claire.she.goes

Tag: country music

  • Cowboy Carter: More of where my mind has been.

    Cowboy Carter: More of where my mind has been.

    A final post before The Big Release.

    As an antidote to the negativity in my last post, read this article from Vulture.

    And here’s another look at the performance that inspired the gift that we’re about to receive.

    I read that Vulture piece the other night, and it lifted my mood. Although Beyonce’s performance was met with negative—and in certain instances, blatantly racist—energy, the days leading up to it weren’t all filled with sour grapes.

    For one thing, Beyonce was at the CMAs because someone in charge genuinely wanted her to be there. And I quote:

    Robert Deaton, executive producer, CMA Awards: I was in L.A. when Lemonade dropped. When someone like Beyoncé puts out an album, you listen to all of it. “Daddy Lessons” came on, and I was like, “Man, this is so Texas country. This would be great for the CMAs.”

    That afternoon, I saw an article going through each cut, and when it got to “Daddy Lessons,” it said, “This is Beyoncé’s CMAs performance.” I’m like, Okay, someone else is thinking that! Normally, I make asks to be on the show after the nominations come out. But this was different. This was Beyoncé. I didn’t know anybody in her camp, but I did get the emails for the publicist and manager. I sent a note to Beyoncé’s team that day, going, “I don’t know what your plans are, but the CMA Awards are in November. This would be a great performance for everybody.”

    via Vulture

    The rest was, truly, history. (Go read the whole article if you can. It’s pretty damn good.)

    As an aside, I can’t help but laugh as I contrast Deaton’s reaction to “Daddy Lessons” with those of others who question(ed) whether or not it’s a country song. Anyone with ears knows what genre that track is.  

    Meanwhile, within the stunning performance, there’s one heartwarming detail that I keep recalling—Beyoncé blew kisses into the crowd. I may feel a bit sad and protective of Bey concerning what might have transpired. Yet I keep trying to console myself with the notion that she had a few friends in the audience.

    Other thoughts…

    Can we kill the crabs in the bucket?

    Reyna Roberts. Tanner Adell.

    Those are two of the amazing Black country artists that the Instagram algorithm threw my way after Beyoncé released her country singles. I was already aware of people in the mainstream, like Mickey Guyton. And I know that there are more.

    Yet while I was thrilled to discover Reyna and Tanner, I’ve been alarmed by some of their so-called-fans’ attitudes. Beneath their Instagram posts, as expected, there have been racists. But in addition to them, I couldn’t help but notice comments made by certain (Black) fans. The words that irritated me the most fell into two camps, which I’ll paraphrase.

    Number One: “Beyoncé needs to stay in her lane*. Look at how she’s taking away from REAL Black country artists!!”

    Concerning “stay in her lane” I’ve actually seen someone use that language. And I think it’s shameful. For one thing, no single artist is obligated to only perform one genre of music.

    And ANOTHER thing: Look at the doors Beyoncé is kicking down with this new release! As I write this post, I have yet to hear Renaissance Act 2. Yet let’s not forget that “Texas Hold ‘Em” hit number one on the country charts.

    I know that she’s not the first Black woman to do so. Lord willing, she won’t be the last.  

    The second type of sentiment that I’ve seen and want to address? “The only reason you say you like Beyoncé is because you have to, as a part of the music industry. Blink 3 times if you need help!!” Shoutout to Reyna Roberts. In defense against one of those comments, she said that one of the reasons she sings is because of Beyoncé.

    Talk about giving props to your inspiration!

    And while I’m at it, shoutout to Tanner Adell. I wonder how many people complaining in her mentions know that she’s featured on Cowboy Carter?

    Furthermore, this idea of musicians secretly being manipulated into liking Beyoncé is utterly ridiculous to me.

    Beyonce’s success in the country music genre does not mean that other Black artists are doomed to fail. If nothing else, I think she’s making their stars shine brighter.

    As she said

    Touching everything in my plain view
    And everything next to me gets lit up, too.

    “I’m That Girl” – Beyoncé

    I don’t know about you. But I’m leaning into this long weekend. I’ll be thinking of Jesus and bouncing along to Cowboy Carter.

    Happy Easter to you all!

    Photo by Israel Palacio.

