Country music fans: How is the world of country music receiving the new Beyonce album "Cowboy Carter?"?

I haven’t heard it yet, but I’m keeping an open mind. I find it interesting that someone is going the other way with Country music. Most times it is someone that started in the country world and then moved into pop. Taylor Swift was a perfect example of that.

The only problem Beyonce may have with her music is actually getting into the country frame of mind. Oftentimes I find country stars go too much pop influence into their music and it basically sucks. With Beyonce coming the other way, she might have way too much pop influence to make it good country. But as I said, I’m willing to keep an open mind.

It is like Mozart suddenly deciding he really wants to make music using only fart noises.

It’s not popular here, sone say it’s offensive. I think it’s catchy and she is from Texas, so I have no issues with it.

She’s still NOT a country singer I don’t care how many country singers she gets to sing with her. Nobody I know is impressed. Last year Miley’s dad Billy Ray did a collab with Lil NAS & they made a small fortune, so Miley is trying to follow in dad’s footsteps. Dolly is Miley’s godmother & will do pretty much anything Miley asks her to do. I know that I won’t be buying it nor will any friends that I’ve spoken with today.

I’ve heard the song and I don’t particularly like it.

Where I live people seem to like it. One of the songs was used by a zumba teacher friend of mine, and I know there are people in the class who were excited that she choreographed something to the song. People clapped and were yelling out “yes” when she announced she was choreographing a new routine to song X by Beyonce (I don’t remember the name of the song she used).

I just listened to Jolene from the album since you mentioned it. First I should say I absolutely love the original Jolene song by Dolly. If it comes on the radio, you gotta shhhh while I’m listening. I don’t like Beyonce’s version as much. It’s a little slower and more breathy, and I like the tempo and the belt it out quality of Dolly’s version better. I have a video of Olivia Newton-John singing Jolene when I saw her in concert, and still Dolly is better as far as I’m concerned.

In my circles I don’t think anyone minds or cares that Beyoncé is doing country music now. If they like a song they like it.

I love lots of music, including Country. That said, I really like when artists cross or defy genres.

I’ve never been a fan of Beyoncé, but I listened to the album yesterday. Didn’t like the whole thing, but the following songs were really good:

Texas Hold ‘Em
II Most Wanted (w/ Miley Cyrus)
Levii’s Jeans (w/ Post Malone)
Blackbird (Beatles cover)

I’ll give it another listen to see what else stands out.

On another note, The Black Crowes first new album in fifteen years, “Happiness Bastards”, is excellent!

I don’t understand why anyone gets angry or upset if an artist changes or adds to their genre.

Pop music to country, realism to abstract, Broadway to TV series. No one should feel locked in for their ENTIRE life. Makes no sense.

@JLeslie: Exactly! Like when Taylor Swift moved into Pop from Country — the Country DJs and even label executives were so mad. Silly.

Or, for us older folks, when Bob Dylan went electric. It was such a big deal.

@JLeslie The changes aren’t the issue. How well they do the change is what gets looked at. I started looking into her take on songs and I’m not sure I can call it country. It seems like quite a few covers of other songs, not all of them country. And her rendition of Jolene doesn’t have the musical ability backing her vocals and her vocals seem to be missing the emotion the singer should have. Almost like she’s going through the motions.

What’s the difference if it’s Beyonce doing a country album, or Dolly Parton doing a rock album? Or Neil Young doing grunge? Or Johnny Cash (RIP) doing folk?

@seawulf575 I agree with that. If people don’t like the songs or how she does the songs then that is a different issue than just expecting an artist to stay in their lane.

I think when a singer or band crosses over into another genre they sometimes bring part of their fan base over, and from what I understand that has been happening. That could be a good thing for country music.

Maybe the much to do about nothing is because she’s Black or because her music tends to attract a Black audience, but it certainly has a large white fan base too. I have always thought Beyonce was great, I am a big fan.

There aren’t many Black country singers, especially not part of the elite very well known country singers. The Black country singers I can think of also transitioned to country and didn’t really start there.

Country music generally has white, straight, Christian, singers, and an assumption they are politically conservative, but many of them are Democrats. They keep their LGBT status a secret, or stay quiet on politics, or come out at a risk. Most entertainers keep that sort of thing quiet, not just country music, but remember the backlash to Dixie Chicks for commenting about Pres. Bush and Lady Antebellum has had some trouble too regarding differing politics with a large part of their fan.

Beyonce should have left out Jolene. It’s so iconic and so wonderful in its original version. One of my favorite bands where I live sings it, and they do a pretty good job.

Edit: note that Dolly herself has done duets of Jolene and sometimes the tempo or harmonizing is slightly different when she does.

@JLeslie I find it funny. I don’t care what color an artist is in any format: musician, singing, painting, sculpting…race has no bearing on it. When I see a picture or hear a song, if it hits me as being good, I like it.

Country music did that for me. It is often about feelings and emotions we all face, just put into down-to-Earth terms. I grew up learning classical music and then discovered rock music. Country didn’t come until after my divorce, of course.

But that is what hits me when I hear music…how much feeling was put into it and what chords it hits inside me (no pun intended). As I mentioned with Beyonce’s version of Jolene, It didn’t sound like she had an actual band behind her (it sounded like computer generated music) and there really wasn’t any feeling coming from her voice. It left me feeling like she was going through the motion. That isn’t any slam on Beyonce, just the feeling that song gave me. I don’t mind hearing different renditions of originals…I think they are fun to hear how someone else adapted the song. But not all versions are created equally.

As for the politics, I firmly believe that everyone is entitled to their political views. But when I watch a movie star or a singer in an interview, I don’t want to hear their views. Their views are no more valid than mine and they didn’t get famous for their political views.

@Strauss: Exactly! That sort of gatekeeping is ridiculous.

Listened some more and “Bodyguard” is a great song too.

@seawulf575 I think the majority of people don’t care about race, religion, etc when it comes to music. I do think some people do boycott artists if they are very dismayed by political stands that they make.

I am a country music and bluegrass music fan, and a bluegrass musician. I listened to the album at the recommendation of my daughter. I wasn’t a fan of it as it was just a tad overproduced for my tastes.