When it comes to timelessness in the world of music, a few names may come to mind. However, when it comes to changing the landscape in many ways, while also juggling businesses, a family, and still staying at the top of their game, only one name comes to mind: Beyonce.
Beyonce is widely considered the best performer of this generation, and she has the track record to prove it. She has won the most Grammy awards of all time. However, what makes her so special is that she is renowned for bringing minority communities to the forefront of our society’s culture.
For example, with her hit 2022 album, Renaissance, Beyonce spotlighted House Music. House Music was created by the black LGBTQ+ community, a community that historically hasn’t been observed or considered when it comes to the “mainstream.” When Beyonce released that album, the black LGBTQ community was shown on a stage that hasn’t existed for them ever. That’s the power of Beyonce.
Back in March, Beyonce released Cowboy Carter. It was a country album, but with a twist. The album acknowledges traditional country music, while also pulling back the curtain on where country music truly originated.
In 2016, Beyonce released a song entitled “Daddy Lessons.” The song was about her experience as a child. Beyonce was raised in Houston, Texas. Country music was an integral part of her upbringing, so when she released a country song, she was excited to sing at the CMA’s (Country Music Awards). However, when she performed her song, she was faced with racism and dismay. People were appalled at the fact that a black artist performed a country song to a predominately white audience, never minding that the true origins of the genre come from black culture.
That experience inspired her to make her critically acclaimed country album, Cowboy Carter.
Cowboy Carter received a perfect 100 from Rolling Stone and it went #1 on the Billboard charts. The album also featured up and coming black country artists including Shaboozey and Britney Spencer.
However, success is nothing new to Beyonce. In 2016, Beyonce released her most acclaimed album in her discography, Lemonade. The album told a story of her alleged experience with infidelity in her marriage. Lemonade as a body of work addresses many emotions surrounding infidelity including anger, sadness, betrayal, and resilience. One of the reasons the album was so successful was because it not only shed light on her very personal experiences, but it spoke to women everywhere. Beyonce took control of the narrative and inspired other women to do the same. The music industry hasn’t been the same since.
Beyonce has proved time and time again that her work is beyond commercial success and chart placements, it’s about peeling back the layers and showing that anyone and everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and respected no matter where they come from, and that is the reason why Beyonce is the best musical artist of our generation. One Rolling Stone article said it best: “The world is Beyonce’s ball”.
