Beyoncé - act ii: COWBOY CARTER

If we take 1998 as her debut, we're - what? - 26 years deep into her career. And she's still making culture-defining moments and taking over the charts. Not to compare her to any other artists, but let's just say... your fave could never
 
I like the theory that she make CC before Renaissance - it makes sense as the album starts out more traditionally, and then morphs into something closer to Renaissance. If you cue up I'm That Girl after AMEN, it makes for a fabulous "time jump".
 
Yes I was listening more this morning and some of it could really fit into Renaissance, so many different sounds going on

Do we think the Irish covers album will be out around this time next year (For Paddy's day?)
 
Funky said:
All these lapsed Beyonce fans (including myself) coming out of the woodwork for a 2024 country album is really not something we could have predicted... well, ever.
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She saw your Americana thread and knew what she had to do to get you back
 
I'm really enjoying it, and like @Ellie I've not taken note for 10 years. It is a good mix of accessible and experimental. Agreed that Bodyguard is the absolute highlight and must be a single
 
Projected to do 350k in the US per early estimates

Beyoncé's act ii: Cowboy Carter (Parkwood/Columbia) is on track for the biggest opening thus far in 2024. The pop superstar's country album is projecting first week activity north of 350k. Queen Bey's previous release, RENAISSANCE, debuted with 332k in August 2022.

U.S. streaming for the 27-track set is expected to finish the week between 250-300m. Globally, first-day Spotify streams hit 76m—a new peak for an album in 2024 on the platform.

Bey's cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" is the best-performing track so far at DSPs, climbing to #2 at Spotify U.S. and #3 at Apple Music. "II MOST WANTED" f/Miley Cyrus is close behind.

Beyoncé | Cowboy Carter (Parkwood/Columbia) 350k+
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Loufoque said:
If we take 1998 as her debut, we're - what? - 26 years deep into her career. And she's still making culture-defining moments and taking over the charts. Not to compare her to any other artists, but let's just say... your fave could never
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100%

She’s not even my favourite artist but the word ‘superstar’ takes me to her immediately.

Also she uses her entire vocal range on this album (around 4 octaves). Both the highest and lowest note she’s ever hit are on this album. Most artists lose some range as they get older. This is a really impressive feat for a woman who’s 26 years in!!

I’m going to rank it next week, I like to let things sit for a while before doing that. But so far I’m basically thinking not as good as Lemonade but better than everything else.
 
She definitely feels untouchable at this stage. The legacy and superstardom are way beyond the reach of her contemporaries.

That said, I started playing the album yesterday at the gym and got as far as Levii’s Jeans, and there’s definitely not much in it for me. The country influences are not for me. I can’t relate to any of it, in fact I found most of it boring. It’s already been said, the Jolene cover is completely unnecessary. Bodyguard and Daughter are gorgeous indeed, probably the only tracks I’ll go back to.
 
Old White Men of the Boomer variety are having HEATED DEBATES about "Blackbiird" elsewhere on the internet and it's as funny as it is depressing.
 
octophone said:
Old White Men of the Boomer variety are having HEATED DEBATES about "Blackbiird" elsewhere on the internet and it's as funny as it is depressing.
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But reading about them being schooled on the meaning behind the song is quite amusing.
 
octophone said:
Old White Men of the Boomer variety are having HEATED DEBATES about "Blackbiird" elsewhere on the internet and it's as funny as it is depressing.
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oh I can imagine :zombie:

I think I will rate it today, why not eh? IM IN THE MOOD.
 
Ellie said:
Where can I see this? :D
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I saw it on NME on Instagram. Just a the usual toxic social media discussion from old white men saying how she she’s rubbish and Lennon would be rolling in his grave. And people pointing out the irony.

I’m sure the same is happening on YouTube.

Lennon would, in fact, love Beyonce. And he would especially love the idea of a woman of colour with great influence covering a song they recorded about women of colour.
 
Funky said:
I saw it on NME on Instagram. Just a the usual toxic social media discussion from old white men saying how she she’s rubbish and Lennon would be rolling in his grave. And people pointing out the irony.

I’m sure the same is happening on YouTube.

