Beyonce

2022 - 7 - 29

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Image courtesy of "The Washington Post"

Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' will be a moment. Here are some of her ... (The Washington Post)

The singer will officially release her seventh solo studio album, “Renaissance,” on Friday. The title boldly calls up Europe's centuries-long cultural rebirth, ...

“I’m very humbled and very grateful and gracious, but my artist of my life is Beyoncé. The ‘Lemonade’ album was so monumental.” “It was a cultural event, and one that took place at the zenith of her career.” Beyoncé’s Coachella performance (or Beychella, as it’s commonly known) was perhaps the greatest in the history of the festival — and it’s hard to pinpoint just one reason. Stomping onto the field flanked by an army of dancers in black leather, black berets and black Afros — just Black — the singer delivered a performance that would be hailed as one of the halftime show’s top 10, a list that included her own solo halftime show just three years before. And yet, the Grammys gave the album of the year in 2017 to Adele for “25.” Even the British singer herself was surprised as she took the stage: “I can’t possibly accept this award,” Adele said. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” — ironically released in 2008 six months before the singer’s marriage to Jay-Z — was a hit, winning three Grammy Awards (song of the year, best R&B song and best female R&B vocal performance). Its music video won MTV’s video of the year and inspired parody after parody after parody. The Obamas have a deep affinity for the Carters (that’s Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Shawn Carter to you). Former president Barack Obama is an unabashed Jay-Z fan and Michelle Obama once said that if she could have any job other than first lady she “would be Beyoncé.” The couples have crossed one another’s paths several times over the years, but the seminal moment was at the Neighborhood Ball the night of Obama’s 2009 inauguration. But “Listen,” the song Beyoncé’s “Dreamgirls” character, Deena Jones, belts to declare independence from her husband, may be her most convincing performance yet. Tracing her connection with the soft drink is informative of her career journey: Her first Pepsi commercial in 2002 dips into her character from “Carmen: A Hip Hopera,” a made-for-MTV movie. The singer no longer needs to do outright TV endorsements because she is a brand in and of herself. “You ready, B? Let’s go get ’em,” Jay-Z tells his girl, whom he was rumored to be dating at the time, at the top of the track. In her practically lifelong career, the 40-year-old singer has proven herself time and again to be bigger than the stage, the arena, the screen or the catwalk she struts on.

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BEYONCÉ RELEASES RENAISSANCE (PR Newswire UK)

PRNewswire/ -- Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records -- The seventh studio album from Beyoncé is available worldwide, tomorrow, July 29, on all major...

The company has also released the films Obsessed (2009), with Beyoncé as star and executive producer, the winner of the Peabody Award for Entertainment, Lemonade (2017), the Emmy®-nominated Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé (2019), which documents Beyoncé's history-making performance at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in 2018, and the Emmy®-winning Black Is King (2020). Parkwood Entertainment produced The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour (2013-2014), The Formation World Tour (2016), and the aforementioned "Homecoming" performances at Coachella (2018) and co-produced the ON THE RUN Tour (2014) and ON THE RUN II (2018). While the visuals are scheduled for a later date, the album comes with a robust menu of formats giving music fans and collectors plenty to choose. Parkwood Entertainment is a film and production company, record label and management firm founded by entertainer and entrepreneur, Beyoncé in 2010. Instantly addicting with a pulsating beat, with lyrics that urge listeners to claim joy and to "release the wiggle." Packed with rousing anthems that resonate with everybody, RENAISSANCE is a culmination of freedom and escape that encourages unimaginable jubilation, agency, and movement with abandon. The music store on Beyoncé's website offers album merch and multiple configurations of RENAISSANCE, listing a CD, digital album, a limited-edition vinyl, launch with a bit of her signature mystery, that is now sold out, and four box sets, Pose 1 to 4, which include a t-shirt and CD in a special box, also all sold out, before fans were given the descriptions of the content. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. The originator of the visual album format, and the preeminent visual artist, decided to lead without visuals giving fans the opportunity to be limitless in their expansive listening journey. The singular intent of RENAISSANCE, a reinvention of four on the floor, is to showcase music that stirs you from the soul and encourages your dancing feet. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. RENAISSANCE has been the most anticipated album of the year as Beyoncé shifted gears and notified her fans of new music on June 15 through an update in her bio on her social handles, "act i RENAISSANCE July 29." From her own label Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records, RENAISSANCE arrives six years after the globally lauded LEMONADE was released in 2016 as a complete surprise.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Beyoncé: Renaissance review – joyous soundtrack to a hot girl ... (The Guardian)

On her unapologetically escapist seventh album, the pop superstar unleashes everything from disco bangers to global house hedonism.

Her sense of freedom throughout is palpable, and an infectious spur to action. She samples 90s drag artist Moi Renee, categorises herself as a “bad bitch” on Alien Superstar, and steps into an affectedly poised, staccato delivery on Pure/Honey. It’s knowingly done – her instruction “get your money money, cunty hunty” just about skirts caricature for humour. I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible.” But Renaissance, for the most part, ventures beyond pastiche into far more eclectic, adventurous territory – a fine soundtrack for a feral summer of chaos and joy. Where initially many people were baffled by the anticapitalist sentiment of Break My Soul given Beyoncé’s evidently very commercial enterprise, her claim that she “just quit my job” finds context here. She sells it (certainly better than Drake) thanks to her convincing vocal power: beautifully melismatic on Virgo’s Groove, commanding on Move, channelling her Houston roots in quick-fire bars on the ferocious, exhilarating breakdown on Heated.

Ready for 'Renaissance'? Here's what we know about Beyoncé's ... (Manhattan Mercury)

The singer's seventh studio album, “Renaissance,” is fast approaching, and Queen Bey has been sprinkling a trail of breadcrumbs leading to its release. On June ...

“I’m tellin’ everybody, everybody.” —”Heated” —”Move” —”Energy” On Wednesday, however, the album reportedly leaked online approximately 36 hours before its scheduled release. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking.

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Image courtesy of "Los Angeles Times"

Kelis blasts Beyoncé, Pharrell for 'Renaissance' sample (Los Angeles Times)

Kelis put Beyoncé and Pharrell Williams on blast Thursday for sampling one of the singer's songs without her permission or even advance notice.

“It’s called thievery because ... the definition of collaboration, it means that we are working together,” she added. “My mind is blown too because the level of disrespect and utter ignorance of all 3 parties involved is astounding,” she wrote in the comments of the fan account’s post. “The reality is, all of this female empowerment, it only counts if you really do it,” she said. He does this all the time, it’s very petty,” she said, while insisting that she is not jealous of Beyoncé. “If you’re really living it and walking the walk. I have the right to be frustrated,” she said in the first video, just hours before Beyoncé's new album is set to be released.

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Beyonce Addresses Album Leak Minutes Ahead of Release (Bloomberg)

Minutes before the album's release Beyonce, posted to Instagram thanking fans for their "love and protection" following the reported early leak of ...

