TUCKER: Now listen to the way Beyonce seized upon the hook of that song to bend and reshape it into a far more barbed hook of complicated anger. No matter what I try to do, going to live my whole life through loving you. I'll find some crowded avenue, though it will be empty without you. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "CAN'T GET USED TO LOSING YOU")ĪNDY WILLIAMS, MUSICAL ARTIST: (Singing) I guess there's no use in hanging around. It was a rare instance in which Williams, a bland, easy listening hit-maker, had his music darkened by producer Robert Mersey to create a ballad of brooding heartbreak. Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, it is by far the most interesting hit Williams ever released. Take the 1963 Andy Williams song as her wittiest example.
Beyonce uses samples from sources as diverse as Led Zeppelin, Isaac Hayes and Andy Williams to create her best effects. Both the album and the hour-long film made to illustrate it seek to extol the potency of black womanhood in the roles of mother, daughter, wife, lover and, above all, artist. TUCKER: "Lemonade" is a fascinating example of the tension between theme and execution. When trouble comes to town and men like me come around, oh, my daddy said, shoot.
He told me when he's gone, here's what you do. He held me in his arms and he told me to be strong. With his right hand on his rifle, he swore it on the Bible. "Daddy Lessons" signifies as a generational marker, the music of her father's era brought up to date by Beyonce's nostalgic gaze upon it.īEYONCE: (Singing) With his gun and his head held high, he told me not to cry. "Daddy Lessons" is a tune so country the Dixie Chicks recently covered it during their reunion tour. She demonstrates an interest in so much - the blues, hip-hop, middle-of-the-road ballads and rock - and country music.
As one of the most scrutinized stars on the planet, Beyonce embraces that widespread attention by engaging with equally widespread range of genres. KEN TUCKER, BYLINE: The first thing to be said about "Lemonade" is that it's a very impressive pop album, and I'm using pop in its broadest sense. Oh, baby, every promise don't work out that way. And although I promised that I could stay, baby, every promise don't work out that way. Our rock critic, Ken Tucker, has some thoughts about "Lemonade's" music and the interpretations of it.īEYONCE, MUSICAL ARTIST: (Singing) We built sand castles that washed away. It was met with acclaim and a lot of speculation that it was a concept album about the state of her marriage to Jay Z. Beyonce's new album, "Lemonade," which debuted as an hour-long video on HBO, instantly became a pop culture flashpoint.