Beyoncé says pandemic, isolation inspired her new songs on 2022 album
Mystery boxes and pre-orders are just part of the excitement leading up to the release of Beyoncé’s new solo album on July 29.
Ariana Triggs, USA TODAY
- Beyonce’s new album “Renaissance” drops July 29 and could be the first installment in a series.
- The singer released sparkly album art with a message to listeners: “I hope you find joy in this music.”
- The first single for the album, “Break My Soul,” is treating fans with a glistening dance anthem.
Get buzzing Beyhive, Beyoncé‘s new album “Renaissance” is on the way.
Hype for the new music began in early June after the star first starting dropping hints about a new endeavor, removing all of her profile pictures from social media as people within her circle began dropping seemingly-random adoration posts about her.
Finally, in the wee hours of June 16, Tidal, the music streaming service formerly owned by Beyoncé’s husband Jay-Z, shared the official news: “Renaissance” would arrive July 29.
Here are the latest updates on the much-anticipated new album.
Beyoncé unveils 16-song ‘Renaissance’ track list
With a week to go until the release of “Renaissance,” Beyoncé teased the faithful by sharing a screenshot of the album’s track list in her Instagram Story on July 20.
Fans quickly set about analyzing the meaning of titles such as “America Has a Problem,” “Virgo’s Groove,” “Plastic Off the Sofa” and “Thique.”
The 16-song track list:
“I’m That Girl”
“Cozy”
“Alien Superstar”
“Cuff It”
“Energy”
“Break My Soul”
“Church Girl”
“Plastic Off the Sofa”
“Virgo’s Groove”
“Move”
“Heated”
“Thique”
“All Up in Your Mind”
“America Has a Problem”
“Pure/Honey”
“Summer Renaissance”
Beyoncé breaks record with ‘Break My Soul’
Beyoncé’s album hasn’t come out yet, but it’s already notched her another record.
Following the release of “Break My Soul,” her first single from the album, the singer became the first woman ever to earn at least 10 top 10 hits as a soloist and 10 or more top 10s as a member of a group, according to Billboard.
Other artists who have achieved this milestone include Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, Billboard reports.
Beyoncé drops album art
The Houston-born singer posted album art for “Renaissance” on Instagram June 30, which showed the singer sitting on an illuminating glass-like horse wearing a barely-there sparkling ensemble. In the caption, she said creating the album allowed her to escape from “a scary time for the world.”
“It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration,” Beyoncé wrote. “I hope you find joy in this music. I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are.”
Beyoncé new album release date
The album is set for release July 29. And this could be the first in a series as it was also titled “Act I.” On the Grammy-winning artist’s official website, her new music has become the focal point of the homepage with options to pre-save the album and shop “Renaissance” merchandise.
Beyoncé first teased the “Renaissance” title in an August interview with Harper’s Bazaar, saying she’d been in the studio for a year and a half working on something new.
“With all the isolation and injustice over the past year, I think we are all ready to escape, travel, love, and laugh again. I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible,” she said. “Yes, the music is coming!”
Beyoncé is coming: A look back on her most-recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar
The first single ‘Break My Soul’
On June 16, Queen Bey released “Break My Soul,” a glistening dance track that samples Big Freedia’s “Explode” and nods to Robin S.’s 1993 hit, “Show Me Love.”
“You won’t break my soul,” Beyoncé repeats throughout the song, while also calling for a reinvention.
“And I just quit my job/I’m gonna find a new drive,” she sings and semi-rapping with attitude, “the queens in the front and the doms in the back/ain’t takin’ no flicks but the whole clique snapped.”
She goes on: “Got motivation, I done found me a new foundation, yeah, and I’m taking my new salvation.”
Beyoncé had updated the bios of her social media platforms that morning with a tease: “6. BREAK MY SOUL midnight ET.” So fans may want to keep a close eye on her feeds for more surprises.
‘Break My Soul’: Beyoncé hits the dance floor with new song from upcoming ‘Renaissance’ album
Beyoncé covers British Vogue
Beyoncé discussed the upcoming album in a British Vogue interview that hit newsstands on June 21. The fashion outlet shared several photos from the cover story on June 16, including the songstress looking regal on a horse in a feathered headdress, a glam shot on a motorcycle and more.
British Vogue teased that “Renaissance” would be the singer’s “most ambitious musical project to date.” The album is also the result of Beyoncé overthinking every detail and decision as she spent time at home amid the pandemic, the outlet said.
The outlet alludes to the album being party-focused with “soaring vocals and fierce beats.” British Vogue writes: “Her upcoming album is music that makes you rise, that turns your mind to cultures and subcultures, music that will unite so many on the dance floor and make them fall in love.”
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Beyoncé’s previous albums, projects
“Renaissance” will come off the back of the singer’s visual album “Black is King,” which was released July 2020 in correspondence with the soundtrack she made for 2019’s “Lion King.” Also in 2020, she joined Megan Thee Stallion for a remix of her hit song “Savage.”
The last time Beyoncé released a truly solo project was in 2016 with the surprise drop visual album “Lemonade,” which spurred hits including “Hold up” and “Formation.” In 2019, she released the album version of her headlining performance at 2018’s Coachella and in 2018, she and Jay-Z teamed up as The Carters to release their “Everything is Love” album.
Since “Black is King,” the singer made Grammy history becoming the most-winning female artist, and the most-winning singer (male or female), in the 63-year history of the Grammy Awards. The 2021 award show solidified her spot after her trophy count rose to 28 wins, the new additions being her music video for “Brown Skin Girl” and a win for best rap performance with the “Savage” collaboration.
Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri, Naledi Ushe, Amy Haneline
