Beyonce Announces That A New Album Is Upon Us
You definitely already know this news because I’m sure you were woken up in the middle of the night by an extremely loud buzzing alarm and you thought it was the end of the world. But please, this is BIGGER news. It was from the Beyhive ringing the alarm that their lord, savior, and the reason why they were given the sense of hearing (to hear Beyonce with) and the sense of sight (to see Beyonce with) is back! Seen above in a candid shot from British Vogue of her casually riding into Sunday brunch, Beyonce announced that her seventh studio album, Renaissance, will drop from the heavens on July 29. That day was supposed to be National Lasagna Day, and I say “was supposed to be” because all the holidays on that day have been wiped away to make room for International Beyonaissance Day! Sorry, Garfield.
It feels like it was just yesterday when every hardcore Beyhive member opened up their #1 Beydective Agency to investigate the Becky with the Good Hair who Beyonce was yodeling about on Lemonade, but that album came out in 2016. So it’s been 7 years since Beyonce’s last album. The Beyhive knew something was coming since she recently removed her profile pic from all her social media accounts and teased a possible new album in a tweet from her charity that celebrated Black Music Month. And in the middle of the night, Tidal prepared the BeyHive for the return of their God with the news of Renaissance: act i. Beyonce dropping this news in the middle of the night is the reason why every hardcore Beyhive member sleeps with one eye open and focused on their Twitter feed. And yes, the real news here is that they’re still trying to make Tidal happen.
Beyoncé
RENAISSANCE
July 29 pic.twitter.com/ZenmtPQM9W— TIDAL (@TIDAL) June 16, 2022
Complex says that Renaissance will have at least 16 tracks on it, but it’s not known if all 16 tracks will be on “act i” and there will be more songs to come in future “acts” of the album, or if she’s spreading the songs out through multiple releases.
Beyoncé has revealed the title and release date for her follow-up to 2016’s Lemonade, with the celebrated artist set to drop Renaissance on July 29. The title for the 16-song project also includes “act i,” which could mean plans to share more “acts” after this initial release. Alternatively, “act i” may also refer to the project’s 16 songs being released in multiple parts rather than it all coming out on July 29.
Four box sets are available to pre-order on Beyoncé’s official website here with a different T-shirt included in each. It also comes with a CD, a 28-page photo booklet, and a mini poster. The product “begins shipping July 29th upon album release,” which may be an indication the full project is released on July 29.
And for the Beyhive, it’s an extra busy day (BEYsy day? No, too far, too far), because British Vogue also released its July 2022 cover spread and article on Beyonce. The Beyonce of today doesn’t really do interviews, so the article is mostly about what British Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Edward Enniful, observed and heard while hanging out with her at her home in L.A. Beyonce says that she’s been working on Renaissance for a while and the pandemic gave her even more time to work on it. She played some of it for Edward and his ears will never be the same again!
Instantly, a wall of sound hits me. Soaring vocals and fierce beats combine and in a split second I’m transported back to the clubs of my youth. I want to get up and start throwing moves. It’s music I love to my core. Music that makes you rise, that turns your mind to cultures and subcultures, to our people past and present, music that will unite so many on the dance floor, music that touches your soul. As ever with Beyoncé, it is all about the intent. I sit back, after the wave, absorbing it all.
The eligibility dates for the 2023 Grammys are Oct. 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2022, so Beyonce’s Renaissance will make the cut-off. It will also go up against Adele’s newest album, 30. It will be another Beyonce v. Adele Grammys showdown. Voting between Beyonce and Adele will be the hardest decision a Grammy voter has ever made in their lifetime. “Oh shit, that’s a harder choice than I’ve ever had to make,” said Sophie.
Here is Beyonce’s British Vogue spread where she’s serving Disco Barbarella and bangs that are “safety scissor bangs but make it fashion.”
Pic: Rafael Pavarotti/British Vogue