BEYONCE: Her Kind Of Lemonade

Following the release of her eponymous album BEYONCE in 2013, the queen in her cryptic persona took the world unawares (again) by releasing her sixth album titled LEMONADE on April 23rd exclusively on TIDAL streaming services moments after she debuted her album film titled Lemonade on HBO networks. Following the release of her project, it had become the most tweeted topic on twitter sphere by fans and celebrities alike.


LEMONADE is a twelve track album with collaborative efforts from The Weeknd, James Blake and Jack White of The White Stripes. The album basically addresses issues on infidelity, family and black lives matters.

Pray You Catch Me

The album opener can be likened to a mash up of Pretty Hurts and Heaven. A low tempo track with breathy harmonies, bass guitar riffs, scintillating strings smoothly laced with piano keys. It's a wishful and mildly confrontational track, one in which she hopes to catch her lover whispering sweet nothings to another and also hoping she gets caught listening to them. Beyonce pours her emotion into this track – a sad, dark reflecting emotion of remorse and resentment, yet with a wish to get back to how things formerly were. It closes with her questioning, 'what are you doing my love?'

Hold Up

This is definitely a 'Killer track.' Hold Up is a low-tempo reggae track, reminiscent of a breezy sunny tropical beach. The element of this track has a feel of easiness, although the track basically is about Beyonce addressing her lover, educating him on how no one could love him and ultimately asking him to hold up and realize how good of a lover and woman she is. Hold up samples Andy Williams' Can't Get Used to Losing You; it also samples excerpts from Beyonce's countdown at the bridge section.

Don't Hurt Yourself ft Jack White

Beyonce's big ego comes to play on this reggae meets rock 'n' roll track. Filled with braggadocio, she constantly and fiercely reminds her man about who she is, letting him understand that whatever he does to her, he does to himself, and constantly threatens to leave him. With drums, bass guitars, electric guitars and scream of a voice, Beyonce takes her alter ego (Sasha Fierce) to a whole new level. 'Don't Hurt Yourself' is a stronger version of her 2011 track 'I Care,' both addressing infidelity issues. It would be a favorite track for her upcoming world tour.

Sorry

Beyonce found a way to reinvent her old track Irreplaceable, with middle fingers and waving goodbyes, she shows no regrets breaking up with her lover and rejects any form of apologies from him; in fact she takes advantage and hangs out with her girls. This track explores elements of trap music while it manages to keep it danceable and can be likened to a mid-tempo version of Flawless.

6 inches ft The Weeknd

No, she is not making reference to what you are thinking. The track talks about a female figure, a strong female figure with a femme fatal persona. She oozes with confidence, works hard and ultimately slays in her six inch heels. This track sees minimalist effort by The Weeknd. The track also explores trap elements.

Daddy Lessons

This is an absolutely brilliant track. It explores the southern music culture of New Orleans jazz and Texas Country music. Flavored with harmonious hand claps, horns and acoustic guitar, the track delivers a southern homely feel. Song lyrics are in a story form detailing her relationship with him and basically how she was trained by him; a song every father ought to be proud of. The music style is similar to Dolly Parton's Jolene.

Love Drought

The track has a cosmic feel to it, sang by an extraterrestrial being from a science fiction movie. It stands as one of the album's low points. A rather cold version Beyonce's Mine.

Sandcastle

Beyonce's performance of this track is raw, emitting pain and anger. Piano laden, Gospel tinged; the track talks about a failed relationship and its woes. On this track Beyonce delivers vocally in a cappella nature.

Forward Ft James Blake

At 1:19 minutes, Beyonce keeps her stans wanting more. Characteristic of sandcastle, it's pretty much an interlude for a track.

Freedom Ft Kendrick Lamar

This track exudes power and strength, a perfect anthem for the black lives matters movement. Its presentation sets Beyonce as legend (living of course). It is one track you will definitely put on replay as its marching bands and vibrant chorus are unmatched at any level. The track Samples Kaleidoscope's 'Let Me Try,' it also samples excerpts from Jay Z's grandmother's speech on her 90th anniversary celebration, quoting 'she was served lemons but she made lemonade.'

All Night

Reminiscent of Dawn Penn's 'You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)', Beyonce delivers a mid-tempo reggae tinged track, and can also be likened to works by the reggae group Magic! On this track Beyonce serenades her lover, promising to love him all night long in spite of his pride, she believe [here] that true love conquers all. It is basically kiss and make up track. Beyonce also does some sweet melody on this one.

Formation

A pro-black, pro-female track, met with criticism and praise alike. Formation serves as the closing album track. It explores Louisiana bounce music style and featured bounce queen/cross dresser Big Freedia. The track highlights topics as police brutality, homosexuality and pride to her black roots. Formation was released as a free track and failed to chat well on most music chat, but its cultural influence cannot be overlooked.

Overview

This album shows how Beyonce has grown as an artist, perfecting her art work, exploring and experimenting with different music genres. On another note; it's worth noting how she revisited the reggae genre, it seems to form the crux of the album, although not as a singular genre, but with mixed influences. On this album, she tends to abandon her rhythm and blues root just a little bit. She has proven yet again that she is not a singles artist, but a grounded album artist.

First published on July 10, 2016 on THISDAY

Author: Ikenna Bede