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What's Going On With Kelis, Beyoncé, and Pharrell Williams? (Vulture)

Kelis reportedly did not approve of Beyoncé using a sample from her 1999 hit “Get Along With You” on 'Renaissance.' The Neptunes' Pharrell Williams and Chad ...

In 2020, she revealed to the Guardian that she allegedly did not make any money from the sales of her first two albums, which were produced by the duo. Kelis, known for hits like “Bossy” and “Milkshake,” is publicly criticizing Beyoncé for not receiving a heads up that her 1999 song “Get Along With You” was being used on the Renaissance cut “Energy.” But the issue is larger than just the one track: Kelis is also criticizing the Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who she worked with on her first album, for not crediting her to begin with on the original song and then, 20 years later, using it without even notifying her. The R&B singer soon commented on the post, expressing her disbelief: “My mind is blown too because the level of disrespect and utter ignorance of all 3 parties involved is astounding. In a follow-up post, Kelis said that “all this female empowerment stuff only counts if you really do it if you’re really living it and walking the walk” and then noted the hypocrisy when it comes to Williams and music ownership, citing a Variety interview where Williams championed artist rights and ownership of their work. Kelis called Williams “petty” and that he “does this shit all the time” in order to spite her. It all started on July 25, when a Kelis fan page on Instagram posted that Beyoncé would be sampling ”Get Along With You,” thus breaking the news to Kelis herself.

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Image courtesy of "NPR"

Beyoncé releases seventh album, 'Renaissance' (NPR)

More than six years after the lauded visual album Lemonade, Beyoncé returns, evolves and responds to a very different world.

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Raise a Glass, Beyoncé's Renaissance Begins Now (Vulture)

Beyoncé's highly anticipated seventh studio album, 'Renaissance' Act I, is out now. A visual component to the record will be released at a later date.

Renaissance celebrates physical movement and expression, and includes 16 songs for the first installment of what Bey calls a “three-act” experience (which likely means two more Beyoncé albums will be coming in the near future). “Break My Soul” led the charge of collaboration and callbacks for the new era, with the singer interpolating the synths from “Show Me Love” by Robin S. While the record is filled with plenty of more collabs and samples, including artists like The-Dream, Nile Rodgers, NOVA, NO ID, Raphael Saadiq, Mike Dean, Honey Dijon, Chris Penny, Luke Solomon, Skrillex, Beam, Big Freedia, Grace Jones, and Tems, it doesn’t let us forget that Beyoncé, herself, is “that girl.” It’s finally here: Beyoncé’s Renaissance Act I has arrived as another piece of art in the BeyHive Museum of Culture. Despite being a leader in the visual album format, Beyoncé’s latest release will not have a visual component — yet. According to a press release, the singer “decided to lead without visuals, giving fans the opportunity to be limitless in their expansive listening journey.” The lead single off the album, “Break My Soul,” had limited visuals when it dropped too (there was a bare bones lyric video that accompanied its release) foreshadowing the wait for more Yoncé. The album is also not a digital-only release — a deluxe CD and vinyl is available for purchase for physical media fans, if you can still snag a copy.

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Image courtesy of "Mail and Guardian"

What you think of Beyoncé doesn't matter, so enjoy the music (Mail and Guardian)

Fifteen albums in total, including seven solo ones. Fifteen tours and residencies, including five headlining tours.Ten film starring roles and four director ...

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Beyoncé's Renaissance has begun (The A.V. Club)

"Act I" of Beyoncé's seventh studio album, recorded over the last three years of pandemic life, has just gone live.

Really, what could say “I desire a release from ennui” like riding through the universe on a horse made out of the galaxy brain meme? Said themes include a general desire for freedom, escape, joy, and other reliefs from the monotony that we imagine gets down even those of us who happen to be Beyoncé; of course, you didn’t really need us to lay that out for you, since all those ideas are perfectly encapsulated in the album’s cover. More specifically, she’s released Renaissance: Act I, but since this thing is 16 tracks long, we’re going to go ahead and take it as qutie a bit more than a prologue.

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Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' album: Unapologetic and raunchy as she ... (USA TODAY)

Beyoncé's seventh album, "Renaissance," is a 16-song opus that delves into sex and self-worth, all while beckoning listeners onto the dance floor.

“Summer Renaissance”: Beyoncé wraps her ambitious opus with a nod to Donna Summer as a sample of “I Feel Love” swirls in the background. “Plastic Off the Sofa”: Beyoncé’s tremendous vocals are showcased in this pretty package of soulful nostalgia that cools down the tempo with woozy guitar strains and angelic backing vocals. “Energy”: A spicy banger that features Jamaican rapper Beam and samples Kelis’ 1999 song “Get Along With You,” which has incited some controversy. “America Has a Problem”: The most intriguingly titled song on the album includes production from The-Dream, a co-write by husband Jay-Z and a jittery hi-hat powering the production. “Move”: With guests Grace Jones (!) and Nigerian singer Tems backing her, Beyoncé is strident and fierce. “Alien Superstar”: Synthesizers creep in the background of this futuristic romp that is lyrically rich and musically zigzagging.

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5 Takeaways From Beyoncé's New Album, RENAISSANCE (Pitchfork)

The followup to Lemonade is spirited tribute to dance music's past.

It’s a staggering amount of talent in one place, and for all the pomp, RENAISSANCE mostly manages to stay focused by putting energy where it’s needed most: the dancefloor. She was a superstar even before she went solo from Destiny’s Child, and over the past two decades her influence in pop culture—from film to fashion to philanthropy—has grown right alongside her artistry. RENAISSANCE delivers fierce club energy in suit—soulful, kinetic jams used as a vehicle to explore love, lust, and liberation in the COVID age.

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Stream Beyoncé's New Album 'Renaissance' (Complex)

28-time Grammy-winner Beyoncé's seventh album 'Renaissance' is finally here, over six years since her last solo record 'Lemonade' took over the world.

A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment.

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Why Artists Like Beyoncé Have So Many Songwriters on Their Albums (TIME)

While Beyoncé has a songwriting credit for every song on the new album, her decision to tap many collaborators for the project is in keeping with her past work.

One only need look as far as “Break My Soul,” which credits house legend Robin S., thanks to an interpolation of the synths from her oft-sampled song “Show Me Love.” While the interpolation itself is fairly subtle, Beyoncé shows an admirable dedication to giving credit where credit is due to the artists whose work has touched her albums. Sampling and interpolation have now become mainstays of the music industry, especially as hip hop and R&B, genres that have long relied on samples as part of the craft, have become more mainstream. The most surprising of the songwriters might just be the polarizing indie rocker Father John Misty, who got connected with Beyoncé through the producer Emile Haynie (also a credited songwriter on the track). Father John Misty ended up writing the first verse and the catchy “jealous and crazy” refrain. However, the songwriting credits for rapper Soulja Boy probably best epitomize why contemporary music, especially hip hop and R&B with their heavy sampling and interpolation, has so many songwriters. That album boasted 72 songwriters in addition to Queen Bey. The sizable number spawned many a think piece and even a questionable meme, with detractors making the case that Beyoncé’s creative talent or finished project was somehow diminished by working with multiple collaborators. A single which dropped in June, “Break My Soul,” suggested that the album might be strongly influenced by house music.

