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'''''Cowboy Carter''''' (also referred to as '''''Act II: Cowboy Carter''''' or simply '''''Act II'''''<ref>{{Cite instagram |author=Beyoncé|user=beyonce|author-link=Beyoncé|date=March 19, 2024 |title=act ii COWBOY CARTER 3.29|postid=C4s6Zr7rlwA|access-date=2024-03-19 |link=https://www.instagram.com/p/C4s6Zr7rlwA/}}</ref>) is the upcoming eighth studio album by American singer [[Beyoncé]], scheduled to be released on March 29, 2024, via [[Parkwood Entertainment]] and [[Columbia Records]]. A record influenced by [[country music]], it is the second installment of [[Beyoncé's three-act project|Beyoncé's trilogy project]] conceived during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], following ''[[Renaissance (Beyoncé album)|Renaissance]]'' (2022).
'''''Cowboy Carter''''' (also referred to as '''''Act II: Cowboy Carter''''' or simply '''''Act II'''''<ref>{{Cite instagram |author=Beyoncé|user=beyonce|author-link=Beyoncé|date=March 19, 2024 |title=act ii COWBOY CARTER 3.29|postid=C4s6Zr7rlwA|access-date=2024-03-19 |link=https://www.instagram.com/p/C4s6Zr7rlwA/}}</ref>) is the upcoming eighth studio album by American singer [[Beyoncé]], scheduled to be released on March 29, 2024, via [[Parkwood Entertainment]] and [[Columbia Records]]. A record influenced by [[country music]], it is the second installment of [[Beyoncé's three-act project|Beyoncé's trilogy project]] conceived during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], following ''[[Renaissance (Beyoncé album)|Renaissance]]'' (2022).


The album was announced on February 11, 2024 on the singer's social media, following a teaser in a [[Verizon]] commercial aired during [[Super Bowl LVIII]] that starred Beyoncé and actor [[Tony Hale]]. Beyoncé also announced the album's release date via social media and simultaneously released the album's dual lead singles, "[[Texas Hold 'Em (song)|Texas Hold 'Em]]" and "[[16 Carriages]]".
The album was announced on February 11, 2024 on the singer's social media, following a teaser in a [[Verizon]] commercial aired during [[Super Bowl LVIII]] that starred Beyoncé and actor [[Tony Hale]]. Beyoncé also announced the album's release date via social media and simultaneously released the album's dual lead singles, "[[Texas Hold 'Em (song)|Texas Hold 'Em]]" and "[[16 Carriages]]."


==Background==
==Background==

Revision as of 07:32, 26 March 2024

Cowboy Carter
Studio album by
Beyoncé
ReleasedMarch 29, 2024 (2024-03-29)
Recorded2020–2024[1][2]
Label
Producer
Beyoncé chronology
Renaissance
(2022) 		Cowboy Carter
(2024)
Singles from Cowboy Carter
  1. "Texas Hold 'Em"
    Released: February 11, 2024
  2. "16 Carriages"
    Released: February 11, 2024

Cowboy Carter (also referred to as Act II: Cowboy Carter or simply Act II[3]) is the upcoming eighth studio album by American singer Beyoncé, scheduled to be released on March 29, 2024, via Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. A record influenced by country music, it is the second installment of Beyoncé's trilogy project conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, following Renaissance (2022).

The album was announced on February 11, 2024 on the singer's social media, following a teaser in a Verizon commercial aired during Super Bowl LVIII that starred Beyoncé and actor Tony Hale. Beyoncé also announced the album's release date via social media and simultaneously released the album's dual lead singles, "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages."

Background

Beyoncé was born and raised in Houston, Texas, where the city's cowboy heritage and zydeco music played a role in her upbringing.[4][5] She listened to country music from an early age, particularly from her paternal grandfather.[6] She attended the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo every year with her family wearing western clothing. She later performed at the Rodeo four times between 2001 and 2007, and has continued to celebrate her Southern roots throughout her career.[7][8][9][10][11]

Beyoncé first released a country song with the track "Daddy Lessons" on Lemonade (2016).[12] A remix featuring The Chicks was released as a promotional single on November 2, 2016,[13] and they performed the song together at the 50th annual Country Music Association Awards. While the performance was largely praised by critics, a backlash was sparked against Beyoncé. Some country music fans criticized Beyoncé's attendance, claiming that she did not belong in the genre. The Country Music Association (CMA) deleted all promotional posts about Beyoncé's performance, which was seen as succumbing to the pressure in an attempt to prevent backlash against the organization.[14][15] In December 2016, Lemonade received nine Grammy nominations, but "Daddy Lessons" was reportedly rejected by the Recording Academy's country music committee for not being "country enough".[16]