  • Countdown to Cowboy Carter: Contemplating An Old Controversy

    Countdown to Cowboy Carter: Contemplating An Old Controversy

    As previously discussed, when I first heard Beyoncé’s new singles, I couldn’t help but reflect on her “Daddy Lessons” performance with the Chicks at the CMAs. But I didn’t only remember her performance. I also clearly recalled some of the negative buzz surrounding it.

    Among other things, I remember that A Certain Country Star was so disgruntled, that they shared their thoughts on Beyoncé’s presence on Twitter. In response, people were very quick to call what they thought was a spade a spade, and took note of this individual’s perceived racism. (I’m not sharing the person’s name directly in this post because I’m focusing on their attitude over them as an individual. That, and I realize that more than one person had an issue with Beyonce’s performance.)

    Years later, after seeing this person’s obvious displeasure, I wondered, “Did they feel the same way when Justin Timberlake took the CMA stage with Chris Stapleton?”

    Well, apparently, they did.

    Not too long ago, I looked up a story about Country Star’s reaction. Their statements, as featured in this article, mentioned Timberlake and other artists. (And if you have time, reading the whole piece will give you a clearer picture of their thoughts.)

     Among other things, they said,

    “…for every pop performance or R&B performance or any other type of genre performance that you have on the CMA Awards, that takes time away from somebody who is a country music artist, doing country music songs, releasing country music singles to radio, selling country music under that moniker to people all across the country and across the world. That’s taking time away from them. There are other artists that could have been just as much of a draw and that really should have been involved in that slot to celebrate the music that they have helped to create.”

    The other day I started to unpack this statement. But I’ve decided to spare you from reading my detailed ideas. For now, I’ll just say that I think that in addition to racism, there are other prejudices that the country music industry needs to divest itself of.  

    From “Daddy Lessons” to Today

    And yet, looking back at Beyonce’s “Daddy Lessons” era, I couldn’t help but remember certain other odd and unfortunate things. For instance, I’d heard that someone in country music media had claimed that “Daddy Lessons” couldn’t be a country song because people from Music Row—aka Nashville’s songwriting community—didn’t have a hand in creating it.

    More recently, I was watching the opening of the second episode of Friends in Low Places. While discussing the element of surprise in performance, legendary artist Garth Brooks says, “When we started our careers, I didn’t understand why all of a sudden country music couldn’t do the things that the other genres could.”

    Moments later, one of Brooks’ staff notes that people had critiqued his performance style. Apparently, whether in an arena or a more intimate setting, Brooks dared to make everyone feel welcome. The industry response? “That’s not how we do it”.

    I could get into other artists, and things I’ve heard and wondered about. But ultimately, I have the feeling that the Country Music Industry is incredibly staid and stuck in its ways. And if white country artists experience opposition over the trivial things, I can only imagine what Black and other diverse artists go through.

    Needless to say, Beyoncé’s newfound presence in the genre has made me hopeful. I look forward to her continuing to disrupt it for the greater good.

    Photo by Chad Morehead.

  • Get in, Loser. We’re playing NEW BEYONCÉ!

    Get in, Loser. We’re playing NEW BEYONCÉ!

    Where do I begin?

    Photo of the Texas flag.

    I’m in Canada, and although CTV aired some of of last night’s Super Bowl ads, I didn’t see them all. And I most definitely didn’t catch this one.

    Beyoncé’s releasing new music?!

    Let me retrace my steps.

    Before I went to sleep–as one is wont to do–I felt the need to google Beyoncé.

    That’s when I came across this article. The headline alone had me at hello!

    Beyoncé Announces Country-Themed ‘Renaissance Part II’ Album in Verizon Super Bowl Ad, Drops Two New Songs

    *Flashback to Lemonade*

    Please note that I am a sucker for nearly every genre of music out there. I loved “Daddy Lessons”, and Bey’s performance on the CMA Awards with The Chicks blew me away.

    It felt like a moment to me. Like I was witnessing a glimpse of a new horizon.

    I’ve watched that video more than once, and every time, I end up having the same unfinished thoughts. 

    “If Beyoncé ever made a country album…?” (Can you IMAGINE?!?!!) Followed by, “Something else is going to come from this…”

    But I was never quite sure of what.

    Well. With Beyoncé’s next album, it looks like that “something else” is nearly here.

    Did I also mention that some of her collaborators are Canadian? Somebody check the song credits—and call the CBC!!*

    Texas flag photo by Pete Alexopoulos.

    *Edited to feature the lyric videos for Bey’s new singles.