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Beyonce sounds urgent call to dance on new album 'Renaissance' (FRANCE 24)

Beyonce, the paradigm-shifting music royal whose art has long established her as one of entertainment's seminal stars, on Friday released her hotly ...

"We are going to take our time and Enjoy the music." "My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. "It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving," she continued. Beyonce's soaring vocals have their place on "Renaissance" but it's the rhythmic, urgent call to the dance floor that stands out, with a tapestry of influences paying homage to pioneers of funk, soul, rap, house and disco.#photo2 A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking." "Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world," Beyonce on her website.#photo1

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Beyoncé's Renaissance: fans and critics react to one of the year's ... (The Guardian)

The artist's first record since Lemonade has been met with a blockbuster response – and a spot of controversy.

In a Guardian interview from 2020, Kelis claimed she was “blatantly lied to and tricked” by her early collaborators the Neptunes and, as a result, “made nothing from sales of her first two albums”. In a Vulture interview earlier this year, Hugo brushed off the comments: “I heard about her sentiment toward that. House musician Robin S, whose track Show Me Love is sampled in Beyoncé’s Break My Soul, has said she was also unaware of the usage before the single’s release – though she received the news more positively. “I appreciate you for calling out anyone that was trying to sneak into the club early.” “I can’t thank y’all enough for your love and protection,” she said. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom.”

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Beyoncé Shouts Out JAY-Z In 'Renaissance' Statement Before ... (HipHopDX)

Beyoncé released a statement to fans ahead of her seventh studio album, Renaissance, which arrives at midnight on Friday.

“I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. “To all of my fans: I hope you find joy in this music,” she concluded. “And a special thanks to my beautiful husband and muse, who held me down during those late nights in the studio.

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Beyoncé Is in the Mood to Fall in Love and F*ck Something Up on ... (ELLE.com)

Beyonce is ready to fall in love and f*ck something up in "Cuff It," her song from 'Renaissance.'

(Have you ever had fun? Have you ever had fun like this? (Nile Rogers' influence is palpable; he has a writing credit, too).

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Image courtesy of "WBFO"

Beyoncé releases seventh album, 'Renaissance' (WBFO)

More than six years after the lauded visual album Lemonade, Beyoncé returns, evolves and responds to a very different world.

"A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. She addressed the leak, and the backlash from patient fans it received on social media, in a post just ahead of the album's actual release, writing: "I appreciate you for calling out anyone that was trying to sneak into the club early ... we are going to take our time and enjoy the music." Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are." "My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment," Beyoncé's statement on her website reads. On her website, Beyoncé wrote of Renaissance, "This three act project was recorded over three years during the pandemic. Beyoncé's long-awaited and highly anticipated seventh studio album, Renaissance, is now available for the world to hear.

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Beyoncé' Unveils 'Renaissance,' the First of Three New Projects (The New York Times)

The pop star's seventh solo album is “Act I” of work born during the pandemic, a time she “found to be the most creative,” she said in a statement.

“He was my godmother and the first person to expose me to a lot of the music and culture that serve as an inspiration for this album,” she wrote. The performance was later turned into a Netflix special and an album, both titled “Homecoming.” In an explanatory statement posted to Instagram last month that Beyoncé expanded on her website on Thursday, she said “Renaissance” was part of a “three act project” she recorded during the pandemic. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. She announced the album more than a month ahead of time, did an interview with British Vogue, put out the single “Break My Soul,” revealed a track list and finally began posting on TikTok. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” she added, thanking her followers “for your love and protection.”

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Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' release: What you need to know - CNN (CNN)

Beyonce, seen here performing in 2016, just dropped her new album. (CNN) You should know by now that a Beyoncé album release is ...

Witnessing his battle with HIV was one of the most painful experiences I've ever lived." "I appreciate you for calling out anyone that was trying to sneak into the club early," she wrote. "He was brave and unapologetic during a time when this country wasn't as accepting. This is a celebration for you." So much to digest, so much to dissect and so much to dance to. "I've never seen anything like it.

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Beyoncé releases 'Renaissance' — her 7th studio album (NPR)

The new album pulls from '70s disco, '80s synth-pop, '90s house and afro-beats. In other words, it makes you want to dance. This is only the first act ...

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What we mean when we talk about Beyoncé and house music (Vox)

Disco and house music are as American as hip-hop and rock 'n' roll. But Americans have never fully embraced that idea.

When “Break My Soul” came out, all of the press was like,“Beyoncé is revitalizing house music,” but bounce music is arguably just as big a part of that song and I didn’t see anything about how Beyoncé was changing bounce music. If we think of house music as a worldwide phenomenon and dance- and disco-inspired music as a growing feature in pop music, it could sort of make sense that Beyoncé is capitalizing on our growing appreciation for dance music? And the funny part too is that the other sample on the track is Big Freedia, who is this New Orleans bounce artist — bounce is sort of like a hip-hop variant out of New Orleans, and Big Freedia is also a queer artist. And because of the economics in the music industry, a lot of producers now have to DJ because, oddly enough, there’s a lot more money in DJing than there is in making the music. You know, there is sort of a protectiveness about what constitutes house music and what doesn’t. This is changing a bit, and genres are constantly becoming more fluid. A lot of house music is specifically designed to be played in a club, on a loud sound system, on a packed dance floor where you’re surrounded by other people that are also dancing to this music. But I was like, “Are you actually mad that it’s actually bad house music or are you mad that it’s Beyoncé?” I think one of the things that struck me is, looking back, a lot of the backlash disco faced was actually a reaction to the people who enjoyed disco — you mentioned Black and brown people of color and LGBTQ people. But by that time, it was sold to American audiences as this foreign product, like, “Hey, this is music from Europe — these artists are from France, they’re from England. And this is this European sound.” I would argue it’s kind of a hangover from disco, where disco was perceived as this music for people of color and queer people and rock ’n’ roll was the predominant music at the time. I think that a lot of this is a very specifically American problem. But dance music is as American as rock ’n’ roll, hip-hop, country, or R&B and is just as serious and important a genre.

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Kelis accuses Beyoncé of 'theft' for sampling her song on ... (Page Six)

Kelis accused Beyoncé of “theft” after Queen Bey sampled her 1999 song “Get Along With You” in “Energy.” The “Milkshake” singer, 42, took to Instagram to ...

Black queens can have conflict and also resolve.” … Kelis needs 2 take up her misplaced anger with her former label.” “I heard about this the same way everyone else did,” she continued. “It’s just common decency … even if you’re gonna do it anyway.” The reality is, this is frustrating. “This is a direct hit at me.

