Act II: Cowboy Carter
The album 'Act II: Cowboy Carter' goes on sale, a return to his native Texas that aspires to surpass 'Renaissance'.
Beyoncé returns with an album that contains country rhythm, a Dolly Parton song and a song called 'Flamenco'
Undisputed queen of current pop, Beyoncé is crowned princess of country in her new album, her first foray into this genre and where she wanted to join veterans like Dolly Parton to delve into a style that has traditionally turned its back on the community. African American.
Act II: Cowboy Carter, the long-awaited «second act» of his album Renaissance (2022), takes us to Houston, Texas, his homeland, forces us to put on a cowboy hat, get up from our chair and listen carefully to this complex exercise musical
Queen B's eighth studio album, which lasts one hour and 18 minutes for a total of 27 tracks, begins precisely like this, with the question «Can you hear me?» (can you hear me?) in the song American Requiem, a kind of multi-voice gospel.
The answer is heard loud and clear, a mix of genres that range from country to pop, including flamenco, rap, trap and electro and that draws on classic and new references and seeks to pay tribute to so many other voices from the world of music.
The two songs 16 Carriages and Texas Hold 'Em' that came to us in the middle of the Super Bowl are not surprising. The first, to the rhythm of spurs and whips and with an intimate vision of the artist's hard beginnings and all the work that has brought her here.
Texas Hold 'Em', a hit on TikTok and Instagram and racking up all kinds of records since its release, contrasts with a vibrant beat and addictiveness.
The tribute to country legend Dolly Parton becomes evident with Dolly P, a brief message from the Tennessee woman that precedes Beyoncé's version of the 1973 classic Jolene, which, although with licenses, respects the essence of this almost impossible exercise vocal.
The second most searched in II Most Wanted is none other than Miley Cyrus, who did not stop achieving success last year thanks to Flowers and who returns to country with this collaboration, a genre that saw her born with her beginnings in Hannah Montana and the influences of his father, Billy Ray Cyrus, a well-known singer of the genre.
II Most Wanted is an anthem and tribute to road trips, Thelma and Louise and youth, where Cyrus and Beyoncé leave you wanting to hear more after their short three minutes.
A less anticipated collaboration in this genre is the one with the New York rapper Post Malone and which is one of the most romantic on the album, easy to listen to and fresh as a summer day, as well as a small nod to Beyoncé herself with the lyrics «you're my Renaissance».
Flamenco is also surprising, a song that, although it is not far from the rest of the album, incorporates some flamenco claps, an outstanding Spanish guitar, some quejío and talks about the need to settle down and know how to ask for help.
Beyoncé also pays a small tribute to The Beatles with Blackbird, which was released in 1968 with its birdlike songs and gentle rhythms, and which Queen Bee makes even sweeter by intertwining numerous vocal harmonies.
In the field of «harder» country we have Riverdance, which invites you to dance, with its insatiable rhythm and which contrasts with II Hand II Heaven, which perhaps draws more on electro, although it produces the same effect.
Beyoncé concludes this foray into country with Amen, very close to gospel, and where the artist seems to ask for mercy for the last hour and 18 minutes. And we are going to give it to her because with greater or lesser proximity to the genre, Beyoncé has once again shown that she is not afraid of anything, not even a style that has traditionally closed the door not only to the African-American community, but to women.
A wave of awards awaits this album and possibly a world tour similar to the one we saw with Renaissance.