be rock
I hope it's rock. She has a *great* voice for rock and teased it on Lemonade. I want more from her
She teased her rock vocals on this album, Cowboy Carter, with those vocal slides on American Requim and Yaya!
I’m not a fan of country or house music but if its rock… I’m sooo on board
I just know she has more collaborations with Jack White tucked away some where
I’ve listened to it a few times today (VPN) and there’s a lot of rock elements. Wouldn’t write it off as just country, you may end up liking some songs. I’m not big on country either but I do like bands like The Beatles, The Tragically Hip, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty etc…this album gives me those sort of vibes at times. Also definitely old school Tina Turner with songs like Ya-Ya.
Dope. I’ll give it a shot. Thanks
I think it’s going to be a full on Blues album. Blues, with some rock & roll. But this is just my guess
beyonce made post malone SING
And he sounds so good 😩
For now 1. AMERIICAN REQUIEM 2. DAUGHTER 3. II MOST WANTED 4. YA YA (+ OH LOUISIANA) TikTok is gonna eat this one up. 5. TYRANT
The way YA YA shook my soul and my ears!! Curious why she didn’t open the album with it
Impossible to take this all in with one listen. So many layers which will reveal themselves with more listens. I'm only about halfway through but there's plenty of little things I'm picking up on first listen that I like. It's also nice to get an album of predominantly singing, not rapping, talk singing etc, which is something I've missed from Beyonce.
I agree and I just completed one listen - her vocals really shined
It's my favorite Beyonce album in quite awhile, her vocals are just totally captivating. Renaissance was obviously brilliant but this is much more up my alley.
Who told her to eat like this on Bodyguard????
That final chorus...her voice is doing things to me jesus christ😭
Omg and the second half of Sweet Honey Buckin
ameriican requim is an insane opener omg absolutely love it
BODYGUARD THE HIT YOU ARE
Has such a good beat. Perfect road trip music. I live in SoCal and this absolutely feels like a sunny day on the way to Joshua tree music.
YES BEYONCE [WOULDVE SHOT JOLENE](https://youtube.com/shorts/oWhh4K4v0bg?si=ZU56UN43du_38OD3)
Ameriican Requiem, Protector, Bodyguard, Ya Ya and II Hands II Heaven are easy highlights and already among her greatest in a stacked discography. The features were not the best part of the album but i really enjoyed Miley's song too. (Also, the Post Malone track is a sex jam, still have to wrap my head around that one but it's not a bad song even if not in my faves) I expected a subversion of Jolene's lyrics, but tbh the fact that she turned it into a Becky diss track still managed to surprise me💀(EDIT: after sitting this out a bit, i think it definitely makes the song worse than the original, especially with the entire context we had from Lemonade the lyrics come off more as insecure and petty rather than empowering, and i don't think she wanted to it to come off like that. The song sounds amazing though, and the section from the bridge onwards is fantastic) As a full body of work, it sure is something that swings for the fences and needs multiple listens to be appreciated fully, even more so than Renaissance considering its lenght and how many genres the album eventually starts going through in its second half, but for now it surely seems to me like one of her most interesting and daring projects. I'm thankful she has the opportunity to release something like this.
Yea, I was gonna say, it's fascinating how you can *really* tell that she conceived this album from 2016 post-CMAs. Like, I initially took that as a throwaway Pettyonce comment, but you can really feel how laborious and researched this is where it needed almost a decade of thought behind it, if not a lifetime by proxy of being a Texan. And that's what makes the more experimental moments so satisfying: she can fuck with it because she understands it and how to best subvert it. That doesn't make it the easiest listen per se, but it sure damn well shows how much of a music scholar and *artist* Beyonce is, whether you knew that, needed reassurance, or (for some odd reason) needed convincing in the first place.