Lennon would, in fact, love Beyonce. And he would especially love the idea of a woman of colour with great influence covering a song they recorded about women of colour.
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Didn’t McCartney write that one too? :D
 
09 Ameriican Requiem
09 Blackbiird
10 16 Carriages
07 Protector
07 Texas Hold 'Em
10* Bodyguard
06 Jolene
10 Daughter
09 Spaghettii
07 Alliigator Tears
10 Just for Fun
09 II Most Wanted
10 Levii's Jeans
09 Flamenco
10 Ya Ya
10 Riiverdance
09 II Hands II Heaven
07 Tyrant
09 Amen
 
Early reviews


Pitchfork 9/10
Independent 5/5
Variety 5/5
Telegraph 5/5
Guardian 4/5
LES 4/5
Metascore so far: 91

The word masterpiece is being used a fair bit already. There's the odd really negative review - all seemingly by middle aged white men. The Washington Post one was particularly scathing but he's been absolutely ambushed in the comments section.

The public reaction is actually far more interesting, summed up by one message in the Post replying to the bad review saying "you're completely wrong, this album is a masterpiece... and before I get accused of being a Beyonce fan, it's the first album of hers I've ever listened to". That seems to be a running theme...
 
Funky said:
I saw it on NME on Instagram. Just a the usual toxic social media discussion from old white men saying how she she’s rubbish and Lennon would be rolling in his grave. And people pointing out the irony.

I’m sure the same is happening on YouTube.

Lennon would, in fact, love Beyonce. And he would especially love the idea of a woman of colour with great influence covering a song they recorded about women of colour.
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McCartney will be absolutely thrilled, there's no doubt about it. The song almost slipped past when it was originally released, likely due to being one of 30 songs on a double album and its reputation as a quiet career highlight only started to build in the 80s when the Beatles albums came out on CD. It's a lovely song and I do enjoy how Beyoncé has used her vocal arrangement to find the joy in the piece; where McCartney's original is an invocation, Knowles has created a celebration, capturing that moment when the broken wings fly again and the sunken eyes start to see.
 
In a typical turn of events, a clutch of tracks which didn't immediately stand out have revealed themselves to me this weekend and I'm now obsessed with ALLIIGATOR TEARS, JUST FOR FUN and II HANDS II HEAVEN. I've come this close to deleting TEXAS HOLD 'EM - not because it's bad but it's just not anywhere near the rest of the album. Queen shit.
 
LEVIIS has been my surprise earworm of the day. super sweet, warm song
 
Funky said:
Unfortunatley however this is getting as much coverage as the reviews

www.bbc.co.uk

Beyoncé album is missing tracks on vinyl, fans say

Fans who pre-ordered physical copies of the star's latest album say they have been short-changed.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk

I'd say that was a bad move. How do you miss Ya Ya off for a start!
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I assume they were added/recorded after the vinyls were printed and because there's a longer timescale for vinyls they just went for it. Would also explain why the vinyls have an entirely different album title.

Not telling people they're not getting an incomplete album before selling it to fans is pretty bad business though.
 
Yes it must be due to late changes to the album but the CD is apparently missing four songs as well though. The digital deluxes that come out a week later with additional tracks are one thing but putting up an incomplete version of the standard album for pre-order without warning feels off I agree.

I'm sure the Complete Carter with the horsey cover will be made available at some point, all for the convenience of the fans of course.
 
There's no tracklisting on the album, no credits, nothing. That's really bad, IMO. Charge full bung for an incomplete album and don't even tell anyone what's on it?
 
What is this tour Beyoncé is doing? Is it a tribute act or her? Dates in SLOUGH, JARROW, and BINGLEY!? The Glasgow date is at Maggie’s Rock n Roll Rodeo?
 
Free bull rides, unlimited lemonade and a 12 minute DJ set by Blu Ivy. Thinking now it does sound like something that should be in the celebdaq forum. 🤦🏻‍♀️
 
Sorry, but I played through to Jolene the other day and was bored too. I gave up.

These “Act” albums seem more about pretention than tunes to me so far.

I think actively hating Texas Hold ‘Em due to it being fucking everywhere hasn’t helped.
 
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