In Beyoncé We Trust

The Cowboy Carter Tour is a celebration of Beyoncé’s talent, passion, resilience, and legacy. It’s a Beyoncé concert, so of course, the vocals, dancing, outfits, and entire production were phenomenal. Above all else, Beyoncé concerts leave you inspired. After a Beyoncé concert, I always get the inspiration I need to get my life together. 

The thesis of the concert was “the reclamation of America.” For too long, Country music has been associated with America, but not attributed to its actual creators, Black people. 

Beyoncé doesn’t get enough credit for how smart she is. It comes with the territory, but to truly understand Beyoncé, you have to attend one of her concerts. The visuals in her recent tours are my favorite part because they tell a story. One of propaganda, confinement, freedom, and rebirth. I was intrigued to see that the visuals for this tour continued the ideas presented during the Renaissance world tour. For Renaissance, her thesis was, “He who controls the media, controls the mind” from Jim Morrison. For Cowboy Carter, it’s “Never ask for permission for something that already belongs to you” from Beyoncé herself.

“AMERICAN REQUIEM” bids farewell to the false idea that white people created, own, and rule country music. She then expands on that idea with “BLACKBIIRD”, a pseudo country song by Paul McCartney (a British white man) about segregation in the South. More specifically, about The Little Rock Nine who integrated schools in Arkansas at Central High School in 1957. While she was singing “BLACKBIIRD” Beyoncé displayed images of other “Blackbirds” who paved the way for her to be who she is. 

One of the members of The Little Rock Nine, Thelma Mothershed-Wair, is my cousin. Despite the personal connection, it’s a reminder that the atrocities Black people have endured in this country aren’t as distant as they seem. My cousin Thelma passed away this past October. I thank Beyoncé for honoring her in this way.  

Beyoncé’s choice to sing the Star Spangled Banner with Jimi Hendrix’s instrumental was also important because Jimi played the national anthem at Woodstock in 1698 in protest against the Vietnam War. This leads me to believe the rumors of Act III being a rock-inspired album. Not to mention the teasers of her dressed as Tina Turner and Little Richard during the interludes. I have a feeling she is going to continue the history lessons, but this time with rock legends of the past and present. 

The Cowboy Carter album and tour are history lessons for us, but also for her children. Beyond the incredible vocals and perfect set list, Blue Ivy was my favorite part. The decision to have her pump it down the stage to “Deja Vu” was perfect. It seems like just yesterday she was 11, dancing on stage for the first time. 

If you get the chance to see the Cowboy Carter tour, you will not be disappointed. For us, it’s a life-changing experience; for Beyoncé, it’s just another victory lap.