This Sunday, February the 5th, in the year of our Lord 2023, Beyoncé is up for nine Grammy awards including best album, record, and song of the year. In light of my Queen’s bountiful blessings, I’d like to share why her album, Renaissance, means so much to me and how thankful I am for Beyoncé.
Usually I’m not one for celebrity worship. Celebrities are people just like us: they shit, piss, bleed, puke, cry, make horrible decisions, and fuck up just as much as us except they have money to dry those pesky tears. Money, power, and fame are corrupters, often turning people into warped, soulless versions of themselves.
Beyoncé, however…Beyoncé is different. And I know, I know! We all say that about our personal favorites. Let me hit you with my thesis.
Beyoncé is mysterious. We only know what the Queen allows and nothing more. I appreciate that. I understand she has troubles happening in her life, just like we all do, and it isn’t my business to know them, nor do I want to know them. I want to be entertained. And the Queen always delivers. By handing over the reins of her social media accounts to others, Beyoncé has managed to develop a close relationship with her Beyhive without them knowing every piece of her life.
Beyoncé is open. If/when the Queen decides to share something about her life, it’s raw, honest, and adds something positive to the world. Yet the sharing is always done in a creative medium whether it’s music, film, or fashion, making the story more impactful for her audience. Beyoncé’s goal is to make an impact with her audience, yes, but her works of art naturally create a ripple effect and impact the world. How amazing is that to feel as an artist? When I write, I want to impact people in the same way but with my words. My hope is someone, even if it’s just one person, takes something impactful away from my work.
Beyoncé is giving. I won’t even get into the amount of charities and organizations her family has donated money, time, and resources to. No, simply with music alone. Not only does Beyoncé support upcoming artists, she also highlights established artists who have flown under the mainstream market for years, all stars in their own spheres.
Renaissance came out a week before my hysterectomy, and I remember lying in the hospital bed for the next two days after the surgery recovering, listening to the entire album on repeat. When I woke up in the morning, I would put it on and whisper “Please, motherfuckers ain’t stopping me” along with the opening song, hyping myself up for the next three months of recovery. The album helped me heal. Every song played a role in the process, from I’M THAT GIRL giving me morning inspiration to ALL UP IN YOUR MIND as I lay in bed at night, falling asleep and listening to the album as I drifted off. I was always out by ALL UP IN YOUR MIND.
Renaissance is one of the few albums where I truly enjoy every single song, beginning to end. SZA’s SOS and Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN are the other two, and I can honestly say each one of those albums can be played front to back with no skip (from me, at least).
So please, let me show you Renaissance and why Beyoncé is a goddess…
(Side Note: This is in no way a professional review. There are wonderful reviews out there that break down the musical nuances, and there are many in this album, but alas, I’m not that girl.)
Please, motherfuckers ain’t stopping BEYONCE!
I’M THAT GIRL
Album opener and BAM! Beyoncé wants you to know she’s THE one. With the background refrain of “Please motherfuckers ain’t stopping me” from Memphis underground legend Tommy Wright III’s 1994 track “Still Pimpin” (the vocals are by Princess Loko), Beyoncé announces she’s the ruler of all she surveys. The vocals range from her husky, throaty crooning to the soaring highs in the middle of the song, highlighting the mastery of her craft, and it’s all over a throbbing beat you can feel in your loins.
The lyric that seals the message:
From the top of the mornin', I shine (Ah-ooh)
Right through the blinds (Ah-ooh)
Touching everything in my plain view
And everything next to me gets lit up too (Ah)
Beyonce’s the sun and we’re lucky because holy shit, her light is illuminating us all! Renaissance helped me when I needed it the most, and the empowerment, the self-love, the raw energy…I LOVE IT! Please, motherfuckas ain’t stopping ME!
COZY
When Renaissance first came out, Twitter exploded saying the album is for “the girls and the gays,” and there’s truth to that. Female and Queer empowerment are central themes to the entire album, and COZY is a perfect example. Beyoncé lists the different colors of the Pride Progress flag, weaving the mention of the color with a different theme:
Dance to the soles of my feet
Green eyes envy me
Paint the world pussy pink
Blue like the soul I crowned
Purple drank and couture gowns
Gold fangs a shade God made
Blue, black, white, and brown
Paint the town red like cinnamon
Yellow diamonds, limoncello glisterin'
Rainbow gelato in the streets
Renaissance, yachtin' in Capri
My favorite part? “Might I suggest you don’t fuck with my sis…cause she’s comfortable.”