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Beyoncé Hints at Jay-Z and Solange's Elevator Fight in "Cozy" (HarpersBAZAAR.com)

"Cozy" from Beyoncé's seventh studio album, 'Renaissance,' seems to make a reference to sister Solange's elevator fight with Bey's husband, Jay-Z.

They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. At the time, leaked surveillance footage showed Solange confronting and then hitting Jay-Z while Beyoncé stands next to them. As the second track off Beyoncé's highly-anticipated album Renaissance, which dropped today, the energetic song celebrates the superstar's confidence and pride in herself.

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Beyoncé Seemingly References Jay-Z and Solange's Elevator Fight ... (Cosmopolitan.com)

The lyrics to Beyonce's new song "cozy" seemingly reference Solange's infamous elevator fight with Jay-Z.

Her “Flawless” remix included the lyric “Of course sometimes s— goes down when there’s a billion dollars on an elevator." We love each other and above all we are family. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family.

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6 Revelations From Beyoncé's New Album <i>Renaissance</i> (TIME)

6 Revelations From Beyoncé's New Album Renaissance ... Beyonce performs during the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood on March 27, 2022. ... Bow down to the new queen ...

Beyoncé dedicated her latest album to her uncle Johnny, who she refers to as her “godmother and first person to expose me to a lot of the music and culture that serve as inspiration for this album,” in Renaissance’s liner notes. So far, fans seem to be losing their mind over the twerktastic “Church Girl,” the out of this world “Alien Superstar,” opener “I’m That Girl,” and the sweet and sexy “Cozy.” The late Teena Marie-sampling “Cuff It” has also gotten a lot of love for sounding like classic Beyoncé with a twist. “If this [is] what Beyoncé was doing in the house the whole quarantine,” a fan joked on On the soulful “Church Girl,” she urges everyone to “drop it like a thottie” and shake those “pretty tig ol’ bitties.” “Thique” is an ode to anyone who has a little more to work with: “She say she on a diet, girl, you better not lose that ass, though.” On the more demure “Plastic on the Sofa,” she proclaims she likes it rough, before making it clear she needs “more nudity and ecstasy” on the sex-positive “Virgo’s Groove.” Dr. Ruth would be very proud. “Thank you to all of the pioneers who originate culture, to all of the fallen angels whose contributions have gone unrecognized for far too long. Trying to keep up with Beyoncé is just part of the fun, though. So go buy yourself a big bag of glow sticks and let the summer of house music continue. Renaissance offers a history lesson in dance music by paying homage to the genre’s many (many) forms. When putting together the list of collaborators for her latest album, Beyoncé really said legends only. a place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. “It allowed me to feel free and adventurous at a time when little else was moving.” “Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world,” Beyoncé explained in Renaissance’s liner notes.

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Beyoncé responds to album leak with heartfelt message to fans (Mashable)

Beyoncé's latest album "Renaissance" was leaked around 36 hours before the release date and fans rallied by refusing to listen. She posted a message on ...

I love you deep," she concluded. Thank you for being patient," she added. Thank you for your unwavering support.

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Beyonce 'Renaissance' Review: Erotic, Experimental, And Just ... (Stereogum)

While there are certainly house influences on the album, Renaissance takes us on a journey through US clubbing history, spanning a variety of dance genres, ...

Moreover, Kelis, interpolated on “Energy,” has publicly called out Beyoncé and the Neptunes for not informing her that her song “Get Along With You” would be used. In “Heated,” the refrain “Uncle Johnny made my dress” is a reference to Beyoncé’s late maternal uncle, who passed from AIDS-related complications and introduced her to much of this culture; it’s as clever as it is poignant. Due diligence seemed to be the name of the game when putting the album together, with all collaborators reportedly going through a “#MeToo check” prior to being brought on board, though some have argued that it wasn’t completely foolproof. Samples as wide ranging as Donna Summer’s iconic dancefloor mainstay “I Feel Love” on “Summer Renaissance” and Teena Marie’s lush “Ooh La La La” on “Cuff It” and “Energy” sit alongside DJ Jimi’s downright filthy “Where They At,” perfectly interpolated on the suitably smutty “Church Girl.” That track is aided further by Dorinda Clark-Cole’s soprano vocal run, woven throughout. It’s not only because of the overt references to queer culture and inclusion of prominent LGBTQ+ talent such as Honey Dijon, Kevin Jz Prodigy, and TS Madison, but also because in a world that expects so much of Black women, she is encouraging us to love ourselves openly, proudly, and “paint the world pussy pink.” From “Category: bad bitch” in “Alien Superstar” to “Ten, ten, ten across the board” in “Heated” and sampling iconic New York queens Kevin Aviance and the late Moi Renee on “Pure/Honey,” the album is an auditory love letter to an underground culture that has long deserved its flowers. Toddlers and the elderly alike, from all corners of the world, get down to “Single Ladies.” Furthermore, the LGBTQ+ Black and Latinx origins of ball culture aren’t so apparent to everyone. This isn’t to say that this is the general public’s first introduction to the ballroom scene, with the likes of Pose, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Paris Is Burning being ubiquitous parts of popular culture for many. And while it’s not necessarily a standout on the album itself, the song is bolstered by the sequencing, which is arguably without fault. Many suspected that Renaissance would be a house album, in a similar universe to recent Drake album Honestly, Nevermind or the hip-house stylings of Azealia Banks. While there are certainly house influences on the album, Renaissance takes us on a journey through US clubbing history, spanning a variety of dance genres, including New Orleans bounce, ’70s disco-funk, and Jersey club. On “Cozy,” she repeats, “Comfortable in my skin/ Cozy with who I am.” Sure, it’s destined to be devoured by teenagers on TikTok, but is that such a bad thing? I can hear the faint hum of a swarm of bees a mile off.

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Beyoncé's "Summer Renaissance" Is a Sexy Disco Love Song to Jay-Z (HarpersBAZAAR.com)

Beyoncé's "Summer Renaissance" Is a Sexy Disco Love Song to Jay-Z ... And she sampled Donna Summer. ... The last track off of Beyoncé's Renaissance, which ...

It's so good, it's so good, it's so good It's so good, it's so good, it's so good Beyoncé had previously titled her fourth studio album, 4, and Jay-Z named his 2017 album 4:44.

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The Early Highlights of Beyonce's Fun New Album 'Renaissance' (GQ Magazine)

From marital bliss on “Plastic Off the Sofa” to a Drake co-written banger with “Heated,” here are the moments everyone's talking about.

“I want to dedicate this award to my uncle Jonny, the most fabulous gay man I have ever known, who helped raise me and my sister," she said. Presumably, she’s referring to the house and dance music that really animates Renaissance, which has long been connected to the Black LGBTQ community. She even goes full disco by sampling and interpolating one of the enduring hits of the 1970s, Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love,” on the closing cut, “Summer Renaissance.”