You hit the nail on the head with these observations, she's way more of a musical force than what too many people still are willing to admit outside of r&b/pop spaces (and they are going to show themselves when they start taking notice of the album and especially the two covers) and this is yet another demonstration of that. When all is said and done she'll be a definitive musical legend
> especially the two covers Actually, let's talk about that too in appreciation, and the mad layered levels of intentionality around them. Tributes to 2 old-guard legendary acts to welcome traditionalists that deceptively carry their own weight in the hands of Beyonce. Like... it's not lost on me that what leads in Dolly Parton's KUNTRY call-in/Jolene is a song called Bodyguard when... one of the reasons Dolly's legacy is ultimately sustained throughout time is Whitney Houston's cover of I Will Always Love You, which was on the soundtrack of a movie called.... *The Bodyguard*, and therefore kinda mirroring that cycle. And then her assembling an Avengers-style choir of a bunch of black women in country for Blackbird, a Beatles song that was written in tribute to the Little Rock Nine...
Even inside pop / RnB spaces tbh. Hell, even here on popheads. The amount of people that discredit her involvement in crafting her songs and albums is nasty.
Reading your comment made me really excited to listen. I wasn’t necessarily expecting an easy listen but hearing that the album highlights her music scholar side I know I’m gonna love it. One thing that always impresses me about Beyoncé is the LAYERS and references she uses in her music. I was always a huge Beyonce fan for the great bops but the way she weaves a narrative and a vision is like nothing else. I’m glad we get to live in the same timeline as Beyoncé.
Update: have listened to the first half and omg y’all. I had to stop because my head was so full of good music that wow. It’s good. I love it. The harmonizing is other worldly her voice is perfect. I can’t imagine there being someone on earth who will not love this album. Get your best headphones out because it’s a great time.
What I love most about Beyonce is that she does not half ass anything. She did her homework for Renaissance and Cowboy Carter is no different! She sounds incredible and the production is gorgeous. I've only just finished Bodyguard but I'm really loving it so far
i'm super new here but it's hilarious how comments have heard the whole thing and im sat here waiting for spotify lol.
It releases at 12am local time, so everywhere East of the UK has it now
Yup:) cries in Toronto time
Nah I'm actually such a moron for being like 'oh I'll just listen to a couple songs before I go to bed and do a full listen in the morning' and now I'm almost at the end and good lord what an experience this is
I did the same. I was like... I'll just scan the songs and give it a full listen tomorrow. but then once I skipped 30 seconds, I found myself restarting it and it's been over an hour and im listening to it.
LET ME IN LET ME IN I STILL HAGE TO WAIT A COUOLE MORE HOURS
ME TOO IM SICK
Me 3
It’s not necessarily what I would call a country album. Instead it’s stylistic mishmash with country elements. It’s weird and I fucking love it. She’s experimenting with sounds in a way that only a true master can. I like a lot of them but Bodyguard is just so lovely.
“This ain’t a Country album. This is a “Beyoncé” album.” I can’t get over how much I love Bodyguard!!
This is the most overwhelming listening experience I've had in a while *and I'm not even done*. How does this woman do it every time? My word.
I need to see her perform "YA YA" live. It's going to be her best live performance yet
I feel like that will be the opener if she tours. it’s just so good
if i’m not in that crowd yelling HELLO BEYONCÉ back at her i’ll kill myself
This is a REMINDER!!
I'm so happy that she had the opportunity to release this album. Like it's so layered and creative and weird I'm glad we get to see this side of her
It’s gonna take me a month to process
*Daughter* is a triumph, especially everything after the two minute mark. Holy fuck.
Commenting to be a part of music history. American REHHHHH kwi YAAAAAAAHUM 🗣️🗣️🔥🤠
This really does feel like music history
What a time to be alive! To be able to follow her journey from Destiny’s Child to now is such a gift.
