#2: The Three Stages of the Release of a Beyoncé Album
Together, can we stand?
Everyone’s talking about it. We’re talking about it because she seems to be spreading love, joy, understanding, and grace—all things we need most as a human race. But if you cross her, she won’t come for you in any way you’d expect, she will shift the culture. She will show you everything you’re missing by denying her brilliance. “Always stay gracious, best revenge is your paper,” she advises on Lemonade.
Last week I was getting ready for work listening to a radio mix by Lovie (thank you Bria) and “Blackbird” by Nina Simone came on. It quite literally stopped me in my tracks, and I dropped a few tears before moving back through the motions of my morning. I am ashamed to admit I have only scratched the surface of Miss Simone’s discography, and I had never heard that song before. It’s heartbreaking and deeply moving. She sings the words, “Why you wanna fly, black bird?”
While I haven’t personally experienced systemic oppression based on race, I have seen it up close. And I’ve experienced a fair amount of struggle. I won’t get into which privileges I do and do not have, but struggle is universal. Naturally, I relate more to artists who have seen it up close and confronted it. This song hit my heart. “You ain’t eva gonna fly,” she sings. I can feel her pain. I can feel the hurt that has been done to her.
A day later, Beyoncé dropped COWBOY CARTER, whose second track features a rendition of “Blackbird” by Paul McCartney. According to the internet, McCartney has never said he was directly inspired by Nina Simone’s “Blackbird,” but it sounds to me like he was. Nonetheless, the timing of all of these songs coming into my life in one week is certainly notable. (No, I had never heard “Blackbird” by the Beatles until COWBOY CARTER, thanks Bey.) That I can sit in my living room and be moved to tears because three people so artfully expressed how they felt tells me all I need to know about creation.
Beyoncé revealed yet another masterpiece—a work of love, pain, struggle, joy, and roots. I started listening to the album on Saturday and finished up on Monday morning. It’s all I’ve been talking about. I think I’m starting to annoy everyone around me. I AIN’T SORRY.
Stage One: Shock
To be honest, I don’t really keep up on the news of releases. I simply forget. I didn’t even know the album was coming out last Friday until it had. I was excited about the singles she released earlier this year, but was mostly waiting out for the whole thing. Saturday morning I put it on and was immediately stunned and hype and freaking out about “AMERIICAN REQUIEM.” I had to look up what a requiem was. It’s a musical composition for the dead (per my quick wikipedia search). She opens with a beautiful declaration of her roots, and asks us can we please listen to what she’s actually saying and come together? We’re in the middle of an awakening as a people, can we stand together? At this stage I’m still coming to terms with the fact that there’s a new album out. I’m beginning to form thoughts, but mostly I am just hearing.
Stage Two: Analysis
This is when I start to nerd out. It happens quickly. Other people begin telling me their thoughts and I am either agreeing or forming a rebuttal—the Aries way. I’m diving into the layers, the words, the sounds. I’m listening to “Blackbird” by the Beatles, I’m diving into the samples, the Beach Boys, Linda Martell, Shaboozey. I am picking apart her lyrics. I’m texting my friends. What’s she saying? It is a country album? Why or why not? What’s the point of this piece? “Them big ideas are buried here,” she tells us.
This is the stage where I am taken on such a journey that it feels impossible that someone would dislike Beyoncé. I get it, she’s a mega billionaire. She can’t relate to the average person. I am speaking here about her art. Her life is nothing like mine, except for she is CREATING HER ART. She is inspiring ME, and you too, to step into feminine power. She has me singing, loudly, the words:
“Two hands to heaven, I pray, ‘Priest, forgive my soul.’”
“I’m a stallion running, no candle in the wind.”
“God only knows.”
“Ain’t got time to waste. I got art to make.”
That’s good use of power. She’s using her light to redirect us to our own.
Stage Three: Feel
After a couple partial listens and one full listen, Monday morning comes and I’m home alone on my day off. I put it on and dance around my house. I’m dancing with two hands to heaven because I’m thinking about my power, my force, the light, my grandmother and grandfather, my roots, my newfound confidence. Every Beyoncé album (and Destiny’s Child too) has taught me something about being a woman. My entire life I have been singing along to words that make me feel like I can take what is mine and say fuck you to the ones who underestimate me. She teaches me what it means to embrace the beauty of soft yet strong female power. She teaches me to be sexy, to be gracious, to love God, to be grateful, to be a caretaker, and to be a lover. Every single album has brought these concepts to life. COWBOY CARTER brought it to life in a grounded, solid, don’t even TRY to get one past me way.
Other stuff I’ve had on repeat. Believe it or not, Beyoncé isn’t the only thing I’m listening to (;
Many blessings. Peace and love. <3