There is crack rock in this album. I mean, hard drugs. And you know exactly what album I’m talking about.
Beyoncé’s seventh solo studio album, “Renaissance,was released on July 29. Since then, I’ve listened to it about 495,372 times. I couldn’t listen to anything else. I listen to it at the gym, on the train, when I’m sad, when I’m happy, with my friends, when I’m on the phone with my mom. I never listen to this album.
It’s the lyrics, the transitions, the bad bitch attitude that oozes out of this album – my God! This body of work is contagious as hell. My mind is no longer mine. It belongs to Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter. She has me in a full nelson and pulls the exact strings she needs to get me to involuntarily scream “UNIQUE” at least 36 times a day. I am pissed.
“All Up in Your Mind” is damn right because for almost a month straight I woke up to one of the 16 tracks on this house album, ballroom-inspired and afro-infused. Caribbean, stuck in my head before I could even open my eyes to greet the day. Hell, I even accidentally told an old lady on the street to “move, move, move, move” while singing during my routine hot girl walk.
That’s crazy. Beyoncé really is America’s problem.
And it’s not even just me who thinks so. Open Twitter now. Or TikTok. Or even Instagram for that matter. In fact, just walk outside. You are going to hear this fucking album in excess. It didn’t top the Billboard charts by becoming the #1 album and plot all 16 songs on the Hot 100 by itself.
We are all addicted. Just look.
Honestly, I don’t even try to fight him anymore. I surrender.
Everything is terrible right now: there are multiple active and worrying public health crises, inflation is driving up the cost of everything, and we still have to work to survive in an unjust society that is insidiously marginalizing us. Frankly, we needed this album.
“Renaissance” is very black, very queer and a celebration of the trendsetters and tastemakers who are the backbone of society. It’s body positive, it’s rebellious, it’s sexy, it’s wonderful, it’s a lot more of what we need to fight this hellscape that is America in about 60 minutes.
When you press play and hear the lyrics, “These motherfuckers aren’t stopping me,” it becomes an affirmation and an invitation to an auditory home that reminds you of what an authentic force you are. This album creates a space to remind you that despite the problems in the world, the obstacles you are currently facing, or the people and systems that are against you, you are worthy. Worthy of love, worthy of dancing, worthy of taking up space. So of course when a global icon and once-in-a-generation talent tells you it’s crap for a crazy production while paying homage to the girls and gays who paved the way for a masterpiece like this, it’s addictive.
Seeing the energy of Club Renaissance parties across the country is proof of that.
The “Rebirth” is a spiritual experience. “Alien Superstar” allows you to forget the problems of this world and put yourself on a pedestal that sits at the top of the universe. You listen to “Cuff It” and dance carefree without even realizing you’re listening to a completely different song when “Energy” starts. You praise the journey while shaking ass in “Church Girl,” fall in love during “Plastic Off the Sofa,” and transport to another dimension with “Virgo’s Groove.” You feel like you’re rolling like Gucci Mane when “America Has a Problem”, “Pure/Honey” and “Summer Renaissance” close the album.
Beyoncé put all her pussy in this album.
Mind you, we don’t even have any visuals yet, unlike what we’ve typically come to expect from Beyoncé’s projects over the past decade. For now, there is only music. No element of surprise. “Renaissance” implores us to really sit down with just the lyrics. And when the album ends and goes back to the beginning, it’s hard not to reinvigorate and listen to it all again. You discover an alluring and stimulating gem with every listen. Even the songs you didn’t see it for initially become your favorites. That’s one hell of a high.
“Renaissance” offers the balm of escape and lightness necessary for an era like this. And it’s just really good.