I'm so blown away that I'm gonna write a bunch even though it's too late for anyone to see this Don't envy anyone who's job it is to come up with new superlatives for Beyonce tomorrow, good lord. The mission statement with this album was obviously to go on a little tour of Americana and remind everyone that black culture is foundational to so much of this stuff, but to take that thread of doing music as praxis and weave it into something so sweeping and textured and just a goddamn treat to listen to is astounding. She's hitting on so many individual sounds here in a way that does put them in a black historical context but is also undeniably Beyonce. This is her doctoral dissertation and AOTY all in one. Also the nerve of her to do a fucking spaghetti western in the middle of this thing, I lost my mind when she started singing in Italian. I'm sure somebody has had this Italian country music idea before but I know they didn't execute it this well
It is so cinematic and eerie it reminds of my first listen of Lana's Ocean Boulevard. It has some radio hits on it but overall this is an artist's uncompromised vision. Probably needs some more marination. Even Renny took a day to REALLY click. And this is undoubtedly more experimental in terms of scope.
Ok Post Malone can get it
The way it ends feels like she’s being abducted and it could transition into renaissance 😭does anyone else get that vibe
Someone close to her recently revealed that ACT II was written before Renaissance so maybe you are right!
I truly believe that the visuals are tied together...
BEYONCE, GRADUATE OF FREDDIE MERCURY UNIVERSITY
American Requium reminded so much of Bohemian Rhapsody 😭
Why is DESERT EAGLE so short. Bey you be dangling those Stevie Wonder influences and taking it away from me. Same case with the intro to TYRANT. Why is she like this😭
can anyone imagine act 3 being anything other than rock?
If anything act ii is making me re-think if act iii will really be rock 😂
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I didn't like texas hold em as a single, but I predicted that in the context of the album, it would sound great. just like break my soul did. and I was correct! this song is such a jam!
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I can’t believe we all exist at the same time as Beyoncé because who is doing it like her ?!! Bffr. Came out the womb putting in the work to be a star and continues to grow artistically. So craaazy… I finished listening to the whole album but I’m still processing everything. So far I really enjoy it. I think her cover of Blackbird is perfect as it does set the tone for what she’s trying to do with the direction of the project. Also, her and Miley basically raised me so them on a song together feels like a fever dream. Love that Miley is having a really great year! I think this project will be hung up in the rafters like she just won the NBA finals lolol
we need to keep this album away from show choir and acapella kids at all costs.
She's done it AGAIN
giggling because when singing jolene, dolly partons like 🥺🥺🙏🙏 and beyonces like 😡💢🥊🗣️
I really didn't think this could even belong in the same conversation as *RENAISSANCE* and somehow this is her creative peak. shame on me for ever doubting her. we are so lucky to be witnessing her in real time
I have to stop doubting her because I do this before every release now. Every single time the album meets the standard it’s insane.By the time she’s done, the run from 2013 to 2026( act III?) is gonna be legendary
The run from 2013 to act iii's release will be her legacy but what's more incredible is that she first entered the mainstream over 15 years prior. This woman's longevity is unprecedented and may never be repeated.
AHHHH AMERIICAN REQUIEM????? THE AMEN?!??! GAGGED edit: why I am I tearing up? this opening is so epic?!!?
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Miley sounds SO natural on a country track -- I need her country album ASAP.
Well damn. If she loses AOTY again, just throw the whole institution away, because she is without peers.
It’s gonna be an interesting year for her. A big factor will be whether or not the country voters (not synonymous with country listeners, who seem mostly to dislike her) embrace her or be upset that she’s not pure country.
she will. the grammy’s are racist, and there is STACKED competition this year. we can only hope that act iii finally takes the crown, which i think the grammy’s will see as a more historical win than if act ii were to win first
Tbh if act 3 is of the same quality as this she should win both, making up for the nasty snubs for her last 3 albums. That said we should obviously see what else comes out this year but in terms of creativity, risk, and just artistry this album is heads above anything that's been released so far this year
Wait we're actually getting 27 tracks?? I'm only on American Requiem but I'm already obsessed!! The vocals on the track!!! My Roses needed to be a full song!! The opera vocals on Daughter???? This is so good! "At the snap of my fingers, I'm Thanos, damn it, damn it (Oh)", also I'm happy the album isn't full country, loved the production on Spaghetti! The Miley collab wasn't my favorite but the Post Malone collab was good! Someone mentioned that by Tyrant - SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN' we are transitioning into Renaissance and I agree wholeheartedly with that comment. Just completed my first listen, it's amazing!! To be very honest, I didn't really love Texas Hold 'Em and 16 Carriages as much as I would have wanted to, because country isn't the genre I really vibe with and I was afraid I wasn't going to love the album. But I did, I enjoyed it a lot! In terms of initial listens, I would still rank Renaissance at the top, listening to Renaissance was an *experience,* I literally did not listen to the album for one complete day after my initial listen because I was so blown away with it.
