Beyoncé – Cowboy Carter

Beyoncé Knowles Carter is a name that needs no introduction; with over 20 years worth of excellent genre-bending material within her extensive discography and 32 Grammy awards to her name, it is safe to say Beyoncé has mastered her craft and the world knows it. After the success of her 2022 house album Renaissance, she took on a highly acclaimed world tour with a film to match. Renaissance is considered to be “Act I” of this new Beyoncé era, and her latest release on 29^th March 2024, Cowboy Carter, is “Act II”.  

This record is much more than the singer proving her versatility. Black musicians are the backbone of country, Americana, blues and folk music: from Ray Charles and Charley Pride to Darius Rucker and Lil Nas X, Black musicians have heavily influenced country’s potential, and Beyoncé adds her name to this legacy. In 2016, the singer performed alongside country music darlings The Chicks at the Country Music Association Awards; they sang a fusion of Beyoncé’s Daddy Lessons and Darrell Scott’s Long Time Gone. After that performance, however, Beyoncé received racist backlash for her involvement within the country music scene, despite Black artists’ long history with the genre. Renaissance celebrated the Black queer community’s contributions to dance and house music, and Cowboy Carter is Beyoncé continuing this reclamation.

Although the record may seem like a lengthy listen, with nearly an hour and a half run time, each song holds its own contextually and conceptually. She begins with Ameriican Requiem, which is a theatrical and heartfelt anthem that introduces hints of gospel and eclectic Western country tones. This first track not only establishes the aesthetics of the record, but also brings forth most of the themes discussed through each song. Beyoncé mentions how when she was growing up and first placing her footing within the industry, she was told she was “too country”, and how after the 2016 CMAAs, she was told the opposite. She then goes on to say “If that ain’t country, tell me, what is?”. With that, Beyoncé goes on to the following songs to express what country can be.

Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages have already seen immense love since their release in February. Although the two singles certainly fit the genre conventions, whether it be Texas Hold ‘Em and its quintessential country sound, or 16 Carriages’ more contemporary take, they are false advertising in terms of what Cowboy Carter has to offer. Spaghettii, for instance, fully dives into the question posed in Ameriican Requiem: what is country? In this track, she trades acoustics and twangy vocals for her impressive rapping abilities whilst discussing how genre conventions are creatively constraining. With this, Beyoncé has created a project based on country sounds and themes whilst ambitiously exploring how far she can stretch the scene’s boundaries.

Yah Yah is another example of this; it’s not what most would think of in terms of country, but in the context of the rest of the album, it fits perfectly. Although it samples both Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots Are Made for Walking and The Beach Boys’s Good Vibrations, it is an entirely unique combination of sounds that cannot be pinned to any genre. She discusses the current climate of the United States and compares it to the past, noting how she keeps her faith through it all. Overall, Yah Yah acts as a central moment thematically where Beyoncé ties the stories from each song into one in an impressively special way.

Although there are many instances of a stray from the typical country conventions, like My Rose, Bodyguard, Desert Eagle, Riiverdance, II Hands II Heaven, Tyrant and Sweet//Honey//Buckin’, there are many interesting Western moments to match.

Beyoncé’s retelling of The Beatles’s Blackbird gives the song an entirely different weight; releasing a cover for a song as beloved as this can be considered a bold move, but Beyoncé’s collaboration with other Black female singers like Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts makes this cult classic tune their own in a sombre, delicate way. In Paul McCartney’s Blackbird, it seems as though he is singing to someone; in Beyoncé’s Blackbiird, however, she is speaking from her own experience and relaying it to someone else, perhaps even her own children; when taking Protector, which discusses familial love and is a direct dedication to her children, into consideration, this interpretation of Blackbiird is emphasised.

Dolly Parton’s Jolene is also reimagined, but it is hardly a cover; while Parton begs, Beyoncé scathingly warns. Although the two versions sound the same and follow similar rhyme schemes, the content is entirely different, especially considering the message found in Bodygaurd. Beyoncé’s vocals are deep and dark, which adds a personal layer to yet another celebrated classic. 

Daughter interestingly continues the sound from the wickedness of Jolene and features a gorgeous snippet of Caro Mio Ben; if Beyoncé had not proved her versatility yet, this moment proves it by taking multiple genres and blending it into one country tune.

II Most Wanted with Miley Cyrus is full of Western tropes in relation to love. Whether it be mimicking all of the well-known aspects of country songs to prove Beyoncé’s capabilities or just a beautifully written love song, II Most Wanted is a great moment within the record and the vocal chemistry between the two is pure ear candy.

While Renaissance is a fun and dance-worthy listen, Beyoncé almost insists that listeners sit down and take the full journey with her on Cowboy Carter. The album shares the singer’s darkest stories and provides deep introspection into her mostly private life. From the proclamation of Ameriican Requiem to the final statements of Amen, this new record should not be taken lightly; each track, no matter how short or different, holds a great purpose in, not only telling the story of Beyoncé, but also the long and rich history of country music.

Taryn Crowley
Image: Blair Caldwell

Cowboy Carter is released on 29^th March 2024. For further information or to order the album visit Beyoncé’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Texas Hold ‘Em here: