AMERIICAN REQUIEM

"Ameriican Requiem" is the opening track of Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé's eighth studio album and the second part of her trilogy project that began with the release of Renaissance. The song declares her intentions with the country-tinged project. While Renaissance explored the forgotten Black and queer roots of house music, Cowboy Carter is a reclamation of country music's Black roots.

Beyoncé laces the song with Southern pride, as she did before on the Lemonade track "Formation." She references her family's roots among Alabama moonshiners and Louisiana Creoles. "If that ain't country," Bey drawls, daring you to disagree, "tell me what is?" With both subtlety and swagger, Beyoncé positions country music as an offshoot of Black American music, a soulful cousin to gospel and blues. These roots run deep, a shared well of storytelling that's been bubbling away for generations.

The lyrics hit hard: Used to say I spoke too country And the rejection came, said I wasn't country 'nough Said I wouldn't saddle up, but If that ain't country, tell me what is? Bey is responding to the criticism she faced for her country-tinged song "Daddy Lessons" on her 2016 album Lemonade. This tension came to a head when Beyoncé performed "Daddy Lessons" at the Country Music Association Awards that same year, alongside the group The Chicks (formerly known as Dixie Chicks). While the performance was a critical success and drew record viewership, there was also backlash from some fans who felt Beyoncé didn't belong in the genre. "The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me," said Beyoncé of Cowboy Carter. "Act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work."