From Renaissance To Ranch: Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Surprises
There are few musicians on the planet who can capture the public’s attention quite like Beyoncé: she’s a bona fide transcendental superstar. And as March 2024 was coming to a close, she built on her legacy once more with the release of a brand new record. Titled Cowboy Carter, this country-inspired album has taken the music world by storm, offering up a host of fascinating talking points.
Following up a classic
It’s been two years since Beyoncé dropped her previous album Renaissance. But people still can’t stop talking about it — and for good reason. It’s a record packed with big themes, wrapped up in some banging tracks.
Then, there’s the cover art. Good luck finding a more striking image than a scantily-clad Queen Bey riding a horse. Talk about a bold choice! Something else stood out as well.
A musical trilogy?
Renaissance sported an intriguing subtitle — Act I. What did that mean? Could Beyoncé be using the traditional three-act structure found in narrative fiction to map out a trilogy? Or was it just a random addition?
Well, we got a better idea of that when Cowboy Carter dropped. Not only does the cover art showcase the singer riding another horse, but the album has a subtitle. Yep, it’s Act II.
Fits the bill
Now, in a three-act structure, Act I is usually referred to as the Setup. Then it transitions into Act II, which is known as the Confrontation. And boy, is that befitting when talking about Cowboy Carter.
This album broadly confronts the country music industry, while also provoking questions of the confines of genre. Beyoncé has a lot to say here, and it makes for captivating listening.
A lengthy listen
In terms of its scope, Cowboy Carter is an absolute monster of an album. It spans a whopping 27 tracks, with the overall runtime clocking in at around 79 minutes.
It’s not a quick listen, folks! Yet once it hooks you in with that opening song “American Requiem,” it’s hard to tear yourself away. Before you know it, you’ll have dropped everything to finish it.