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The Bey Hive Came Through With Renaissance Memes (Vulture)

Twitter users are creating memes and jokes inspired by Beyoncé's new dance album 'Renaissance' Act I and songs like “Alien Superstar,” “Plastic Off the Soa” ...

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Is Beyoncé's Renaissance a Sign of the Apocalypse? (WIRED)

It's a simple enough equation: Beyoncé. Horses. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse—one riding a white horse, one a red one, one a black one, and one a pale one ...

The cover of this month’s British Vogue is a striking shot of Beyoncé riding a red one. The cover of Renaissance is a striking shot of a mostly nude, be-heeled Beyoncé on top of a silver horse. There has to be some kind of magic associated with it, or the Illuminati.’ But really, it’s because she works really hard, she’s really serious about her craft, she takes her time, and she surrounds herself with people that she trusts that are also very talented.” She’s not really one of us. “She’s so good at what she does, she has so much influence and power, everything she does is so exquisite,” Shodiya says. Newsweek explains the rest: “In July 2020, Beyoncé sat atop a white horse in the Black Is King movie and in August 2022 she posed with a black horse for Harper’s Bazaar.” It’s a simple enough equation: Beyoncé. Horses. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse—one riding a white horse, one a red one, one a black one, and one a pale one.

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Beyoncé Calls Out Donald Trump on Her Track "Energy" (HarpersBAZAAR.com)

"Energy," the fifth song on the 16-track album, has become a fan favorite thanks to its sublimely shady lyrics and booming Afrobeat tempo. It's the only song on ...

(Yaka-yaka, yaka-yaka, yaka-yaka, yaka-yaka) (Yaka-yaka, yaka-yaka, yaka-yaka, yaka-yaka) "Energy," the fifth song on the 16-track album, has become a fan favorite thanks to its sublimely shady lyrics and booming Afrobeat tempo.

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Everything You Need to Know About the Beyoncé and Kelis "Energy ... (Seventeen.com)

Beyoncé released her seventh album, "Renaissance" on July 29 and allegedly sampled a Kelis song on "Energy" without permission. Here's what we know.

She did, however, go on to thank Beyoncé and Jay Z for "giving her her flowers" while she was still alive. Kelis claimed that she "had beef" with The Neptunes before her interpolation on "Energy." In a 2020 interview with The Guardian, she called out the production duo for "blatantly [lying] to and trick[ing]" her when it came to legal rights to her first two albums. Robin claimed that she learned about the sample because her son told her she was "trending all over the place." "Their argument is: 'Well, you signed it.' I'm like: 'Yeah, I signed what I was told, and I was too young and too stupid to double-check it.'" "But the real issue is the fact that the people like Pharrell and like Chad. Pharell knows better. Musician Kelis called out Beyoncé for allegedly interpolating her song, "Milkshake," without permission on Instagram.

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Why Kelis Is Calling Out Beyoncé and Pharrell for the Renaissance ... (ELLE.com)

Why is Kelis speaking out about Beyonce, Pharrell, and Chad Hugo? We look into the 'Renaissance' track "Energy."

Energy She later added, “I have the right to be frustrated. “Pharrell knows better. The deeper issue here stems from Kelis’ contract and publishing troubles with Williams and Hugo, whom she collaborated with earlier in her career. “I also know the lies that were told. She added that it would have been “common decency” for someone to reach out and at least give her a heads up.

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Beyoncé Addresses 'Renaissance' Leak, Unveils “Act I” Photos (Vibe)

Beyoncé Addresses 'Renaissance' Leak, Unveils “Act I” Photos. “So the album leaked and you all actually waited until the proper release time so you all can ...

Not only was the album dedicated to her children, husband/muse, and the “pioneers who originate culture,” it also was an ode to her uncle, Jonny. In regards to the leak, she added, “I’ve never seen anything like it. Six years after the surprise release of LEMONADE, Bey welcomed in her new era with her seventh studio album.

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Kelis accuses Beyoncé, Pharrell of song 'thievery' on 'Renaissance' (The Washington Post)

Kelis accused Beyoncé and songwriter-producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of “thievery” late Thursday after discovering a track on Beyoncé's highly ...

“Show Me Love” is credited to Allen George and Fred McFarlane — who, similar to the situation with Williams and Hugo, earned writing credits on the Beyoncé track. “I also know the things that were stolen. “I also know the lies that were told,” she continued. But early on in her career, she struck a deal with Williams and Hugo that she now considers to be unfair. Neither Beyoncé nor Williams and Hugo were any under legal obligation to contact Kelis before drawing from “Milkshake,” Bennett said, as Williams and Hugo, who produced the 2003 single as the Neptunes, were also the only songwriters listed on it. A common industry model, called out in recent years by Taylor Swift, is for the record label to own the masters and the songwriters the musical work.

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Beyoncé's <i>Renaissance</i> Drop Might Have Just Broke Twitter (HarpersBAZAAR.com)

"The album is called Renaissance because Da Vinci and Michelangelo would be kissing in the club if they heard it." ... In case you missed it, new Beyoncé music is ...

You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io "I’ve been in the studio for a year and a half. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Renaissance, which dropped today, marks the global phenomenon's highly-anticipated seventh studio album and her grand foray into house music.

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Is Beyoncé Referencing Jay-Z and Solange's Elevator Fight In “Cozy”? (ELLE.com)

After the release of Beyoncé's new album Renaissance, fans think “Cozy” includes a line about Jay-Z and Solange. Here's why.

Although there’s no mention of elevators in “Cozy,” it seems unlikely Beyoncé wouldn’t consider how “don’t fuck with my sis” might come across to her audience, for whom the 2014 incident remains seared in their brains. In the final line of the pre-chorus, Beyoncé sing-speaks the words, “Might I suggest you don’t fuck with my sis,” before the music temporarily drops out. (Which is not to say it’s tame in any other areas—only that there’s no Becky with the good hair this go-round.) But the second song on the Renaissance tracklist, the rhythmic bop “Cozy,” does feature a verse that made fans raise their eyebrows.

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Kelis Called Out Beyoncé And Pharrell Williams' “Disrespect And ... (BuzzFeed News)

It's not a collab it's theft,” Kelis wrote on Instagram.

“I thought it was a beautiful and pure, creative safe space, but it ended up not being that at all.” “And it just so happens that I was thrown in this.” I usually hire business folks to help out with that kind of stuff.” And he never wrote a song, a lyric a day in his life,” she claimed. “It’s real cute and fun to sing all these girls’ songs — come on now. “The reality is, all of this female empowerment, it only counts if you really do it — if you’re really living it and walking the walk,” she said. This is a direct hit at me [and] he does this stuff all the time,” she said. “Someone has to talk about it and bring it up,” she said. “I heard about this the same way everyone else did,” she continued. “It’s fine, I don’t care about that.” I also know the lies that were told. “I know what I own and what I don’t own.