This experience led to the creation of Cowboy Carter. Beyoncé explained how it was made clear to her that she was not welcome in the country music space, but instead of letting the criticism force her out of the genre, it made her push past the limitations put on her. She delved into the history of country music and Western culture and researched its African-American roots. She studied "our rich musical archive" and learned from educators who had long advocated for a re-education on the black roots of country music. She also read about how, historically, 50% of cowboys were black, noting: "After understanding where the word ‘cowboy’ came from, I realized how much of the Black, brown and Native cowboy stories are missing in American history."[17] Following this research, Beyoncé decided that she wanted to reclaim Americana and country music from a Black perspective.[18][19] This was also the inspiration for her 2021 "Ivy Park Rodeo" clothing collection.[20] Beyoncé began working on the album in 2016, and the main recording period lasted five years.[1][2]

I grew up going to the Houston rodeo every year. It was this amazing diverse and multicultural experience where there was something for every member of the family, including great performances, Houston-style fried Snickers, and fried turkey legs. One of my inspirations came from the overlooked history of the American Black cowboy. Many of them were originally called cowhands, who experienced great discrimination and were often forced to work with the worst, most temperamental horses. They took their talents and formed the Soul Circuit. Through time, these Black rodeos showcased incredible performers and helped us reclaim our place in western history and culture.

— Beyoncé to Harper's Bazaar in 2021.[20]

Between 2020 and 2024, Dolly Parton said on multiple occasions that she would like Beyoncé to cover her song "Jolene". She first said that "nobody's ever had a really big hit record on ['Jolene']," in a December 5, 2020 interview with The Big Issue. She said that even though "the song has been recorded worldwide over 400 times in lots of different languages, by lots of different bands, [she'd] always hoped somebody might do [it] someday, someone like Beyoncé."[21] On March 10, 2022, when asked by Trevor Noah on The Daily Show about her 2020 statement, she said "I would just love to hear 'Jolene' done in just a big way, kind of like how Whitney did my 'I Will Always Love You', just someone that can take my little songs and make them like powerhouses. That would be a marvellous day in my life if she ever does do 'Jolene'."[22] After publicly showing her support for Beyoncé's 2024 venture into country in February,[23] on March 8, 2024, in an interview with Knox News for the 2024 season opening of Dollywood, Parton said "I think she's recorded 'Jolene' and I think it's probably gonna be on her country album, which I'm very excited about..."[24][25]

Promotion and release

Cowboy Carter is the second installment of a trilogy Beyoncé recorded throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which she described as her most creative period.[26] The first act, Renaissance (2022), is primarily a house and disco record highlighting and celebrating the Black progenitors of dance music, leading some to believe that each album of the trilogy would aim to reclaim a genre that was first pioneered by Black artists.[27] The then-untitled album was first announced on February 11, 2024, during Super Bowl LVIII, when Verizon Communications aired a Super Bowl commercial, titled "Can't B Broken", in which Beyoncé tried to "break the Internet" through increasingly outlandish means, such as releasing a jazz saxophone record, performing on top of the Las Vegas Sphere, building an AI version of herself, launching a "Barbey" doll collection, announcing her candidacy for a fictional political position, and flying into space for a performance. After all of the ideas proved unsuccessful, Beyoncé concluded the commercial by remarking: "Okay, they ready. Drop the new music".[28]

Following the broadcast, Beyoncé released a teaser video for Act II on Instagram.[29] Directed by British artist and filmmaker Nadia Lee Cohen, the video pays homage to Paris, Texas (1984), references border blasters and features Chuck Berry's 1955 track "Maybellene".[30][31] The same day, the singer's official website was updated to announce her eighth studio album, with the placeholder name Act II, scheduled for release on March 29.[32] Subsequently, the album's two lead singles, "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages", were simultaneously made available for digital download and streaming.[33][34] Tina Knowles, Beyoncé's mother, posted a picture of Beyoncé the day of the singles' release, partially captioned "I have loved this record for years."[35] On March 12, Beyoncé announced the album would be titled Cowboy Carter[36] via a teaser poster of a western saddle with a sash.[37] With this she listed album merchandise of limited-edition CDs with a bonus track, T-shirts, and vinyl variants in red, white, blue and standard black.[38]

