"Did Beyoncé go country?", is the question currently trending on social media. Unsurpisingly, the artist has become the catalyst of the major uproar seen in the country music industry. It all began when Beyoncé, native to Houston, Texas dropped her singles “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold 'Em”. announcing the drop on her Super Bowl Verizon commercial, with the artist stating, "Okay they ready... drop the music."
Beyoncé then became the first black female artist to debut at no. 1 on the hot country songs chart ; thus sparking major conversation and back lash in the country music industry. Even so much that an Oklahoma country radio station sparked further controversy by refusing to play the artist. After receiving much backlash from listeners for not being inclusive to black artists the radio station has hence changed course on that decision.
ON Tuesday, March 19th, the artist set the record straight stating, “My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant.
This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. 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...This ain’t a Country album. This is a “Beyoncé” album. This is act ii COWBOY CARTER, and I am proud to share it with y’all!"
Our take is... Art is made to be subjective. The beauty behind this uproar is that whether viewed as a refreshing collaboration or a contentious intrusion, her involvement REPRESENTS the dynamic nature of music and its ability to inspire, challenge, and provoke. As the controversy simmers, one thing remains certain - the power of music to spark dialogue, evoke emotion, and bring people together, even amidst discord and disagreement.
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