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First Impressions of Beyoncé's New Album 'Renaissance' (Complex)

Beyoncé's new album 'Renaissance' has finally arrived. What's the best song? Biggest skip? Best and worst parts? Here's our first impressions review.

The rest of the summer is going to be fun as hell. It’s been a rough couple of years and the world deserves an album like this right now. Stefan: This is one of the best listening experiences I’ve had with a new album this year. The lyrics don’t change the world or anything, but it allows you to just be here, and be present. Beyoncé is an album artist who throws herself into the specific mission of each project, and this time she wanted to “release the wiggle” in her fans. The leak and Kelis drama that preceded the roll out was also unfortunate, but it is what it is. Stefan: Beyoncé did what she was trying to do: create a place to scream, release, and feel freedom. Aria: Beyonce’s dedication to being the best she can be as a singer, songwriter, and producer. “To all of my fans: I hope you find joy in this music,” Beyoncé wrote in a letter to fans this week. Andre: The way each track built into the next and created a sonic world. I’ve been getting a little too used to albums sounding like they were cooked in the microwave in under 10 minutes, but Renaissance feels like it was oven-roasted. “A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking.

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All the Easter Eggs and Lyrics on Beyoncé's Renaissance Album ... (Oprah Mag)

"Renaissance," Beyoncé's seventh studio solo album, nods to various eras of dance music and legendary acts, including Donna Summer, Teena Marie, and Robin ...

Beyoncé gets grungy on the rapturous “All Up In Your Mind,” which unlike other songs from Renaissance has its own exclusive poster on Beyoncé’s official website. Toward the album’s conclusion, Beyoncé gets into her bag literally, gloating about her fashion collection, including Versace, Prada, Balenciaga, and Louis Vuitton. Black-owned luxury brand Telfar also gets a look, one year after Bey was spotted wearing its white shopping bag. “I’m hopeful that his struggle served to open pathways for other young people to live more freely. “I am honored, and I’m excited to see what else can happen.” Beyoncé somehow got Grace Jones’s blessing by featuring the iconic vocalist and model alongside Nigerian singer Tems on the fierce Afrobeat-inspired “Move.” On the song’s opening, Bey repeats “Grace Jones,” giving the Slave to the Rhythm her flowers. Cowritten by Based on a Feeling singer Sabrina Claudio, “Plastic Off the Sofa” makes the second Beyoncé songwriting credit for The Internet vocalist Syd and singer-songwriter Nick Green, who cowrote “Otherside” on The Lion King: The Gift. While in Tokyo, Syd vibed to “Plastic Off the Sofa” at a gay bar hours before Renaissance dropped. Also on “Church Girl” are elements of 1972 Lyn Collins funk song “Think (About It),” written by Godfather of Funk James Brown and early-’90s one-bar drum loop “Triggaman,” a staple of New Orleans bounce music. “He was brave and unapologetic during a time when this country wasn’t as accepting. Media personality and trans woman T.S. Madison also makes an appearance on “Cozy,” giving an affirmation of Black pride with her 2020 “B--tch I’m Black” message. Along with journalist Edward Enninful’s testimonial about music from Renaissance, Beyoncé unveiled lead single “Break My Soul” with a statement about her intention behind the long-anticipated album. Beyoncé also makes room for a sample of 1991 Chicago house classic “Nu Nu (Club Mix)” by vocalist, DJ, and producer Lidell Townsell. The song is also the fifth Beyoncé songwriting credit for singer-songwriter Nija Charles, who appeared in Bey’s 2020 Disney+ visual album Black Is King during the “My Power” segment. Over 16 songs, Beyoncé provides listeners with space to “release the wiggle” without judgment, paying tribute to various eras of dance music and legendary acts including Donna Summer, Teena Marie, Robin S., and Moi Renee.

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Beyoncé's look book of fashion's exhaustingly fabulous era (The Washington Post)

If the music is an homage to uninhibited movement, the still images are steeped in fashion history, high maintenance glamour and perfectionism.

But there’s no denying that these pictures also express a delight in the male gaze — as well as the female gaze, the non-gendered gaze and the gaze of anyone who’d like to look. The clothes tell the chaotic story of an era in pop culture when people were determined to have a good time. The dancing endured in the face of the AIDS epidemic, homophobia, economic peril and dire crime statistics. And after years of track pants and yoga pants and dressing only from the waist up, she also presents her audience with fashion that is turned out, spit polished, cinched up and exhausting. The world has borne witness to the seventh coming of Beyoncé in the form of her studio album “Renaissance.” The 16 tracks are an expression of her moods and desires during the height of the pandemic when she decided to record music that allowed her to dream and to escape, as she wrote on her website. Back then, the pleasure bubbled up despite — and perhaps because of — dire circumstances. The posture makes one think of the fashion photography of Helmut Newton and Jean-Paul Goude. There are spangled ones and molded ones and one that is really just a bit of silver chain and rhinestones. Beyoncé sits atop it wearing chains and spikes and wielding a white hat; it calls to mind the pop culture moment from 1978 when Bianca Jagger rode a white horse into Studio 54 and helped cement the night club’s reputation as the era’s non plus ultra location for decadence and debauchery. There’s more Alaïa on display in the form of a custom acid-green lace dress with Mongolian lamb trim. She doesn’t communicate that much in a glance that’s caught in the click of a shutter. Photographs on her social media aim to evoke those emotions in concrete terms — in the form of bodysuits, disco balls, hologram horses and bedazzled saddles.

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Kelis Probably Can't Sue the Neptunes Over Beyoncé's 'Milkshake ... (Vulture)

Can Kelis sue the Neptunes, Pharrell and Chad Hugo, or Beyoncé for interpolating her 2003 song “Milkshake” in “Energy,” a new song on 'Renaissance'?

“My sense is that Beyoncé is a pretty sophisticated player and probably had her legal team make sure that whoever owned the rights to those things was giving her permission, because it’s definitely the case that if Beyoncé did it without permission from the copyright owners, that she could be sued even for a short” sample of interpolation, Nicolas explained. Kelis may also just be making a sort of separate moral-slash-ethical argument that Beyoncé should have given her the heads-up that she was going to be making use of this.” Kelis doesn’t seem to have any viable legal path for even getting songwriting credit for “Milkshake” by now or other songs she might feel cheated out of. Fishman voiced similar sentiments, stating, “Probably not, unless there’s a provision in a contract that would bind the sampling party.” Fishman pointed to several exceptions, but those involved situations where artists’ voices were used in marketing materials without their okay, which is a very different situation. One is to the underlying musical composition, the sort of notes on paper, if you will, that’s one copyright, and that’s typically owned by the songwriter — although they often assign those rights to a publisher,” Nicolas said. Beyoncé appeared to interpolate “Milkshake” — that is, use portions of the written music — but not outright sample it, as sampling entails using the actual recording. “Kelis seems to be making a claim, perhaps, that she has some role in the original musical composition, but at least on paper, it looks like if she ever had any rights. Beyoncé, it turned out, appears to have interpolated Kelis’s 2003 song “Milkshake” on her new track “Energy.” Responding to the fan page, Kelis claimed that Beyoncé did so without giving her a heads-up and slammed the Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, with whom she worked on the single decades ago, for not originally giving her credit. The way Beyoncé apparently used “Milkshake” is also important here. “I also know the lies that were told. “I know what I own and what I don’t own,” Kelis said. On July 25, 2022, four days before Beyoncé was set to stop the world with her new album Renaissance, a Kelis fan page on Instagram claimed that a track would sample one of the hip-hop artist’s early 2000s hits.

