Once again, Queen Beyonce has proved that she can, indeed, do it all, and a perfect job at that. After previously having dominated the genres of pop, hip-hop, R&B, and more, this time she has taken on something new, a country album. While initially releasing just two tracks, ‘Texas Hold Em’ and ’16 Carriages’, fans already got a taste of how successful the album be. Realistically, the album has received widespread critical acclaim after its release, truly proving that there’s no genre the Queen cannot reign in.
As praises for the album stacks up, fans have been pointing out the symbolic messages in the new album. Here’s how Beyonce has used symbolism in ‘Cowboy Carter’, dragging attention to certain things about the music industry.
Racism In The Music Industry
As someone who has strongly been one of the biggest inspirations for the public in her fight against racism in a mostly white-dominated industry, Beyonce talked about why she released a country album, and how she felt rejected by the industry years before.
She wrote on Instagram, “This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive.
She continued, “It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history. The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”
Further on, she has a track called ‘The Linda Martell Show’ on the album, referencing Linda Martell who was the first black woman to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in 1969. While she released the tracklist for the album, it had the words “Cowboy Carter and the rodeo chitlin’ circuit” written above, which is another notable nod towards Black culture.
Many have noted that the Chitlin’ Circuit was a network of music venues in the Jim Crow South that hosted Black musicians; the tracklist’s layout even pays homage to those posters from the time.
Symbolism Of The American Flag
Featuring an American flag in the cover picture for the album started quite a lot of discussions; mostly about what it feels like to be a Black American woman, with many also criticizing her for raising the flag.
Azealia Banks dissed Beyonce’s cover art and her statement about feeling rejected in Hollywood, calling it ‘white woman cosplay’.
Azealia has quite a bit to say about Cowboy Carter lol pic.twitter.com/66oAIIDQyK
— Ichigo Niggasake (@SomaKazima) March 20, 2024
Though in another picture, the pop star shows an American flag made up entirely of pills. Coincidentally the album has a song called ‘America Has A Problem’.
Beyoncé having an AMERICAN flag made of pills referencing the epidemic in AMERICA on a song called AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM is LEGENDARIC😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/es23qjfs0U
— 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆🫧💚 (@beyoncegarden) May 20, 2023
Many Beyoncé fans, though, interpreted the flag to indicate that she was claiming her American identity. Art history expert and broadcaster of the YouTube news program Daily Blast Live Tory Shulman stated that Beyoncé was “reclaiming patriotism” with the artwork, drawing comparisons to paintings that glorify historical figures such as George Washington and Napoleon.
In Case You Missed It: “Jay-Z Means The World To Me”: SZA Reveals Why She Didn’t Talk To Beyoncé At The Grammys But Spoke To Her Husband
Reclaiming Black Country Identity
Beyoncé’s flag-waving, cowboy hat-wearing promenade seemed to send a totally different message to a lot of Black Texans and other Black Americans with country heritage. The cover art, it has been noted, honors Black rodeo stars, particularly the rodeo queens who hoist the American flag following a victory.
Her shift in genre is also seen as her making space for more and more black artists to join the genre. She also featured Tanner Adell, Willie Jones, and Shaboozey, who are incredible Balck artists in the album, as a nod to other Balck artists who have paved the way for her, reclaiming a genre that was originally started by Black people.
Beyoncé using her influence to ultimately help other amazing black country artists is phenomenal.
— Ciera Shakur (@KoodaB) March 30, 2024
THIS type of promotion and press is priceless.
Black women… pic.twitter.com/Y1k3z4NFWj
‘Cowboy Carter’ is one of Queen Bey’s most iconic works to date, letting Beyonce claim the crown once again, while also creating an album that is culturally significant and promotes Black awareness.
You Might Like To Read:
