Are we really supposed to be calling Beyonce a country singer?

 


Of course, I am referring to Beyonce’s latest album “Cowboy Carter”. It is hard to view this album as nothing more then a cash in on country music from Beyonce as Taylor Swift is dominating to pop charts. Is it just a way for Beyonce to try to remain relevant in the music industry?

 

 Although it has topped the country charts for several weeks both album and singles can you call it a country album?

Just sticking the word Texas into the song and have a picture on the album cover riding a horse whilst carrying the American flag does not make you country. What makes it worse is Beyonce herself is not calling it a country album and is calling it a “Beyonce Album” which is just a tad pretentious, due to something about genres being too limiting. The thing is if you aren’t trying to be a country album then why have you called it Cowboy Carter and cover a Dolly Parton song, whilst doing a duet with Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, covering a Beatles song about the civil war and having your main track called “Texas Hold’em”. For someone trying not to call it a country album you are giving a lot of clues about its genre, plus it is in the country charts. The artist has not been too quick to correct people when it is selling lots of copies and being streamed in its millions at the same time as getting lots of press coverage.

 

Although you cannot blame the other artists being involved in this album as it gives them publicity and no doubt they were paid for their involvement. I cannot help but feel a little respect has been lost for these artists, because they do not need the publicity Beyonce brings, as they are and have been respectable artists in their own rights for a lot longer. I feel Beyonce is getting the better end of the deal trying to gain some kind of credibility having their names attached to the album.

 

It seems I am not only one refusing to call it a country album. The Country Music Association Awards did not nominate the album for any awards at their latest awards and the album failed to win any awards at The People’s Choice Country Awards despite being nominated for 12 awards. So, it seems critics and the fans of country music also find it hard to believe it is being referred to as a country album.

 

The kicker is, as it fades away on the radio playlists and the stream counts disappear, I feel that Beyonce does not really care as the money has been paid and topped up her bank account and has given her publicity. Making her seem to be still relevant in the music industry, when in reality she has not produced anything of meaning for years.

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