It is well known that Beyonce is brilliant and talented. Queen Bey, as she is known to her fans, released two country songs the day of the Super Bowl, and people went crazy – in a number of ways. Her fans broke the internet, and her detractors broke a sweat. All over the south and southwest, country radio stations refused to play her songs, stating that she isn’t country. I listened to the songs; they are good enough, kind of like Billy Joel’s new song. I think Beyonce is amazing, but I don’t listen to her music much – not my thing. I feel the same way about Taylor Swift – she is amazing, but her music doesn’t thrill me. If they thrill you, you go. This is America, after all.
But why the backlash? It’s hard to think of it as a racial issue. After all, from before Charlie Pride to Darius Rucker to Little Nas’ X, African Americans have been producing excellent country music, and the last two didn’t start in that genre. It’s also hard to think that it’s because she is a woman; women have been center stage in the country world from the very start, sharing the spotlight with men. And it’s not like she’s some northerner; she was born in Houston, Texas! Beyonce has been sprinkling country music throughout her releases for a couple of years now, giving a hint to her fan of what was to come. Crossing genres has become a thing; Taylor Swift is the perfect example of this. Of course, she grew up down the street from where I live in Wyomissing, PA, so she wasn’t born into a “country music” location, whatever that means.
I wonder if this is another one of those areas where we are siloing; the idea that a band has to be this kind of genre, or a politician has to have this kind of ideology, or a house of worship must cater to a certain kind of theology. All of these ideas are ridiculous; I grew up listening to country rock, southern rock, hard rock, soft rock, R & B, Gospel, Rap and Hip Hop, classical, jazz – you name it, I heard it being played. Part of the joy of being in a diverse nation is the ability to experience all kinds of things every day. I can listen to K-Pop at 9 and Stravinsky at 10; I can eat Chinese for lunch and Italian for dinner. Diversity is America’s jam, and always has been, even though some groups have tried to fight it. That fight is one they will lose.
Like so many things in America, music has been turned into a political problem to argue over. It does not damage anyone when a person in one style of music produces another kind of music. It might enflame some people who are racists or misogynists, but that will someday be between them and their god. In the meantime, enjoy what you like. Listen to what makes you happy. Ignore the haters. Their opinions are meaningless. Vive la différence!
Prayer – Thank You God for making us similar and also unique. Help us to appreciate the beauty of that gift. Amen.
Today’s art is “Beyonce” by Mark Ashkenazi.