After six long, arduous years without a solo studio album release from Beyonce, the world-renowned artist dropped her seventh studio album RENAISSANCE on July 29th, 2022 (1). While she released projects in recent years such as HOMECOMING: THE LIVE ALBUM, The Lion King: The Gift (along with its visual accompaniment “Black Is King”), and her collaboration album EVERYTHING IS LOVE with her husband Jay-Z under the duo name “The Carters”, RENAISSANCE marks her first official solo studio album since Lemonade. Similar to how her previous album focused on her husband’s infidelity while celebrating Black culture, RENAISSANCE pays a more specific tribute to the Black and queer communities that make up a majority of her fanbase. The album does so by taking inspiration from genres that originated in these communities such as house, ballroom, and bounce while interpolating it within a pop and R&B setting (1).
Part of this album’s significance and why it resonates with fans lies in the history it carries. While invoking elements of the house and ballroom genres, Beyoncé aims to create a space of celebration, joy, and rebirth that these genres provided for the Black and queer communities that found a home in these spaces. She mentioned this intent in her 2020 interview with British Vogue where she stated, “I’ve spent a lot of time focusing on building my legacy and representing my culture the best way I know how. Now, I’ve decided to give myself permission to focus on my joy” (2). Seemingly in response to the horror and captivity of the past few years, this mentioned joy shines through in this album, which includes contributions from Black and queer icons such as Grace Jones and Big Freedia, among many other contributors.
Moreover, this album seems to convey the message of liberation through joy and celebration, which first manifested in the album’s lead single ‘Break My Soul’. An electrifying, upbeat song that touts anti-capitalist ideals and features Black, queer icon Big Freedia (known for her dance music in the bounce genre). This lead single sets the tone for the rest of the album by giving the listeners a lively, club song intensified by Beyonce’s flawless vocals. While the album dances across genres to create a seamless sound, the lead single lets the listeners in on Beyonce’s wish: to create an escape from the problems, worries, and fears that have plagued society since the dawn of the pandemic. “Release the stress”, Big Freedia tells us in the song (4).
The rest of the album carries this fun-loving energy while touching on themes of self-love, Black joy, and liberation. In doing so, Beyonce has built a community through her music that transcends space and time. Her extraordinary ability to do so lies in what she states as her strength of “understanding how storytelling, music, lighting, angles, fashion, art direction, history, dance, and editing work together” (2). While some may expect an explicit political commentary in response to injustices highlighted in the past few years, the seemingly most political song on the album (‘America Has a Problem’) only conveys messages of loving your partner and having a good time (1). The dynamic artist seems to tell us that one way to fight against the injustices in the world lies simply in protecting one’s peace and saving room for celebration. By creating an environment where Black and queer joy shines brilliantly in and of itself provides a powerful act of rebellion against the systems of oppression. This desire first presented itself in a 2021 interview Beyonce did with Harper’s Bazaar where she said to the world: “With all the isolation and injustice over the past year, I think we are all ready to escape, travel, love and laugh again. I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible” (3).
All in all, this album had just a very fun, freeing, and fresh sound to it that I loved. The day it dropped, I remember staying up until midnight to listen to it with all of my friends and just letting the music wash over me like the comfort I didn’t know I needed. As I listened to it more and more, the album shaped the end of my summer by setting it against a backdrop of freedom and joy that helped immensely as I began my transition to college. Even in my first week, I relied on the power residing in the album to give me strength as I navigated my way through this new environment filled with intimidating people and a far-reaching, seemingly insurmountable campus. Additionally, the album’s fast pace motivated me to walk quicker, which I definitely needed.
This album overall serves as a manifestation of Beyonce’s power and influence. Her comforting presence presents itself alongside the album as if telling the listeners, “Just listen to my voice, and everything will work out just fine.” To put it in the Queen’s own words: “Bey is back and I’m sleeping’ real good at night” (4).
- https://ourculturemag.com/2022/08/01/album-review-beyonce-renaissance/
- https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/beyonce-british-vogue-interview
- https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a37039502/beyonce-evolution-interview-2021/
- https://genius.com/Beyonce-break-my-soul-lyrics
- https://music.apple.com/in/album/renaissance/1630005298
- https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/aug/06/beyonce-renaissance-review-a-breathtaking-maximalist-tour-de-force
- https://www.npr.org/2022/08/01/1114499960/revolutionary-fun-beyonce-renaissance-review-roundtable
Kevin, I loved this review. Although I, personally, am not an avid Beyonce listener, you have inspired me to give this album a shot. I liked the way you went into detail about how songs made you feel, and more importantly why they made you feel this way. I also loved the verb “manifested”, as it set a more accurate tone for the piece. Overall, I will be looking to your reviews in the future if I’m feeling a switch-up in my music taste.
Hey, Kevin! To say that I simply love your blog would be a vast understatement. I cannot express how much I not only love and adore your writing but completely agree with you in your Renaissance album review and analysis. Your use of the Flair element was well executed and incorporated how truly passionate you are a bout music, specifically Renaissance. Great work!
Personally, when I listen to current music I often overlook the message underlying the fast tempo and exquisite beats. I am a fan of country music, and especially older country music always gave me messages that I could take away from the song. It is so easy to overlook the themes hidden behind music that is produced nowadays when many of us are trained just to like the song if it sounds good or not. You very effectively described the association of Beyonce’s appeal to her two major bases and the message she wanted to resonate with them. I loved the connection you made with her “renaissance” interview to the eventual album name. It really highlighted her intentions behind the album and that something larger than music was being represented here. I like how you supplemented this idea with the verb “rebirth”. Great job!
Kevin, this is absolutely hands down one of the best things I have ever read! If I wasn’t already a Beyonce fan, I am now. I can directly see how much time and effort you put into this blog post and now know why is 100% had to be over the word limit. GREAT JOB!