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Every Feature on Beyoncé's Studio Albums: Nicki Minaj, The ... (Billboard)

BeyHive, welcome to the Renaissance. On Friday (July 29), Beyoncé dropped her long-awaited seventh studio album, six years after crafting her magnum opus ...

A place to scream, release, feel freedom. “My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. “Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world.

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Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' is here. See the most urgent lyrics (Los Angeles Times)

Ignore the leaks — Beyonce's seventh studio album “Renaissance” has officially arrived. As hinted, it's an all-encompassing album for the dance floor, ...

More than 20 years later, Beyoncé's version remixes it with an eerie bassline that keeps that same emotion, comparing her addictiveness to that of the powder with lines like “I’ma make you go weak for me / Make you wait a whole week for me / I see you watching, fiending / I know you want it, scheming.” Beyoncé travels across the realm of Black music on “Renaissance,” as she’s done throughout her catalog. As a whole, the song turns the church on its head, opening with traditional gospel before trapping out the drums to let herself go, “Church girls acting loose, bad girls acting snotty,” she sings on the chorus while instructing you to drop it low and dance as you please. “And a special thanks to my beautiful husband and muse, who held me down during those late nights in the studio.” Beyoncé has shown love to her children across her catalog, but on track two of “Renaissance,” she honors her own body for bringing them into the world. She credited him for exposing her to the sounds that inspired “Renaissance.”

Beyoncé's new album 'Renaissance' pays homage to Black queer ... (NPR)

NPR's Juana Summers talks with Danyel Smith, author of the book Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women In Pop and host of the podcast Black ...

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Beyoncé Is in Her Fashion Era (The Cut)

Beyoncé wears Gucci, Mugler, and Schiaparelli for the art released with her newest album, 'Renaissance.'

Then, wearing a custom Alaïa dress, Beyoncé seems to levitate in one of the photos, like the goddess she is. Her tiny sunglasses sit low on the bridge of her nose and a microphone docked in a pistol-shaped holder lays just beside her on the crushed red velvet of the seat. Thankfully, this is only part one of a three-part drop (and we are hoping that the other parts include a visual album.) All the while, Beyoncé has been quietly teasing us with visuals — decked out in the likes of GCDS and Harris Reed — on her Instagram for a while now.

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9 Beyoncé Songs That Informed 'Renaissance' (Complex)

To achieve this, she paid homage to dance music history by sampling an impressive list of pioneers, from Robin S to Teena Marie and Donna Summer, while also ...

You is just a hot mess.” On Renaissance, we hear her perfect this sound on songs like “Cozy,” and the semi-hushed flow in parts of “Kitty Kat” shows up again on “Thique.” The attitude on “Flawless” (as well as “Bow Down/ I Been On”) rubbed some listeners the wrong way, but it’s ultimately intended to be an empowering anthem. On Renaissance, the addictive electro-soul sound is present throughout the tracklist, but it’s heard most clearly on a song like “Cuff It.” The intro of “Cuff It,” especially, is very similar to “Blow,” and it has the same retro, electric-funk that compels listeners to the dance floor. The style showed up much earlier in Beyoncé’s discography, like on 2006’s “Green Light,” but “Blow” is where she perfected the sound. “Love In This Club Part II” isn’t a Beyoncé song, but she does appear as a guest feature on the remix of Usher’s single, and her presence is certainly felt. “Sweet Dreams” is an electro-pop track with rock and funk influences. “Baby Boy” is the second single from Beyoncé’s Dangerously In Love, and it’s one of the earliest instances of her experimenting with reggae and dancehall music. The call to action doesn’t show up quite as much on Renaissance, but songs like “Church Girl” are informed by the original idea. “Be With You” is one of Beyoncé’s first songs that experimented with disco-era, funk sounds. It’s a thumping song that features Jamaican dancehall rapper and singer Sean Paul. The beat, produced by Scott Storch, is based on the reggae record “Here Comes the Hotstepper,” which was performed by Kamoze in 1995 and centers around synthesized handclaps. Beyoncé the rapper has been showing up a lot in recent years, but the sing-rap flow we hear on Renaissance songs like “Thique,” “Cozy,” “Church Girl” is far from new. In fact, it can be traced all the way back to her days as a member of Destiny’s Child. In 2002, the group released This Is The Remix, an album of R&B and dance remixes from the group’s previously released albums.

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Beyoncé Returns With 'Act i: Renaissance' - YR Media (YR Media)

The Queen is back. Beyoncé released her seventh studio album, “Renaissance,” Friday. When the 40-year-old singer scrubbed her Instagram profile, ...

“[It’s] music that makes you rise, that directs your thoughts to cultures and subcultures, to our people past and present. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. “Music that will connect so many on the dance floor, music that affects your soul,” he added. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are.” My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment.

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

Beyoncé falls short of dancefloor utopia with new album ... (Financial Times)

Beyoncé's first solo album since Lemonade in 2016 takes the US superstar in a new direction. Renaissance adds dance music to her usual palette of R&B, soul, ...

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This Weekend: Beyoncé Listening Party, Pancakes & Booze ... (The San Francisco Standard)

The phrase “highly anticipated” is something of a cliché in the music press. But when it comes to Queen Bey… well, that's a different story.