On March 19, 2024, Beyoncé revealed the album cover via Instagram, and said there would be "surprises" and collaborations on the album.[2] On March 20, she revealed a limited edition exclusive cover, wearing a sash that reads "act ii BEYINCÉ", referencing a generational family surname.[39] Taglines and stills for the album were projected onto various museums in New York City.[40] One of these was an unauthorized projection onto the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, who genially responded by posting Franz Marc’s 1910 painting Three Horses Drinking with the Texas Hold 'Em-inspired caption “This ain’t Texas.”[41] Beyoncé also posted co-ordinates to the museum on her Instagram story.[42]

This album has been over five years in the making. [...] It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history. The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work. [...] I hope that you can hear my heart and soul, and all the love and passion that I poured into every detail and every sound. I focused on this album as a continuation of RENAISSANCE…I hope this music is an experience, creating another journey where you can close your eyes, start from the beginning and never stop. This ain’t a Country album. This is a “Beyoncé” album.

— Beyoncé via Instagram in March 2024.[2]

Cover artwork

The cover artwork was said to be inspired by rodeo queens, such as those in the Houston Rodeo that Beyoncé attended annually

The Cowboy Carter album cover was shot by Texan photographer Blair Caldwell. Much like the cover for Renaissance—which saw Beyoncé sitting atop a stationary disco ball horse—the Cowboy Carter artwork sees Beyoncé atop a gray Lipizzan at full gallop. She rides the horse sidesaddle (in the style of royalty), dressed in a red, white and blue one-piece, a cowboy hat, and a sash reading "Cowboy Carter". She holds the horse's reins in one hand and a large American flag in the other.[43] The imagery is reminiscent of rodeo queens, who similarly carry the flag while riding their horse after winning the title.[44]

The album cover was a topic of discussion and dissection by critics. Francesca T Royster, professor at DePaul University and author of Black Country Music: Listening for Revolutions, wrote: "The aesthetic choice is bold and seems to be signaling the ways that Beyoncé is putting herself into conversations about nationalism, a theme very much central to discourses about country music, patriotism and authenticity, from the times of its origins."[45] Critics suggested a variety of inspirations and allusions for the cover, including presidential portraits, Jacques-Louis David's Napoleon Crossing the Alps (1801–05), Marina Abramović's The Hero (2001),[43] Kehinde Wiley's Equestrian Portrait of King Philip II (Michael Jackson) (2009), the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo,[45] and Eadweard Muybridge's The Horse in Motion (1878).[44]

References

  1. ^ a b Price, Joe (March 22, 2024). ""16 Carriages" Producer Breaks Down the Difference Between Working on 'Renaissance' and 'Cowboy Carter'". Complex. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Strauss, Matthew (March 19, 2024). "Beyoncé Reveals Cowboy Carter Artwork, Shares Statement on New Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  3. ^ Beyoncé [@beyonce] (March 19, 2024). "act ii COWBOY CARTER 3.29". Retrieved March 19, 2024 – via Instagram.
  4. ^ "Super Bowl 2024 announcement: Why Beyoncé is reclaiming country music". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  5. ^ "5 Moments That Prove Beyoncé's Been A Country Music Icon". Elite Daily. February 16, 2024. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  6. ^ "Beyoncé: Renaissance star loved country music as a baby, dad reveals". BBC News. February 21, 2024. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  7. ^ Ocho, Alex. "Beyoncé's Mother, Tina Knowles, Explains Family's History of Cowboy Culture". Complex. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  8. ^ "Look back at 6 times Beyoncé has 'gone country' ahead of new music album announcement". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  9. ^ Phillips, Demi (February 19, 2024). "7 Times Beyoncé Put Her Texas, Country Roots Into Her Music". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  10. ^ Robinson, Zandria F. (February 8, 2016). "Beyonce's Black Southern 'Formation'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  11. ^ Oyeniyi, Doyin (April 16, 2018). "Beychella Was a Celebration of Beyoncé's Southern Black Culture". Texas Monthly. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  12. ^ Kingsberry, Janay (February 12, 2024). "Beyoncé's new country songs salute the genre's Black cultural roots". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  13. ^ "Daddy Lessons featuring the Dixie Chicks". SoundCloud. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  14. ^ Abad-Santos, Alex (November 4, 2016). "Beyoncé, the CMAs, and the fight over country music's politics, explained". Vox. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  15. ^ Hight, Jewly (November 4, 2016). "Beyoncé And The Dixie Chicks Offer Up Lessons On Country Music's Past (And Future)". NPR.
  16. ^ "Beyoncé's 'Daddy Lessons' Apparently Wasn't Country Enough For Grammys". HuffPost UK. December 8, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  17. ^ "Exclusive: Beyoncé announces clothing line inspired by Black cowboys, Houston Rodeo memories". Houston Chronicle. August 6, 2021. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  18. ^ "How Es Devlin Set The Stage For Beyonce's Renaissance, The Compton Super Bowl, And Her Galactic New Book". British Vogue. November 3, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  19. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (March 19, 2024). "Beyoncé Reveals That 'Act 2: Cowboy Carter' Came About After Experience 'Where I Did Not Feel Welcomed'". Variety. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Greenidge, Kaitlyn (August 10, 2021). "Beyoncé's Evolution". Harper's Bazaar. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  21. ^ Garcia, Elisa (March 13, 2022). "Dolly Parton Really Wants Beyoncé to Cover "Jolene," and Her Reason Makes So Much Sense". Elite Daily. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  22. ^ Mateos, Ingrid (March 21, 2022). "Dolly Parton Reveals She Really Wants Beyoncé to Cover 'Jolene'". Show News Today. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  23. ^ Mendez, Malia (February 23, 2024). "Dolly Parton praises Beyoncé's country debut: 'Can't wait to hear the full album'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  24. ^ Kaufman, Gil (March 11, 2024). "Dolly Parton Thinks Beyoncé Covered One of Her Country Classics For 'Act II' Album: 'I Love Her!'". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  25. ^ Turner, Devarrick (March 11, 2024). "Will Dolly Parton be on Beyoncé's new country album? Here's what Dolly had to say". Knox News. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
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  27. ^ Thorpe, Clare (February 12, 2024). "Super Bowl 2024 announcement: Why Beyoncé is reclaiming country music". BBC. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  28. ^ Gonzales, Erica (February 11, 2024). "Beyoncé Is Bound to Break the Internet Again With Her Super Bowl Commercial". Elle. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  29. ^ "Renaissance Act II: Beyoncé announces new album in Super Bowl advert". BBC News. February 12, 2024. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  30. ^ Squires, Bethy (February 12, 2024). "Everything We Know About Beyoncé's Renaissance Act II, Y'all". Vulture. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  31. ^ Renshaw, David (February 12, 2024). "Beyoncé announces new album, shares two country songs". The Fader. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  32. ^ Sisario, Ben (February 11, 2024). "Beyoncé Announces New Album in Super Bowl Commercial". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  33. ^ Chelosky, Daniella (February 11, 2024). "Beyoncé Surprise Drops New Songs "Texas Hold 'Em" & "16 Carriages" Following Super Bowl Commercial". Stereogum. Archived from the original on February 18, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  34. ^ Denis, Kyle (February 11, 2024). "Beyoncé Drops 2 New Songs, Unveils Act II Release Date: Here's When It Arrives". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 18, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  35. ^ Vassell, Nicole (February 12, 2024). "Beyoncé fans shocked after her mother drops hint about new music release". The Independent. Archived from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  36. ^ Garcia, Thania (March 12, 2024). "Beyoncé Reveals New Album Title: 'Act II: Cowboy Carter'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  37. ^ "Cowboy Carter Limited Edition Cover Vinyl (Blue)". UK: Beyoncé. March 12, 2024. Archived from the original on March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  38. ^ Mary, Thompson (March 12, 2024). "Beyonce reveals 'Cowboy Carter' is the title of her upcoming album". ABC News. Archived from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  39. ^ Jackson, Clementina (March 21, 2024). "Beyoncé poses naked in nothing but a sash for new limited-edition album cover". Women's Health. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  40. ^ Ho, Karen (March 21, 2024). "Promotions for Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' Album Projected on Major New York Museums". ARTnews. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  41. ^ O'Connor, Roisin (March 22, 2024). "Beyoncé 'not authorised' to project Cowboy Carter message on Guggenheim, New York museum says". The Independent. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  42. ^ Horowitz, Steven (March 21, 2024). "Guggenheim Museum Denies Authorization of Beyoncé Projection on Building Facade". Yahoo! Movies UK. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  43. ^ a b Benzine, Vittoria (March 20, 2024). "What Artistic Nods Are Behind Beyoncé's Striking New Album Cover?". Artnet News. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  44. ^ a b The Styles Desk (March 21, 2024). "Dissecting the 'Cowboy Carter' Cover: Beyoncé's Yeehaw Agenda". The New York Times.
  45. ^ a b Demopoulos, Alaina (March 19, 2024). "Beyoncé's Act II album cover is 'a clapback to being told she doesn't belong in country music'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
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