Beyonce and country - can anyone ever say a particular genre of music can 'belong' to an ethnicity

[mids2019]

Well I like the new album.

However it did make me ask the question, can any race or demographic legitimately claim a form of music is theirs and it is problematic if someone performs it e.g. Taylor swift doing rap?

I heard that Tracy Chapman was thinking about her shit life with no opportunities when she sings Fast Car.

Luke Combs was thinking about Lightening McQueen

There was a whole item on this on Radio 4 the other day. Maybe last Thursday morning? I did retort at the radio more than once. I'll see if I can find it

So have we reached an era where music is universal and if you like a genre you just play it? I would like to think so but part of me thinks that music is about lived experience and if part of lived experience is embedded with your race or background that may need to respected.

Maybe looking at this too much because I have an earworm with 'Texas Holdem'

@Davros

That would be interesting because I am trying to make my mind up of Beyonce just wanted to do country with her wide ranging talent or whether she was secretly (or not secretly) wishing to wade into racial politics (which is obviously a huge thing in the US)

Beyoncé is from Texas, country music is massive there, she’d have grown up hearing it.

Country music is influenced by a variety of cultures, I don’t think it “belongs” to a singular ethnicity.

I do think Beyoncé’s offering is one of her worst albums and she’d be crucified as a new artist.

@mids2019 Lemonade was Beyoncé “wading in” to racial politics and that must be 10 years old now or close to.

@SemperIdem

thanks didn't realise that.

maybe Beyonce in those ten years has become a stratospheric star so if wishes again to make a point about race it would be more subtle?

I agree with this. It feels like she's just jumping on a bandwagon and cashing in on country having a moment.

@SemperIdem

can you see any of the new a album in a stadium filler then? Did she intend this album to be an example of her at her zenith or was it that with fame, money and adulation she wanted to do something a little controversial ?

Everyone shouod be able to sing anything

I have no time for all this ‘boo hoo cultural appropriation only we can sing our music / wear our clothes’ nonsense

Cultures mix and meld it’s what they do

Good for Beyonce

@SaulHudsonDavidJones

hmmm .......cashing in when she is bloody minted.....I don't know. I don't think personally she needs to jump on a bandwagon for filthy lucre so that's why I was thinking about this.

She’s from Texas. She is country. If you know any of her early music or have ever heard her speak. Her accent is country. I think it’s fitting that she is doing music like this. ♥️

https://www.loc.gov/collections/songs-of-america/articles-and-essays/musical-styles/popular-songs-of-the-day/country/#:~:text=The%20origins%20of%20country%20music,favorite%20instruments%2C%20and%20musical%20traditions.

The article referenced suggests country was influenced by African immigrants from the 17th century. I could suggest gently that immigration to the US for Africans in this period as slightly different to Europeans? Hence I think maybe country can't be viewed as a completely unifying musical record for all its existeance?

I have no opinion on whether she should have done it (C&W that is) but her version of Jolene is a fucking abomination (notwithstanding Dolly endorsing it).

@Doratheexplorer1 .

Perhaps and I hope so. the idea of country and western initially was coupled to poor white immigrants from Irish and Scottish backgrounds from amongst others who settled in the South and western states of the US. Obviously as well as songs about white poverty for black people the poverty may have been a level.worse .

I don't know but is this a big f you to white racists in the US?

I love Beyonce doing country. I don’t think any type of music belongs to anyone. We all lose out if people are put in boxes.

Not only other races. There was major controversy in the 70s when Olivia Newton John, a white Aussie, won some cma awards with some country stars such as tammy Wynette resigning in protest. They didn’t like non Americans joining their club. I think something similar happened with Canadian shania Twain!

I'm not particularly a Beyonce fan and even I know that Lemonade was huge - probably more so in the US than here I suppose. She was already stratospheric, but that was the first time she really commented on racial issues afaik. It was a hugely meaningful album for a lot of black Americans and one of the key moments of her career.

SNL did a very funny sketch when it was released "The Day Beyonce Turned Black", worth a watch.

I haven't heard the new album yet, but I understand it is intended as a commentary on the black roots of country music and the exclusion of black artists from the genre. The BBC had a very readable article the other day.

I don't know or care but I'm fucking sick of hearing that 'this ain't Texas' song.

@ColleenDonaghy

looking at US history of probably is no surprise black artists were rejected by the genre (and a lot more besides). So maybe the choice is based on black people being omitted from particular type of US music as well as you know liking the nusic?

Did you see the documentary (made by a black Harvard professor) about how gospel singing originated from Scot’s Gaelic psalms mixed with African songs? It’s was really interesting.

music can of course give people of a particular faith or culture a connection. But I don’t believe any part of culture exclusively belongs to anyone

I was going to say this. Fast Car isn't a country song. Why woukd Tracy Chapman win a CMA? FWIW the song to me grates when sung by a White male country singer. The words don't ring true and it has no emotion behind it at all. I thought it was Ronan Keating when I first heard it and thought ' what a dickhead thinking a song about an abused woman leaving a bad marriage was an appropriate song for him to cover.

@Annettekurtin

good point but does this undermine the views that white people shouldn't mis appropriate other cultures? I think the idea that music is for everyone though so personally agree may have some cultural sensitivity.

There are black country music artists and always have been. They're just in small numbers , around 1.5% and not as visible/promoted.

Beyonce is already huge and everything she does , will be promoted which is why it's so "in your face".

It has to be one of the shittiest most boring songs ever 🙄