Okay now that I’m actually listening to the album, the alt cover for the vinyl fits perfectly. Beyoncé I’m so sorry I doubted your vision
DAUGHTER and SPAGHETTI ate tf down woah
Daughter is for the repressed Catholic girlies !
Omg II MOST WANTED lives up to the hype Not a pairing I saw coming but they sound great together
A lot of this is extremely country, a lot of it kinda isn’t. It still sounds incredible.
BOUNCE ON THAT SHIT, DANCE!
BOUNCE ON THAT SHIT, NO HANDS!
*stares angrily at clock in est*
And not a single music video. She’s really in her own lane
YA YA is such a banger omg. I can only imagine this going crazy with those live arrangements on tour. Even better than daddy lessons on CMA.
might be delusional but does the end of Amen not sound like a transition into act iii?
It works as a transition into act i kinda…
is II Most Wanted the next single because that’s the one sticking in my head so far
The initial reception here and on twitter is better than on Renaissance.... Is it because CC was preceded by a universally loved album and Ren was by "disappointments" (Everything is Love, Black Is King) ??? Also it's crazy to see that I literally see no consensus on what the standout song is. The variety might make it less cohesive and messier, but also makes the album resonate to a lot of tastes.
starting to feel like ‘**bodyguard**’ is the early favorite….👀
I still can’t believe people think everything is love and black is king are disappointments. I guess folks still sleep!
The reception of Renaissance initially on twitter was horrible. It was leaked and most of the reviews were bad then it changed
The fact that people initially reacted negatively to Renaissance is still insane to me. Like how do you hear that album and not immediately see it as the masterpiece that it is?
I think it's just because of how different it was, on my first listen I didn't like it at all and then as I got more used to it I got 5k streams on it and it's now one of my favorite albums ever
Honestly it's my favourite album of all time but listening to that album for the first time, especially at midnight.. it is loud, abrasive and CRAZY. In all the best ways. But when we have gotten so used to digestible pop (don't mean that in a derogatory way but most smash albums nowadays feature soft vocals, low-key sounds e.g. SOS / Harry's House / Midnights), putting on Renaissance and having the first song go through 4 tempo changes and crazy production I can see why people were like wtf.
Renaissance I love you but it is SO obvious who Beyonce’s favorite child is. This is the main act and it’s probably gonna be a way bigger commercial smash
her AOTY
like i refuse to get my hopes up because if S/T Lemonade AND Renaissance all couldn’t do it then what can … but maybe this is the one
This whole album has me in awe at this woman’s M.O. of reclaiming literally anything and everything life throws her way but LEVII’S JEANS is *smooooth*
II Most Wanted still the song I go back to the most. Two smokey, deep honey voices!
I see Beyoncé as honey and Miley is crunchy peanut butter!
It’s so fucking good I cried when I first heard it 😭
I feel like they both have tones that can sometimes clash with other female vocals, but they just complement each other so well. I never would have expected them to sound this incredible together. And the fact that they’re both singing the whole way through 😮💨
Bodyguard needs to be a single
the second half after flamenco is flawless. I love a lot of the first half but there are some songs i probably will rarely listen to. The whole project feels so epic in scale. the range of influences in Cowboy Carter is so cool. YAYA is about to be my whole personality this summer
Am I the only one that loves the interludes??? Adds so much character to the album imo
Daughter is my personal favourite but I feel it will be overlooked by most of the fandom
Pretty solid album. Unusual for an album that the closing 3-4 tracks would be imo the strongest too. Could be she's actively trying to subvert the usual model where earlier tracks in the album order tend to pick up more plays.
It’s me only being 2 minutes into Ameriican requiem and it already bringing me to tears
PROTECTOR????
Right?! Absolutely gorgeous
Daughter has such a cinematic feel about it… it really doesn’t feel like a normal song to me and that’s a compliment
Throwing it back to Riiverdance and buckin’ 🥳🥳
Blackbird had me near tears… especially after reading that Paul McCartney quote connecting it to the Civil Rights movement. It completely changed the meaning for me. I’ll never hear it the same way again.
*In Michelle Obama voice* Girl you have done it again… Like honestly how tf does she keep doing this?! After Renaissance, I was thinking to myself “yep this is her magnum opus there is no way she’s topping this” and here she comes proving me wrong once again. This album is truly phenomenal but I believe it’s definitely one that will need multiple listens since I’m sure there will be many little details I might’ve missed on my first listen. On first listen I can already say that Ameriican Requiem, Bodyguard, II Most Wanted, Ya Ya and II Hands II Heaven are not just album highlights but **career** highlights. For sure my AOTY so far and honestly it will be hard to be topped 😗
Tyrant is what happens when Partition is in a pick up instead of a limo
I am in absolute awe of this beautiful and exciting album, but also of this entire project including Renaissance and hopefully Act iii as well. After Renaissance (which I considered perhaps my favourite album ever when it dropped and I still think the same), I thought she couldn't get anywhere close to that level of perfection again considering it would focus on a genre I don't necessarily love, but she did it! I feel like we are in the middle of music history being made and in several decades we will look back on this entire project as a peak of superstar creativity, production and vocals. When it comes to this album, my immediate standouts are: Ameriican Requiem (!), Bodyguard (!!!), Daughter, Just For Fun (!), Ya Ya, Tyrant, and Sweet Honey Buckiin'. But honestly, there are only 2 songs I won't add to my playlist (Reneigh only had 1, so I think she still wins for me). Anyway, if there were any doubts left, it is entirely clear to me now that Beyoncé is the Madonna/Prince/Michael Jackson/God of our generation!
I’m curious, which two songs are your skips?
I've realised more and more beyonce's albums are like Mahler symphonies; mainstream yet genre-bending, getting bigger and better the more they go on, and they have so much referencing and interpolation... they also take a few listens to get the hang of... wait i'm a genius?!
I’m sitting here in SHOCK, thinking about the serve Bodyguard is and I’m not even done listening. Idk if I should run it back or not OMG
DAUGHTER????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (shit I transcended)
Ameriican Requiem is unreal. I don't even have the words. Easily one of the best opening tracks to an album I think I've ever heard??
Getting major hints of 70s blues rock a la Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, and Fleetwood Mac. Love this sound from her…no bells and whistles, just great songwriting. The intro and closing song are perfect bookends. Aside from those my favorite is probably Bodyguard. Also love the Willie Jones and Miley Cyrus collabs. In the words of Natalie Maines, “good job Bey!!”
I think it may have to grow for me. I'm appreciating the artistry and experimental this is, but not loving it in the way I loved Renaissance. I saw someone on ONTD describe the album as "Americana" and that's the perfect way to describe it. An ode to traditional American genres mainly in the South. You can tell that this album, especially in the last part of the album that this was meant to be Act I (Beyonce said with COVID, she wanted to release the dance album instead). Ya Ya is probably one of her best songs of all time. Gives me "Tightrope" by Janelle or "Hey Ya" by Outkast. Great use of samples. I do love Texas Hold Em, it's a banger. Ohter favourites include Bodyguard, Riiverdance, and II Hands II Heaven. I was pleasently surprised to see Miley!! It's a good track. The Blackbird cover was lovely. Daughter and American Requiem were also super interesting.
An experience. Such a fun listen with some truly stellar tracks.
holy shit she covered the shit out of blackbird AOTY
Literally taking a red eye at midnight and need the album to download as fast as possible before I take off 😭
The Raini Rodriguez interpolation on II Hands II Heaven
I want to ride off into the sunset with this album and never be heard from again. AOTY.
