ACT II

I spent a lot of time with Beyonce’s new album. I think it’s just, .. it’s impressive, in a way that only someone like Beyonce could possibly try and reach for (and then could actually achieve). You have takes on Buffalo Springfield, you have Beach Boys, Tina Turner, some R&B, I hear Prince, you obviously have Dolly and Willie.. but then it also throws in actual rap, and riverdance (!?) in a country sense, but then can still tie it all together? You get yours.. Slay Queen.

While the first track truly did GRAB ME (just love starting an album with such a proclamation: ‘THEM BIG IDEAS BURIED HERE’ – and my word, yes there are), really my attention was peaked when I hit YA YA and then I doubled back through the rest of it and began to truly appreciate what I think she was trying to do. And repeatability, you can continue to listen again and again and again and find more and more to appreciate – something I just didn’t get on Renaissance.

My friend and I argued a lot about the 27 songs (Laughly, then, Taylor’s new one..come on – 31 tracks!?). My original view/opinion was that it’s because she really was just throwing everything against the wall and wanting to see what stuck… But.. i’ve changed my mind now. It’s the 27 songs she needed to stretch this ‘country act’ genre to the fullest extent of her ability and and what she wanted this sound to be and what it COULD sound like. And like, I said, it’s .. impressive. She does it.

Also, I personally hate covers of Blackbird. An old story.. Blackbird was the first fingerpicking song I learned on the guitar, and it’s just so stunningly beautiful just that guitar alone that when I first heard lyrics over the top of it, I was flat out OFFENDED. And frankly, still kinda am to this day, even when I hear the original. I mean, I’ve grown… I get it, I like the whole thing now of course, and it’s one the great songs of all time (side note: man, the Beatles were just truly prolific, weren’t they?) OKAY sorry – so when I heard the decision to make an untouchable (at least to me) cover of Blackbird track 2 right after her claim THEM BIG IDEAS BURIED HERE, it’s just.. the boldness. It’s impressive. And it wasn’t until I learned that John/Paul had originally intended for a black woman to sing that song in the first that you mind just melts a bit. Every choice on this album was just stupid intentional. It works. It’s impressive. Slay Queen.

AND where do you go from here? Man, I have literally no idea, but it’s clear she’s got some insane skills, and insane range, and sign me up for Act III.