Opinion: Beyonce’s new album plays a southern sound and acknowledges the genre’s Black influence
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The country music industry better hold onto its horses. The showdown is about to commence. Beyonce is busting out her cowboy boots and dropping an album.
Beyonce announced her new project, Act II, on Super Bowl Sunday. While America enjoyed some Usher action, Beyonce dropped two singles: “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.”
The new album is part two of her three-project trilogy. Through each act, Beyonce hopes to reclaim genres in the Black community. Act I was a mix of house music and disco. Act II samples country, bluegrass and folk. Act III is rumored to be a rock-and-roll album.
All of these genres were originally created by Black artists but were taken over by white artists. Beyonce hopes to shine a light on Black influence throughout all genres in the music industry.
Renaissance acknowledges “all of the pioneers who originate culture” and “all of the fallen angels whose contributions have gone unrecognized for far too long,” Beyonce said.
Nicole Fross, a fourth-year at the University of Oregon, is looking forward to the album.
“I like country music and we don’t have many Black female voices in the industry,” Fross said. “I feel like everyone is going to broaden their horizons and it’ll take back Black roots.”
Beyonce is already receiving applause for her country-twang singles. “Texas Hold ‘Em” reached number one on the country music charts — the first time a Black woman has ever held the spot. “16 Carriages” followed close behind at number nine.
Beyonce is the first woman ever to top Billboard’s hot country and hip-hop/R&B charts since they were established in 1958. The only other artists who have topped both genres are Justin Bieber, Billy Ray Cyrus and Ray Charles.
Unfortunately, Beyonce didn’t experience the warmest welcome from the community. Some country radio stations are refusing to play her music at all.
X user Justin tweeted his email exchange between Oklahoma radio station KYKC after requesting “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
“We do not play Beyonce on KYKC as we are a country music station,” KYKC wrote.
Beyonce is from Houston, Texas, and her father descends from Alabama. She’s a country girl from head to toe. So why isn’t she accepted in the country industry?
Black artists have forever struggled to receive recognition in the genre. The white southern narrative shuts out any participation. Yet historically, Black artists played a prominent role in creating country music.
We can see their influence from the beginning to today. The banjo, a key instrument in country music, was brought over from West Africa during the transatlantic slave trade. The melodies of many country hits were based on hymns from Black Southern ministers. Lesley Riddle and Rufus “Tee Tot” Payne influenced The Carter Family and Hank Williams.
Country music wasn’t built on white culture and patriotism. It portrayed progressive ideals. But in recent years, the industry lost sight of its roots. Beyonce has an opportunity to remind America of what country music means.
“Any artist who can diversify the content of country music to not be so pigeon-holed in God and nationalism, because that’s where it’s stuck right now,” UO fourth-year Mira Coles said. “If [she] can open that up again, there’d be a lot more country fans.”
I’ve never been a fan of country music, and it’s not just because of the trucks, fishing and dirt roads. I disagree with the industry’s culture. However, I can relate to the progressive lyrics sampled in Beyonce’s take.
Act II will be released on March 29, a defining moment in whether a modern country industry will embrace a new perspective or cling to its exclusive narrative. Hang on tight — it’s going to be a wild ride.