Yes, MA’AM!
ALIEN SUPERSTAR
My favorite song on the album. I said it. Listen to it, HOW CAN YOU NOT LIKE IT!?
I listen to Alien Superstar and pretend I’m a goddess, descended to Earth to help mankind and now I walk amongst you. Mood.
Also, the transition between COZY and ALIEN SUPERSTAR highlight the work of the amazing, talented Black queer and trans producers Beyoncé tapped for the album.
A DJ at the beginning of the song advises us to remain calm, don’t be alarmed, he’s just conducting a troubleshoot test of the entire system…and suddenly Beyoncé croons “I’m one of one, I’m number one, I’m the only one.”
Yes ma’am, you are correct.
Best lyric? Too many but “I’m stingy with my love” stuck with me. Would an alien superstar be anything else?
Or maybe “head on a pillow, hike it in the air?’
Or:
I just talk my shit, Casanova, superstar, supernova
Power, pull 'em in closer
If that's your man, then why he over here?
Like I said, too many.
CUFF IT
Made popular by the TikTok dance challenge attached to the song, CUFF IT is definitely intended to be enjoyed while roller skating with your boo on a Friday night at your local rink. I don’t know how to skate, but this song made me want to learn.
Whenever this song comes on, I’m immediately in the mood to fuck SOMETHING up!
Best lyric?
Hypersonic, sex erotic
On my body, boy, you got it
Hit them 'draulics, while I ride it
Got me actin' hella thotty
So excited, so exotic
I'm a seasoned professional
Squeeze it, don't let it go
Tease it, no self control
I got time today (I got time today, I got time today
ENEGERY
With references to “voting out 45” and “pick a side, only double lines we cross are dollar signs,” Beyoncé lets us know that the energy we put out into the world is what we’ll get back. If we have negative energy, we’re gonna get it back. Try positivity and kindness, and see how the universe magnifies your blessings.
Also, the mention of Karens at the end made me high five the air.
BREAK MY SOUL
The first single from Renaissance got everyone hyped for what the new album would sound like, and we knew a treat was coming when Big Freedia started singing on the track. BREAK MY SOUL was created using a sample from Robin S.’s 1993 dance hit “Show Me Love,” which honestly I hadn’t heard since 1993.
Break My Soul reminds me of listening to the album on YouTube the night it dropped, live chatting with the BeyHive. Community.
CHURCH GIRL
The song opens with a sample from gospel group The Clark Sisters’ 1981 track “Center of Thy Will,’ and immediately goes into a throbbing beat definitely made for fucking it up. But Beyoncé lets us know “she ain’t trying to hurt nobody, she’s just trying to bring the life back in your body.”
Favorite lyric? ‘Must be ya cash cause it ain’t ya face.’ Damn.
A major empowerment song for us out here just trying to live our lives, we ain’t trying hurt nobody.
PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA
A song about the love between two people who married, started a family, and STILL got that burning desire for each other. Oh, and the vocals are fucking insane. Listen to it for yourself! Beyoncé’s voice box is from an angel, and you can’t convince me otherwise.
Best lyric?
Ooh, the rest of the world is strange
Stay in our lane, just you and me, and our family
I think you're so cool (even though I'm cooler than you)
VIRGO’S GROOVE
Whew! Grab a towel to blot your face cause this song is HAWT! With references to motor boating, coming out your blouse, and hands gripping on hips, this song definitely belongs on a bedroom playlist. Also, more gagging vocals.
HEATED was co written by quite a few artists, one of the most notable being Drake who shares a long history of working with Beyoncé.
The best lyrics are the little gasp/grunts when she’s singing about hands gripping on her…listen, you’ll see.
MOVE (feat. Grace Jones & Tems)
Grace Jones. Enough said.
