Beyoncé - COWBOY CARTER (Discussion Thread)

[spliz]

Let ol girl dibble in country music smh. If you don’t roc with the music that’s cool keep it moving. It’s crazy how non blacks can hop across multiple of genres and be accepted. Now there’s an agenda to why Beyonce wants to do a country album lol.

There’s always an agenda when a successful black person wants to do something.

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

Bey fans aren't a monolith lol

OPINION: The Grammys continue their streak of snubbing Black artists - Hilltop Views

The Grammy Awards are arguably the biggest night for music artists worldwide, showcasing their hard work in music over the past calendar year. The Grammys also host yearly controversy that helps push viewership and engagement, thanks to the lovely fans that ignite fan-base wars or echoes of...

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Are the Grammys Cheating Black Women Out of Album of the Year? | Black Girl Nerds

Spread the loveThe Grammys have a history of controversy. In 1989, rap duo Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff boycotted the award show after winning a Grammy for Best Rap Performance. Why boycott a show that’s giving you recognition? Well, two of hip hop’s most influential rappers felt it wasn’t fair...

blackgirlnerds.com

This all in great part spurred by Jays speech

SZA losing and B the year prior

That's not even half of it

And it's not just Bey fans who are responsible for making noise and continuing to apply pressure if what we agree is true ... That it's a race issue

What point are you hoping these articles prove? Serious question.

Like most things entertainment, yes, black artists were secondary citizens until the 70’s when black people started being seen as American. So that’s 20 years right there to write off to a much larger issue than music people don’t like our music. Then for the bulk of the history of the Grammys they used to only nominate 5 albums per year which meant a lot of great artists of all races were being overlooked.

There is no consistency in what constitutes AOTY and there are greater artists and more important works that I personally believe would be more deserving of AOTY than Beyoncé’s. But they don’t have the following of Bey or clout to have the same advocacy. And their names never get bought up in this convo, it’s all how it’s an affront to Bey.

 

[Warren Peace]

16 carriages is an all time beyonce song. honestly might be the best i've ever heard from her. rare look into her life and years growing up before superstardom with great instrumentation.

that other track was ass cheeks though

 

[Piff Perkins]

I agree with @IllmaticDelta that it seems way more like she's doing country soul (or whatever you want to call it) than some modern Nashville country twang album. It's worth noting that traditional country or folk music from the 60s-80s doesn't sound anything like a lot of popular country music today. All that "I love my country and thank the police" Nashville shyt couldn't be farther from the "I shot a cop and stole my boss' wife while on the run" country music from earlier decades lol.

Just based on the two songs Beyonce dropped it seems clear she's going more in the Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, etc vein than what the average black person probably thinks when they hear the phrase "country music."


It's gonna be this with modern vibes and more soul. Same way I Will Always Love You is a Dolly Parton song, but you add some gospel/soul and you get Whitney Houston's version.

End of the day I think everyone should listen to as much different music as possible, so even though I'm no Beyonce fan I'll always dap stars who make people expand their ears. This is a long tradition for black artists too. From Miles Davis to Ray Charles etc etc. Black artists have always explored different waves.

 

[Solo_87]

What point are you hoping these articles prove? Serious question.

Like most things entertainment, yes, black artists were secondary citizens until the 70’s when black people started being seen as American. So that’s 20 years right there to write off to a much larger issue than music people don’t like our music. Then for the bulk of the history of the Grammys they used to only nominate 5 albums per year which meant a lot of great artists of all races were being overlooked.

There is no consistency in what constitutes AOTY and there are greater artists and more important works that I personally believe would be more deserving of AOTY than Beyoncé’s. But they don’t have the following of Bey or clout to have the same advocacy. And their names never get bought up in this convo, it’s all how it’s an affront to Bey.

My point? That the events of the last several years have lead to a greater discussion that
reaches Bey fans and non fans alike

Like I said I didn't know tht only 3 blk female artist have won AOTY... That's problem....I seen that shyt on twitter from a Bey fan

Yes, the Grammys have had a race problem for a long time ...but I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been enlightened

Now it's up to those of us, not just Bey fans, in the know to act if we care

And if more fan bases or rather music lovers period were to join in to sustain and hold the discussion... that could further curb the coverage from being hyper focused on one artist

But I'm talking in circles....agree to disagree

 

[jilla82]

the whole "black people started country music" is a waste because black people dont listen to it now

its about what the consumers of that music want to hear...
unless yall are going to force yourselves to listen to Country Music because you liked Bills Bills Bills back in the day

 

[rabbid]

16 Carriages is fine.. all im saying is.. the first time i heard Drunk in Love i knew Beyonce was in a different phase of her career. This just sounds like she cut the lights off in the studio at the Country Ranch or something. Its her normal wheelhouse.

As a proud beehive member , she need to put her foot on these heauxs necks man beyonce be playing sometimes. Its album of the year time if you gon get it then get it then!

 

[Realm-Breaker]

Texas Hold em has fully grown on me! Added to the library!

 

[Ribbs]

If she's gonna go full country she better bring in some country writers cause I think Raphael may be out of his depths with this one. Call up Sturgill, Stapleton, Aldean, Faith Hill. Bring in the heavyweights.

