The Best of New Music Friday:
Beyoncé – COWBOY CARTER
“There’s a lot of talking going on,” Beyoncé sings to open her new country album COWBOY CARTER. “I cannot believe Beyoncé Is releasing a country album,” and “She’s from Houston, so she’s got that Texas country girl in her,” are talking points overheard recently. Beyoncé’s right, most music fans have talked about COWBOY CARTER’s genre since it was announced.
Where people have snarkily suggested COWBOY CARTER is supposed to be a joke, Beyoncé wastes no time calling out everyone who thought for a second that this was a joke. “You don’t know hard I worked for this” she says on the first track “AMERIICAN REQUIM.” Beyoncé would never put energy into creating something that wasn’t serious. She even says she fought to be recognized as being “country,” whatever that means. “If that ain’t country, tell me what it is,” she sings. Later, a monologue from Linda Martell calls out genres, labels and condensing music to a meaningless made-up name, just before Bey raps with Shaboozey.
“AMERIICAN REQUIEM” is the first listen at Beyoncé’s “traditional” country style. She has a twang that’ll create some smiles. It ebbs and flows throughout this one-hour and 18-minute record. There are spots for choral vocals reminiscent of a pop-country track. “DAUGHTER” has a plucky guitar that sounds like the final duel in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. “DAUGHTER” in particular has an old-school country song feel, just like the songs that most music fans can get on board with, not just the one’s who have liked country since the early 2000s.
COWBOY CARTER also features numerous musical A-listers. Brittany Spears has vocals. Willie Nelson plays as a radio host and talks about getting high on “Smoke Hour.” Dolly Parton drops by to say “What up miss Hunny B, it’s Dolly P” (those are the official lyrics) (*Editor’s Note, Steel Magnolias is an A-list film). There are times this record serves as a major nod to country music and its stars.
The second track is reserved for a cover of The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” which at last check was NOT a country song, but it does have catchy acoustic guitars here, so Bey gets a pass.
There’s a big celebration of music happening on COWBOY CARTER, and if Beyonce releasing a country record was the only way to get her on the same tracks as Dolly and Willie, it’s worth it. If Willie and Dolly can get on board with Bey in rhinestone boots and hat on horseback, everyone else should saddle up for the show.
New Music Friday Top Picks:
Been Stellar – “All In One”
Blake Rose – “Last Walk Home”
Chastity Belt – Live, Laugh, Love
Chicano Batman – Notebook Fantasy
Hemlock – “Bones”
Vial – Burnout
Which of these tracks from New Music Friday will you be adding to your favorite playlists today? Any we missed? Let us know in the comments or on Instagram!
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