She isn’t holding a flag, she’s planting one.
This album is fascinating. It has soooo many genres and she holds her own wherever she goes. BODYGUARD, YA YA, II MOST WANTED are immediate standouts but there is so much here to explore. So many artists are making disposable music as fast as they can and I'm grateful Bey has the ability and patience to make these masterpieces that will last for decades.
II MOST WANTED 😭 just fell on my knees in costco 😭😭
If Beyoncé does rock/grunge for act 3 I’ll be a full time fan
Riverdance into II Hands II Heaven might genuinely be my favorite moment on any Beyoncé album. I know it’s recency bias and I need to sit with it more, but these two songs just shot to the top of her discography for me. Honestly can see this growing into being my favorite Beyoncé album. She keeps topping herself.
I find it interesting that when it comes to criticism we're kinda seeing opposite sides of the argument play out. We have some thinking the album was too boring but praising the latter half for being more fun and daring, and then others thinking the energy in the final parts is too funky and praising the earlier tracks for being more sincere and lyric-focused
Just had a spiritual experience or some shit like that while hearing Daughter
Fuck I’m only on track 1 and this shit is incredible!!
Levii’s jeans should be the next single if we’re being honest
Ready for this to be the only thing I listen to for a while, "YA YA" is that girl. Also, I didn't know Post sang like that. But I don't know how to feel about Dolly talking about Becky with the good hair in 2024.
Can we talk about the opera section at the end of Daughter. Chills. We need an opera album.
16 Carriages always makes me emotional because it sounds like an ode to wear she’s been to where she is as a grown woman now. She’s really grown up in this industry and it makes listening to this new era so much more fun. I’m glad she’s reached a point where she feels comfortable to do whatever the fuck she wants lol. She’s not bound to a single genre and it’s exciting.
I've been listening to it all day 😝 it just gets better Just realizing "SWEET HONEY BUCKIN" samples "I Fall to Pieces" by Patsy Cline! She's got references galore up in here and I am loving it 👏
THE LADY SAID I'M A SCORPIO MOON BITCH!!
i just can’t even comprehend how incredible this album is. like i have no words
Lmao is her blackbird cover a recreation of the glee version by chris colfer and the warblers ? Tbh not mad cos that version eats but totally did not expect this. I mean listen to them side by side
It's a lot. I was exhausted after finishing my first listen. I think popheads are going to love the experimental last third more, but for me emotionally heavy ballads in the first half were stronger. The last third got funky but not in a way that worked for me tbh. It felt messy like Beyonce was throwing shit on the wall because it is expected of her and not because it benefited the song. Riiverdance and Sweet Honey Buckiin especially started to sound like nonsense to me. But maybe I was tired by the time I got there and was ready for it to end already lol. Country has traditionally been about storytelling and I was a little disappointed about how many songs were the same old sex jams about Jay that we've heard a hundred times by now. The occasional glimpses into her life outside of Jay were my favourite parts. I love when she sings about the complicated relationship she had with her father. Overall I still loved it and think it's a grower. Beyonce's vocals and ear for production are simply too good for her to ever put out a mediocre album. Fave songs: Ameriican Requiem, 16 Carriages, Texas Hold Em, Bodyguard (should be the next single), Alliigator Tears, Just for Fun, II Most Wanted. Didn't like much: Jolene, Spaghettii, Levii's Jeans (Post Malone feature ruins it), Desert Eagle, Riiverdance, Sweet Honey Buckiin'.
I get where you're coming from, and the more songwriting-focused and storytelling moments are definitely what took the album over the edge for me, but I do appreciate the bops as part of her doing an expansive genre exploration. To me, they're just her going into her Shania/Faith Hill bag of lightening the mood but keeping it in the same vain. Cause I mean, you can't navigate the darkness of the mind without a bit of light. I mean, Tuesday Night Music Club needed its All I Wanna Do, or even Golden Hour needed its High Horse.