On Saturday, Glasper leads a super jam of sorts with Erykah Badu, BJ The Chicago Kid, and Terrace Martin; on Friday, Snoop Dogg joins the Dinner Party band of Glasper, Martin, and Kamasi Washington. Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey have reunited and are playing a set as the legendary hip-hop duo Black Star (Saturday.) There are also appearances from Chaka Khan (Friday), Maxwell (Sunday), Thundercat (Saturday), and upstart acts like jazz duo DOMi & JD Beck (Friday & Saturday) and Virginia soul band Butcher Brown (Saturday & Sunday). (AS) There’s an intangible charm to seeing a movie you know well projected on the big screen once again—but what about the opposite experience? From there you walk into the “Hot Shop”, gather around a 600-pound pot furnace, and watch the artists create objects like pipes, cups and sculptures. Grammy-winning pianist Robert Glasper and famed jazz imprint Blue Note have teamed up for this inaugural edition of the Blue Note Jazz Festival at the Krug Winery in Napa Valley, and Glasper has curated a lineup presenting some of the best jazz, hip-hop and R&B crossover acts in the world. Beyoncé’s seventh studio album, Renaissance, drops Friday and the Beyhive is dancing on water—literally. This R&B cruise and listening party—organized by Party Life SF and Big Dave Presents—features two fully stocked bars along with panoramic views of the Bay Bridge and the San Francisco skyline. Born in Brooklyn, GZA’s influence on rap—as a member of Wu-Tang, as a solo artist, a producer and so much more—only continues to grow as the now 55-year-old revisits one of his key career releases. The main component is Saturday and Sunday’s Zoratopia IRL—at Frank Ogawa Plaza and Oakstop, respectively—featuring Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins and surging Bay Area-grown talents like Elujay, Grand Nationxl, Ricky Lake and Heno. But it gets rugged, lyrically dense and flat-out elemental at Friday night’s Rap Off. Workhorse local wordsmiths like San Francisco battle rap extraordinaire Frak, Text Me Records’ Stoni, Grand Nationxl’s Passwurdz and Mission party crew Family Not A Group will all be on stage at this hip-hop free-for-all that’s also free. If the quality of a chess game is determined by the competition, what happens when one of the players is GZA, a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan? Incredibly, this is not a rhetorical question, as the rap legend himself is offering to take on locals for a series of one-on-one chess matches before his Friday night concert at Great American Music Hall. Looking to get your Bobby Fischer on? Originating from the Dominican Republic, bachata is a sultry dance full of hips and dips, and you can learn more about it at the International San Francisco Bachata Festival this Friday at the Hyatt Regency. With over 50 dance classes and workshops, there’s something for every skill level and different forms of dance, such as traditional bachata, jazz and salsa. Forget the stuffy wine and sad square cheese cubes at this event specifically designed to eschew the typical “white box” gallery experience and make art fun again. The Los Angeles-born pairing of breakfast food, alcohol and art returns to San Francisco for a two-night pop-up bash of live music, floor-to-ceiling paintings, foaming beer and sizzling batter. Beyoncé’s newest album, Renaissance, officially drops on Friday, and its release—though somewhat spoiled yesterday by cries of a leak on social media—is nonetheless going to be an event.

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Image courtesy of "News24"

Beyoncé sounds urgent call to dance with Renaissance (News24)

Beyoncé, the paradigm-shifting music royal whose art has long established her as one of entertainment's seminal stars, on Friday released her hotly ...

"We are going to take our time and enjoy the music," the megastar told her fandom. "It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving," she continued. "My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. Beyoncé's soaring vocals have their place on Renaissance but it's the rhythmic, urgent call to the dance floor that stands out, with a tapestry of influences paying homage to pioneers of funk, soul, rap, house and disco. "Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world," Beyoncé said on her website. The megastar has indicated that Renaissance is but the first act of three, in a project she said she recorded over the course of three years during the pandemic.

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

12 Black queer icons that inspired Beyoncé on 'Renaissance' | CNN (CNN)

From Big Freedia to Ts Madison, the late Moi Renee to her Uncle Jonny, these are some of the figures who inspired Beyoncé in the making of "Renaissance," ...

"This is a celebration for you." He was brave and unapologetic during a time when this country wasn't as accepting." he and his contemporaries have "put a hip-hop spin on ballroom sounds and slang, while respecting tradition." At these balls, queer and trans New Yorkers competed, danced and created years-long rivalries between Houses (that is, "found families" of LGBTQ people who competed together). Madison, a transgender comedian, actress and advocate, first went viral in the 2010s on the now-defunct video platform Vine and her successful Youtube channel. "'I Feel Love' is still it." Their relative affordability and popularity has earned them the nickname "Bushwick Birkins," in her 2015 memoir of attending gay clubs with her brother and her own masculinity. But I think I've always tried to do that in the most natural way possible." Jonny even made Beyoncé's prom dress, Knowles-Lawson said. While a single Hermès Birkin bag, a symbol of outrageous wealth, can run you tens of thousands of dollars, Ms. Knowles-Carter prefers the Telfar shopping bag New Orleans' own Big Freedia, credited with popularizing hip-hop's bounce sound, originated the now-iconic line in her 2014 anthem

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Image courtesy of "Daily Maverick"

Being Beyoncé: Her iconic career through the years, in images (Daily Maverick)

Beyonce attends the "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014 in New York City.

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Image courtesy of "The Independent"

She's That Girl: How Beyoncé harnesses surprise and reinvention to ... (The Independent)

The release of Beyoncé's euphoric seventh album, 'Renaissance', is yet another reminder of the star's undeniable power, writes Nicole Vassell.

For a woman who had – and continues to – keep her private life just so, this was an extraordinary glimpse into her life behind the scenes. The journey started in 2003 when a hiatus from Destiny’s Child gave her the space to launch as a solo artist with Dangerously in Love. Later down the line, the release of “Single Ladies” from her I Am… Sasha Fierce double album made the phrase “put a ring on it” an indelible part of engagement announcements. Perhaps most shocking of all were the personal stories woven into the record, including hints that Beyoncé’s husband – rapper and business mogul Jay-Z – had been unfaithful. “A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking,” she said. Within minutes, the album shot to the top of the charts and united social media timelines in a way only a Beyoncé release can. The album might signify the dawn of another era for the 40-year-old pop force.

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Image courtesy of "INSIDER"

Beyoncé's 'Renaissance': What critics are saying about the new album (INSIDER)

She described the club-inspired music as "a place to scream, release, feel freedom." Critics agree the album is "joyous" and "playful," but many say it ...

Still, these songs will be blasted out of cars, at house parties, in hotel rooms and on dance floors for years to come." "This is a vast superclub of an album. "'Renaissance' falls short of being Beyoncé's best full-length, but it still fulfills her liberationist aims. But with 'Renaissance,' Beyoncé is more relatable than ever, giving listeners all the anthems and sultry slow burners we love and have come to expect from her, proving that inclusivity is the new black." "Is this an evolution from 'Lemonade?' Not quite. "Synthesizers creep in the background of this futuristic romp that is lyrically rich and musically zigzagging. "It's on 'Alien Superstar' where she expands her influences, and draws on ballroom culture. 'I'm the only one / Don't even waste your time trying to compete with me,' Beyoncé declares over the stomping beat that eventually gets to its thesis: Celebrate being unique." It's a welcome contrast to the rushed, energetic vocal runs of her early days, which sometimes sounded a bit sterile, even when they were seductive." "The occasional light touch showcased on the similarly chill opener, 'I'm That Girl,' suits Beyoncé well. "No vice is off limits, hedonism isn't a thing, and everything in this place is better than what's outside. Released six years after "Lemonade," which is widely seen as her magnum opus, "Renaissance" ventures into new sonic territory with a self-assured blend of New Orleans bounce, '70s disco-pop, gospel, funk, and techno.

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