RENAISSANCE by Bèyonce
She said to “Study my technique, uh” so I did!
BY JOSHUA KLOSS
There is the Renaissance, and there is “Renaissance,” an album you either love or hate— depending on how you feel about house music.
But Beyoncè doesn't care if you like house music or not. Each song on her seventh studio album intentionally pays homage to the culture of clubbing and dancing, centering around the Black and Queer identity whilst celebrating both beautifully. "Pure / Honey" alone features numerous samples of nineties club hits by drag icons such as Moi Renee's "Miss Honey." The house music genre was pioneered by Black, Queer, and Latinx artists, after which safe spaces for these communities, such as clubs and discos, began to popularize the genre. This ball culture suffered when the pandemic forced us all into quarantine, which was actually when Beyoncè recorded “Renaissance.”
Furthermore, the whole album is dedicated to Beyoncè's late "godmother," who introduced Beyoncè to house music during her childhood. Unfortunately, he died of complications from HIV, but his legacy lives on in “Renaissance.” Listen closely to "Heated," and you'll hear Beyonce rap: "Uncle Johnny made me this dress."
Everybody can dance to “Renaissance,” but not everyone can appreciate its brilliance. Nonetheless, it is a multifaceted masterpiece— a tribute to her uncle, a homage to deserving artists, a celebration of identity, of blackness and queerness. Every lyric is embellished with power and emancipation, and each song commemorates uniqueness. So when you hear “Renaissance” at the club, dance, sing, shout. Embrace “Renaissance,” and never forget those who made it possible.