With her seventh solo album, “Renaissance,” Beyoncé offers an antidote to today’s ills, with only a brief look at politics and protest.
Some called the album escapism, concerned that the influential artist wasn’t focusing her voice on her bitter struggle against injustice. Of course, her stardom can get a lot of attention for any issue, but her main focus isn’t power, it’s her fans in battle. Now, many of her fans are eager to opt for the revolutionary act of joy.
why we wrote this
With her new album “Renaissance,” Beyoncé is focused on supporting her fans, many of whom crave happiness, our columnist suggests.
Beyoncé may not meet the expectations that superstars often fail to deliver when it comes to driving systemic social change, but she’s there to reflect the needs and wants of black women and members of the LGBTQ community who love her.
The album at times expresses in clear language the exhaustion and frustration that so many black women express, who need a break and need some black joy—happy, free, and Recharge to meet the ongoing challenge of racism.
“Renaissance” helps us remember what it feels like to be happy – and integrate it into our bodies. What could be more free than this?
Beyoncé’s latest project, Renaissance, is a dance party for our post-everything world.
With her seventh solo album, the singing supernova offers an antidote to today’s ills, offering only a fleeting glimpse into politics and protest. Instead, she made room for joy, self-love, and fiery confidence. But critics wonder if this escapism will be enough to give hungry fans what they need in today’s social struggles, or if the ball will be a soundtrack to forget boycotts in favor of pop fun.
Beyoncé is very good at reflecting the mood and energy of her large following. She may not meet the expectations that superstars often fail to deliver in driving systemic social change, but she’s there to reflect the needs of black women and members of the LGBTQ community who love her.
why we wrote this
With her new album “Renaissance,” Beyoncé is focused on supporting her fans, many of whom crave happiness, our columnist suggests.
She voiced their frustration on her previous studio album, “Lemonade,” and on “Renaissance,” she gave listeners an intense and beautiful space. (After an outcry from disability advocates, she even agreed to remove a slang term from the song “Heated,” and she reportedly also removed songs she sampled with the owner’s knowledge, not the artist’s.) The album explain, Using explicit language at times, many black women who needed a break expressed exhaustion and frustration, needing some black joy—joy, freedom, and recharge—to face the ongoing challenge of racism.
When so many people are hurting or suffering these days, happiness often seems out of reach and maybe even inappropriate. Happiness and contentment are difficult to cultivate when raw materials are so scarce. But joy comes from somewhere other than the joy of the day. Joy, like hope, is not the result of circumstances, but a choice one makes regardless of circumstances.
Generations of black people have made that choice. Decades and decades, blacks take pleasure from misery: through wild creativity in art, food, and fashion, they wrest beauty and dignity from trials. Of course, black people have been making music that expresses our right to choose to live and to love.
Blues and rock, hip-hop, and various dance styles from the “Renaissance” were the voices of black resistance. The album explores the history of black dance music from Donna Summer discos to ballroom-ready bass-heavy beats. While the genre’s twisty dance music may seem less overt in navigating black culture than the soft and deeply personal “Lemonade,” the album is equally reflective of how many black people are feeling at the moment.
“Break My Soul,” the first single released from the album, is the track that speaks most directly to a world on fire.The song is an “I quit” email set to drive the beat, and the chorus is a cathartic soul cry: “You won’t break my soul / I’m going to tell everyone.” Big Freedia was born in New Orleans The hip-hop-inspired preeminent artist named bounce offers a mantra to free yourself from the stress of work: “Release your deal / Release the stress / Release Love/forget the rest. ”
Those who called the album escapism worry that Beyoncé isn’t focusing her voice on her bitter fight against injustice. Of course, her stardom can get a lot of attention for any issue, but her main focus isn’t power, it’s her fans in battle. Now, many of her fans are eager to opt for the revolutionary act of joy.
Part of fighting oppression is protecting those who are oppressed. The same is true today: In the years following the murder of George Floyd, the black community has been very focused on recovery and self-care. There is no black resistance movement without a healthy black community.Black people have devoted themselves to finding ways to deepen connections, to address the incredible trauma of racism in America, and to heal our lives and make our lives matter Now, and not just in our liberated future. This healing involves many avenues, including focusing on happiness. Dance and movement are a way to live freely in our often threatened bodies.
Who said a revolutionary soundtrack has to be sombre and angry. The daily news cycle provides enough bad news to tighten our shoulders and bow our heads. This album helps us remember what it feels like to be happy – and integrate it into our bodies. What could be more free than this?