 

[Jerz-2]

Soooo...we're really supposed to GAF about a Beyonce COUNTRY album?

 

[FluffyEyes]

how is country music related to renaissance if they are part of a trilogy?

Ppl are speculating that she's trying to introduce and push her fans to look at the history of genres like dance and now country and remind ppl of Black folks' contributions to them.

You could use Renaissance as a kind of a beginner's guide to the history of Black ppl in Dance music over time.

hope she does death metal next

Ppl are saying Rock is Act III so we'll see

 

[DontEemTry]

Soooo...we're really supposed to GAF about a Beyonce COUNTRY album?

I think you're supposed to listen to whatever the fukk you want to breh

 

[IllmaticDelta]

the whole "black people started country music" is a waste because black people dont listen to it now

its about what the consumers of that music want to hear...
unless yall are going to force yourselves to listen to Country Music because you liked Bills Bills Bills back in the day

It's all about how it's crafted and delivered.













^^feed them "Country Soul" like that, and they'll listen to it

 

[No1]

What point are you hoping these articles prove? Serious question.

Using the most popular black female artist to point out the Grammys race problem. They made the same points for Kanye and Kendrick is years past. You’re just so hyper focused on not thinking Beyonce is deserving that you refuse to see the greater point and you’re essentially making an institutional argument for an institution that has been hypocritical. Like, you’re one of the smarter people here and you put on blinders on this shyt and make all of the wrong points and arguments.

The Grammys don’t need to write down their criteria, just like the Oscars don’t need to. You develop a sense of what an Oscar worthy performance is based on their mission statement and how that has been applied throughout history. You can do the same for the Grammys. For example, in the 2000s, none of these white pop stars like Swift, Adele or Harry Styles would’ve won - it’s not what the academy valued. They’re benefitting from a poptimist shift. And the point is, that shift has not benefitted any contemporary black artists. It’s not that complicated. If Swift beats Kendrick then Beyonce beats Beck.

You’ll never see Jennifer Lawrence from the Hunger Games beat Jennifer Lawrence from Silver Linings playbook. The Oscars are consistent in that. If your award show has no consistency then we don’t know how to rate the value of the award or the story it is telling. There’s a reason the Grammys created a secret panel after Prince lost, they felt that their award has been devalued. And yet in an era where hip hop and R and B artists have had that delicate balance of critical acclaim and good record sales, they haven’t benefited in the main awards like artists of the past - instead it’s gone full on white pop star/popularity contest, with a random sprinkle of a black dude doing classical music - the only type of black art they appear to respect. Stop focusing on Beyonce and realize that she is just an avatar for a bigger conversation like Macklemore beating Kendrick, etc.

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

Using the most popular black female artist to point out the Grammys race problem. They made the same points for Kanye and Kendrick is years past. You’re just so hyper focused on not thinking Beyonce is deserving that you refuse to see the greater point and you’re essentially making an institutional argument for an institution that has been hypocritical. Like, you’re one of the smarter people here and you put on blinders on this shyt and make all of the wrong points and arguments.

The Grammys don’t need to write down their criteria, just like the Oscars don’t need to. You develop a sense of what an Oscar worthy performance is based on their mission statement and how that has been applied throughout history. You can do the same for the Grammys. For example, in the 2000s, none of these white pop stars like Swift, Adele or Harry Styles would’ve won - it’s not what the academy valued. They’re benefitting from a poptimist shift. And the point is, that shift has not benefitted any contemporary black artists. It’s not that complicated. If Swift beats Kendrick then Beyonce beats Beck.

You’ll never see Jennifer Lawrence from the Hunger Games beat Jennifer Lawrence from Silver Linings playbook. The Oscars are consistent in that. If your award show has no consistency then we don’t know how to rate the value of the award or the story it is telling. There’s a reason the Grammys created a secret panel after Prince lost, they felt that their award has been devalued. And yet in an era where hip hop and R and B artists have had that delicate balance of critical acclaim and good record sales, they haven’t benefited in the main awards like artists of the past - instead it’s gone full on white pop star/popularity contest, with a random sprinkle of a black dude doing classical music - the only type of black art they appear to respect. Stop focusing on Beyonce and realize that she is just an avatar for a bigger conversation like Macklemore beating Kendrick, etc.

but they have not…the shyt literally is and always comes back to being a beyonce conversation. No one even acknowledged jhene aiko being nominated for AOTY a couple of years ago. You’ll find more discourse saying how HER is forced and doesn’t deserve the wins and nominations she has (lost AOTY twice this decade). Lizzo lost (AOTY twice this decade) and the focus was wholly beyonce despite Lizzo having commercial success and ticking some of the “artsy” boxes by both being a writer and flautist. Mary J Blige was finally nominated after 2+ decades and there should have been tons of think pieces about her being deserving of this nod for what’s the 411 and/or my life - she quite literally created a sub genre. If people were serious about this being a “black (woman) thing” their stories, very recent examples, wouldnt fall by the wayside. The headline and thesis is always why beyonce deserves it.