Beyoncé at the Lunar Fashion Show on Feb. 13, 2024 Tribune Content Agency
On Feb. 11, world-renowned singer-songwriter Beyoncé shocked the world when she released two singles that were dramatically different than anything she had ever produced: two country tracks, titled “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.” These two singles will serve as the two lead singles to the singer’s upcoming album, “Act II,” which will be the second of three installments of Beyoncé’s three-act project.
Many have criticized the “Queen Bey’s” newest songs, deeming them as “whitewashed” due to our society’s idea that country music belongs only to White people.
Fans have refuted these criticisms by claiming that country music has, in fact, had many contributions from Black artists in the past, such as Darius Rucker and the legendary Tracy Chapman.
A southern Oklahoma country radio station was heavily criticized for having declined a request from a listener who asked the station to play “Texas Hold ‘Em,” on account of the fact that they “are a country music station.”
It was later revealed that the representative from the radio station was unaware that Beyoncé had released two country songs, as the singer has not been previously associated with the genre.
The station has since begun streaming “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
Out of the two singles, I found “Texas Hold ‘Em” to be the most drastically different from anything the singer had ever produced.
The critically acclaimed track features a bubbly banjo and a cowboy-like feel, which is undoubtedly inspired by the singer’s Houston, Texas upbringing.
“Texas Hold ‘Em” has a real country feel to it that I found to be unlike many other newer country songs, which usually lean more towards the country-pop genre.
The song debuted at number one on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs, making Beyoncé the first Black woman with a number one country song.
On the other hand, I found “16 Carriages” to be somewhat more comparable to Beyoncé’s typical style of music. It was more heartfelt and powerful, and it is my favorite of the two tracks.
”16 Carriages” is a nostalgic recollection of Beyoncé’s hectic childhood, and how it compares to her current state of life with children of her own.
Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic at Variety Magazine Chris Willman compares the lyrics to those of “Daddy’s Lessons” from the artist’s 2016 record “Lemonade,” in which Beyoncé recounts the many ways her father positively influenced her growing up, despite their complicated relationship.
“16 Carriages” received similar, but not as much, critical acclaim to “Texas Hold ‘Em,” debuting at the number nine spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs.
I found the former track to be much more meaningful than the latter; in “16 Carriages,” we hear the well-known and loved soulful voice that Beyoncé has always been known for, and the lyrics are a deep, emotional articulation of a deep-rooted childhood wound.
In the track, Beyoncé discusses the pain of not being able to experience childhood and having to work so hard growing up that you end up missing the innocence of one’s youth.
While I also enjoyed “Texas Hold ‘Em,” it is undeniable that the song is much more shallow than its sister track.
The single resembles older country tunes, where the basis of the song is a poker game of the same title. The track is undoubtedly fun, but the lyricism does not possess the same depth as “16 Carriages.”
Overall, it is quite fascinating to see Beyoncé experiment with a new genre of music that is true to her roots. We are entering a new, unique era of Beyoncé that could become a career-defining moment in her legacy.
“Act II” will be available on all streaming platforms March 29.