Happy Friday, my dear,

This week, the world was BLESSED by the Queen B herself, with her new singles, and my personal favorite, Texas Hold ‘Em.  Yes, it’s a Beyonce single, and yes, it’s country music, and many before her have put their own spin on a very traditional genre.  But, very few before her have the gravitas to pull off what she is pulling off.

Beyonce is from Texas. She’s one of the most experimental but commercial artists of our time - which is no small feat.  That woman created an entire film and album, Lemonade, which was a beautiful, symbolic, touching, and intense modern opera.  Most commercial artists don’t need to, and don’t risk, pushing the genre and stylistic boundaries that she does.

And then, to top it all off, her beautiful song, Daddy Lessons, was rejected by the Grammy’s country music committee as a country music song.  I have to think that this rejection has spurred her to create an entire country album now, 8 years later, which I know will be undeniable. 

Let’s pay a little homage to the beautiful song that must have inspired this new album. 

Interrupting to provide you with my favorite dancing pic of my mom.  She’s probably why I love Beyonce. Guess which one she is?

Daddy Lessons is the sixth song on Lemonade, which is largely regarded as an album about Beyonce coming to terms with her husband, Jay-Z, cheating on her. The vulnerability of taking this subject on, so honestly, and so openly, is mind-blowing, and I could write chapters on this fact alone.  However, this theme is already established by the time we get to Daddy Lessons.  The song before, 6 Inch, features the Weeknd, and is an homage to strong, beautiful women who work, suggesting that Beyonce is not taking this cheating thing lying down.

Daddy Lessons essentially both thanks her father for the strength he taught her, but also expresses her deep sadness and disappointment with him cheating on her mother.  In the song, her father holds the same values as typical country music fans do - and in honor of him, the music matches.  You cannot tell me this is not a country music song: 

With his gun, with his head held high

He told me not to cry

Oh, my daddy said shoot

Oh, my daddy said shoot

With his right hand on his rifle

He swore it on the bible

My daddy said shoot

Oh, my daddy said shoot

And ironically, he seems to be teaching her to “shoot” a cheating man like him.  I’ve always wondered whether the publication of Lemonade is Beyonce’s version of “shooting” Jay-Z, or has she agreed not to shoot him and take him back?  I think we have to look to the last song on the album, Formation, in which she again, honors her past, but so clearly is expressing her strength:  

Earned all this money but they never take the country out me . . . . 

I just might be a black Bill Gates in the making . . . I slay

Okay, ladies, now let's get in formation

You know you that bitch when you cause all this conversation

Always stay gracious, best revenge is your paper

Ironic that the last line of the album is about staying gracious and making money, when Lemonade certainly made her money.  People will disagree about whether her choice to make art about tragedy and someone else wronging you is gracious…but as an artist, I’m totally cool with it. 

Ironic that the last line of the album is about staying gracious and making money, when Lemonade certainly made her money.  People will disagree about whether her choice to make art about tragedy and someone else wronging you is gracious…but as an artist, I’m totally cool with it. 

As you can tell, Lemonade is an incredible piece of art to me, and I could talk about all the symbolism and artistry and dancing and fashion and lyrics and plot and music, for years.  But since Sunday night, and the release of these new songs, and the teasing of this new album, honestly, I’ve thought of little else.  Beyonce has left me deeply inspired.  She already wrote her Great American Novel.  But some of the gatekeepers rejected it, and failed to see her genius.  So, she’s going for it, again.

I hope this little story leaves you inspired.  If you’re also a Lemonade freak like me, or even a new Lemonade freak, please reply and we can talk about it forever.  I’ll just be over here, with Texas Hold ‘Em on repeat.

Love always,

Lauren

THANKS FOR READING!