RENAISSANCE (Review)
Hi. Hey. Hello. ItzSonny and...Beyoncé. I think everybody and they momma know Beyoncé, she's one of the most popular mainstream music artists ever, since her breakout "Crazy Love", and uh...I never really got into her music, man, no shade to her, her music pretty good from what I've heard growing up, it's just that...as a kid I just saw it as girly music, nothing wrong with that, even as a kid, I liked some girly music, just ya know, I was into my rock and electronic as a kid, yet, I think it's time to finally see what all the fuss is about and for me to really dive into her music proper, see whether or not she's really worthy of all the music acclaim, yet where do I start? Well, she released an LP not too long ago entitled "Renaissance" and apparently, it's fantastic, so fuck it, I'mma start here, this is a review of Beyoncé's "Renaissance."
BACKGROUND
The 2010s, especially the latter half of it was a primetime for Beyoncé, releasing critically acclaimed projects left and right from her 2016 LP, "Lemonade" (which I hear great things about, will for sure do a review at some point), her work on the Lion King (live-action) soundtrack, 2018 Coachella performance, and many visual projects. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Beyoncé was isolated in her home, deciding to escape her isolation by creating music, discovering a new angle of it. Crafting music that represented her culture and building upon her legacy, feeling a renaissance in those times of wanting to escape, and nurturing that in her music as best she can. Working on her album, she sought influence from post-1970s black ball culture, dance music, and club culture, having been introduced to it from her uncle Johnny, and wanting the album to celebrate underappreciated pioneers of dance music. She was also heavily influenced by Studio 54 (aye man who know about dat S54 ur a goat if u read this), and wanting to challenge herself with song lengths and overall structure, going bold in new directions, yet did it pay off for her?
“Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom.”
REVIEW
"I'M THAT GIRL"
So addictive, I have heard her music on the radio growing up, but...I've never really delved into her music like that, so from my perspective, this is such a great impression to leave on me with this opener, it's so memorable, addictive, and just straight-up listenable, the mix, the backup vocals, her delivery, the fun chorus, the straight lyrics, it doesn't even just setup the album, it's just some good ass music that doesn't feel cringey.
"COZY"
So, uh, question, does she always get down like this? Cause DAMN, this shit HITTING, I swear this track is heat, I love how she just fucks around and does whatever and I love it, this track feels so jamboree in its nature, the punchy tone, the wallowy overall melody and progression, and B being on point with her vocal delivery is spectacular, like damn, this the pop music I BEEN FIENING FOR, this track alone makes me want to dive into her entire catalog right now, it's a bop.
"ALIEN SUPERSTAR"
I think this track is great and one I easily recognize...yet not my favorite, I really do appreciate what it's going for with the alien-based wonkiness and it is very successful in all of it, yet doesn't fully gravitate me the entire time, love the chorus, the many different elements in the melody work well, and it sounds like a retro 80s synth-heavy sc-fi soundscape and it works, just not my personal favorite, I do adore it though.
"CUFF IT"
Oh nah, this what pop about, this best track so far, this just set the bar, this what pop music all about, the hook, the groove, the beat, the delivery, the chorus, the glamour and sparkly aesthetic, I'm into this, track perfectly flows from the catchy hook into letting B just say what's on her mind and allow things to paddle back abit, yet still consistently be progressive, like this is a modern classic right here, I'm all for this, this is pop at its finest.
"ENERGY" (Ft. Beam)
I like it, not the best, yet I like it, I think what holds it back is that I'm not a fan of every single element through into the mix, either being replaced or changed could've made the track hit more in its mix and melody, yet overall, I still like it, Beam and B delivery very different performances and yet the switch-up goes crazy hard and still works well in cohesion to make this a very fun shorter song amongst the track-list.
"BREAK MY SOUL"
This is that old school shit I love, very dance pop club music energy, love the sampling of "Show Me Love" (Robin S.), really works well and creates a great mix alongside the vocal sample, it's just a very much throwback to older music, feeling authentic for obvious reasons and also being renewed and overall one of the best tracks thus far, maybe I'm just a simpleton when it comes to pop music and just enjoy a catchy hook and gripping melody that gets me moving and it can be simplistic, I'm sorry, if it sounds good to me, it sounds GOOD to me.
"CHURCH GIRL"
Weakest track so far, not going to apologize, it's still enjoyable indeed and I appreciate the gospel energy it's going for, I just think the mix isn't hitting, every element works on its own, yet doesn't fully work well in cohesion and with what the track is going for, the delivery, the beat, the backup humming, it just doesn't seem to work well together, I'm not even against the "shaking ass" mentality its going for, it's neat, I just feel this needed more cooking in the oven.
"PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA"
Just going from the weakest track to probably the BEST DAMN ONE off this record, hold the beer, cause WOAHHH, this is what I'M TALKING ABOUT. I guess it's just me, yet I love my throwback dance music, yet what I love more is my soulful music, something slower, steady, focused, emotional, and this is that all over, B is delivering the performance of her life HERE so casually with confidence, her vocals are heavenly, I love the progression, it's so jumpy and flows naturally with a well-paced tone and the lyricism has truly captured me this time, nothing uncommon, yet feels like this is a song ripped right out of the older era and it's just a golden masterpiece of a song here.
"VIRGO'S GROOVE"
I think we're entering a streak here, cause this also could be the best track on the album. This is that weirdo shit I love, it's so GROOOOVY, I love the bop beat mix, the progression and flow goes crazy, the lyricism is so much fun, you can tell B had fun doing this one, the backup vocals work so well collectively, it's a song that makes you want to dance, and honestly this could've worked right up there with B's older tracks back during the Destiny's Child era, this is such a 2000s top 1 radio hit, and nothing of it feels corporate, it's just a throwback bop.
"MOVE" (Ft. Grace Jones & Tems)
Now this is that bad gurl energy I'm looking for, the mix is perfect, perfectly pounding on beat, the right sounds thrown in to add to the "jungle" atmosphere, Grace Jones & Tems greatly add to the track, it feels like a trio doing their shit that they was made for, man, the writing is great, it's nothing like the pop "I'm a bad girl" energy that I distain from most of the songs, it really is just people being badass and threatening in a non-corny way, it's just compelling and fun to listen to and the right kind version of a song going for this direction.
"HEATED"
Oh yah, I'm grooving, adore the afrobeat, continuing a little bit off "Move", only more calmer, B just taking out her frustration, yet not screaming or yelling at all, it's very much like she says in the track, "testing her patience", she's lying out her issues and her individuality and not being mad about it, just frustrated like any of us, love the backup vocalist, and it's just a very catchy chorus that got me repeating it 10 times, loving the energy.
"THIQUE"
I don't know how to feel about this track, not even kidding...when it's all the freaky shit, I'm just like ಠ_ಠ and then there's that fast fun flow and then the final portion where I'm like (っ˘ڡ˘ς) it's like...it's not a bad song, just a very mood swinger for me, there's moments I'm like "eh, uh, hold up, ok..." and then I'm like "OKAY, OKAY, OKAY" and vice versa and honestly I kind of love that about this song, makes this the most unique of the entire album because of how much it switches up, so ya know what, I think I like it.
"ALL UP IN YOUR MIND"
My only complaint...I wish it was longer cause THIS IS HITTING, like It's so short and I wanted more because that's how much I was getting into this one, this is a power song that is so calm, focused, and condensed, like she wasn't kidding when she said she was gonna get up all up into my mind cause this song was WORKING, it just really works well.
"AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM"
I think this track's hilarious, you'd think off the title, it was going to be a political song on some Kendrick flow, but nah, it's just her and a guy tryna fuck lmao, and like, it's funny too cause the track describes love like a coke addiction on some Tony Montana business and it's quite humorous and works well with the production...no, but yah, America been having problems.
"PURE/HONEY"
Nah, now this is hilarious in the best way, I kind of love how this album just said "screw all logic", let's just have fun and this track foregoes it, it's just this fun mix-up like it sounds like something I would hear on a BANNED PSA program because B and everybody were high ass fuck and on some wild shit, and I love that energy put into this, it's all over the place and wacky ass hell that I love it, it's sweet and pure like HONEY, this is great, I'm smirking writing this like dawg, this is genius.
"SUMMER RENAISSANCE"
A very splendid closer, doesn't even really feel like a closer, just a great song to end the album that culminates what it's all standing for, adore the sample from DONNA, she's really going all out with her delivery here, truly musical talent status at its finest, yet the retro synth 80s key progression and wacky sound production is marvelous and just right up my alley and really is the most creative flowing track across the entire LP, it's going nuts all over and this is spectacular just like this album.
CONCLUSION
Like I said before, I was not a fan of Beyoncé growing up and it's not anything against her at all, I just never really had the opportunity to get into her music, yet I always knew she was a big star and fans all over adored her, yet now doing this blog and YouTube, I finally had the chance and this couldn't have been a greater album for me to get into her music proper because wow, this is a banger, generally not really a weak song here, everything is consistent and the production is all over the place in the best way, Beyoncé is truly talented in how she can range from many different tones and aesthetics and it truly is best showcased here, every track could easily be a favorite, and they all are favorites, the album's core idea of "RENAISSANCE" is all over the songs, the renaissance of music, the renaissance for Beyoncé, just having fun and embracing ourselves as she does this through her creative talent in music and that's what pop music is all about, man. It's been Sonny and so long, farewell, and goodbye.
“Comfortable in my skin, cozy with who I am.”