And let me just point out, Grace Jones is NOTORIOUSLY picky on who she works with. Mrs. Jones has said many times that the artists today bore her…but not Beyoncé. Greatness recognizes greatness.
HEATED
Drake helped write the song and it shows. HEATED showcases the album’s dancehall influences, particularly with the end of the song, and also mentions Beyoncé’s deceased Uncle Johnny who was a major influence during her younger years. He helped make all of her dresses and was himself a major figure in the local ballroom scene.
Favorite lyric?
Whole lotta reservations, whole lotta
Whole lotta texting with no conversations
Whole lotta playing victim and a villain at the same time
Whole lotta, yeah, money, not a lot of patience.
THIQUE
I listen to this song while doing my daily squats. I don’t think this song gets enough attention, but then again, how can it on an album like this?
Also, this song makes the speakers rattle beautifully, no matter where you listen.
Favorite lyric?
Boy you crazy, body mean
Back it up like limousine
They got to make a fold out to fit a magazine right
Girl, look at your body, right
Boy, take this in slow, don't let go
And tell me how bad you've been wanting it
And hurry up quick, 'fore the moment ends
I like what I hear, might be sleeping in
Screaming, "Beyoncé, chocolate ounces, sit on that, bounce it, bounce it"
ALL UP IN YOUR MIND
Beyoncé is sprung and true to her Virgo nature, she’s gonna get the fuck up in your mind. HARD! And if you open up to her, she’s got a treat. Once she knows what you like, she’s got you hooked.
After all, she tells us: “Be careful what you ask for cause I might just comply.”
AMERHICA HAS A PROBLEM
One of my favorite songs on the album, AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM is a song where Beyoncé equates her love/sexual prowess/essence to a drug and holy shit, her man has the joneses REALLY bad. After the song, now I do too.
Favorite line? There’s too many but these few lines get me every time:
Grind (grind)
Boy, you know I grind (grind)
When I pull up these jeans, you're mine
(When I pull up these jeans, you're mine)
You're mine (you're mine, you're mine)
When I step on the scene they
Can't wait to back it up
Your ex-dealer dope, but it ain't crack enough
I'm supplyin' my man
I'm in demand soon as a I land
PURE/HONEY
With samples from Kevin Aviance’s “Cunty,” DJ Mikeq, and Moi Renee’s “Miss Honey,” we are plainly shown the influence of the ballroom, vogue, and house scenes on Renaissance in the song PURE/HONEY. Quite frankly, it’s their influence that makes this album one of a kind.
SUMMER RENAISSANCE
The last song on the album is a fun, soaring dance number created with a sample of Donna Summer’s hit disco song, “I Feel Love.” If you don’t dance or tap your foot or nod your head to this song, check your pulse. You might be unalived. Get that checked out.
Pro tip: If you leave the album alone, the ending of Renaissance transitions smoothly into the beginning, leaving you sitting there thinking, ‘eh, what’s one more time?’
No visuals have been released for the album, but Beyonce doesn’t have to. Would it be nice to have a Lemonadesque film to go with it? Absolutely.
Does Beyonce *need* to? No!
There’s many theories buzzing around: she made the album for the music alone, or made it with the intention to feature fans as the visuals (see her Insta and TikTok for the highlights), or my personal theory is she made it with the intention of releasing a bit at a time, allowing us to have things to look forward to. Making plans and having things to look forward to are huge positives for mental health, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Queen knew we needed some sunshine in this winter of our discontent.
I’m sure you’ve probably noticed by now…I’m a huge Beyonce fan. I have been since the Destiny’s Child days, y’all. Maybe you could tell (please see pics of Club Renaissance we built for my birthday party)?
Maybe I am slanted towards the Queen, wearing rose colored glasses? I know there are quite a few people who either don’t care about her, don’t like her, or in the case of a select few, actively harbor a huge hate of her (why, I don’t know but guesses, I have a few).
During the George Floyd protests of 2020, quite a few white supremacists groups spread the idea Beyoncé isn’t Black at all…rather a “dark skinned Italian.” Beyoncé said fuck that and released Black is King, Black Parade, and Brown Skin Girl.
Beyoncé is the only queen I recognize. Now I’m off for my daily Renaissance listening.