Singer Beyoncé made waves proving she can do anything! But just because you can doesn’t mean you should. She proved she is a great fit for yet another predictable, soulless, and derivative genre.
Country music, once revered for its authenticity and genuine storytelling, has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, morphing from something of a meritocracy where hard work paid off, into a pay-to-play genre. The rise of Beyoncé and Lana Del Rey as dominant figures within the genre exemplifies this shift, with their presence symbolizing a departure from the traditional values that once defined country music.
Beyoncé, used to be celebrated for her talent and charisma, but now she is the litmus test for how contrived something is. While her contributions to music are famous, her transition into country music feels forced, signaling the intrusion of manufactured glamour and superficiality into a genre known for its raw emotion and sincerity.
During her tenure with Destiny’s Child in the late 90s, Beyoncé thrived within a group dynamic, her talents complemented by those of her bandmates. However, as a solo artist, she embarked on a trajectory marked by contrived controversies and forced pop culture moments, diluting the authenticity that fans crave in country music.
While Beyoncé remains physically stunning and vocally gifted, her content often falls short of resonating with audiences on a deeper level. Instead, her solo career has been characterized by formulaic tunes and manufactured personas, devoid of the genuine storytelling that once defined American music.
The industry’s fixation on figures like Beyoncé and Lana Del Rey reflects a broader problem… they can’t make stars anymore. Not even manufactured ones. They favored spectacle over substance and authenticity and now they can’t “make”, they have to prop up familiar faces. As fans yearn for the heartfelt melodies and genuine connections that defined country music’s golden era, they find themselves inundated with predictable tunes and cliché subject matter.
Can we get another Kelly Roland single please?
Mixed Media Magazine 