The mega star released two new versions of her single from her upcoming eighth studio album Act II
Beyoncé is coming for that Number One spot.
On Wednesday, the star released two new offerings of her single “Texas Hold ‘Em” including an acapella and instrumental version. The former features her rich, layered vocals as the song builds into a lux crescendo. Like the original, both new versions were produced by Beyoncé, Nate Ferraro, and Killah B.
The 32-time Grammy winner announced her eighth studio album, Act II, during the Super Bowl last Sunday. The LP serves as the second installment of her three-part Renaissance project, and is due March 29. That same day, she also released the album’s first two singles: “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.”
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The new tracks indicate a country sound the singer has spent years crafting in sound, style, and spirit. As Rolling Stone‘s Larisha Paul noted, “As Beyoncé begins to raise the curtain on her forthcoming album Act II, out March 29, she’s tightening her grip on country music and setting her own stories against the backdrop of steel guitars, banjos, and western swing.” Paul points out that the star’s country roots have always been present in her music and performances, and highlights several examples including Lemonade‘s country cut “Daddy Lessons” and the time Beyoncé returned to Houston in 2001 riding into NRG Stadium on the back of a palomino horse.
“It’s great for her to go this route,” Robert Randolph, who plays banjo on “Texas Hold ‘Em,” told Rolling Stone. “In country music for a longest time, it almost seemed like it was supposed to be out of left field when a Black artist says, ‘Hey, I’m going to do a country record.’ It’s crazy that the whole world doesn’t understand the history of country music and fiddles, dobros and banjos. Where do you think that stuff came from? Who was living in the barn? Who were the people living in the back houses?”