Beyoncé; Paul McCartney.Photo:BLAIR CALDWELL; Paul Popper/Popperfoto via Getty
BLAIR CALDWELL; Paul Popper/Popperfoto via Getty
SirPaul McCartneyis singing the praises ofCowboy Carter.
On Thursday,The Beatlesvocalist/bassist, 81,posted to Instagramto share how “happy” he is withBeyoncé’s cover of the song “Blackbird,” which appears on her new country music albumCowboy Carter(stylized as “Blackbiird”). McCartney opened up about his correspondence with the superstar regarding her rendition of the 1968 classic in the post and shared how much the song means to him, as “it reinforces the civil rights message” that inspired him to write it to begin with.
The music legend shared a photo of himself posing alongside Queen Bey, as well as her new album cover, and wrote, “I am so happy with @beyonce’s version of my song ‘Blackbird.'”
Later in the lengthy post, the rock icon said that the two musicians had a FaceTime call before theRenaissanceartist recorded the cover, during which she thanked him for writing “Blackbird.” He said, “I told her the pleasure was all mine and I thought she had done a killer version of the song.”
Paul McCartney in Paris in March 2016.Pierre Suu/Getty
McCartney also noted how Beyoncé’s version builds upon the song’s meaning, as he famously wrote it about the Little Rock Nine, who faced discrimination in 1957 after they enrolled in a formerly all-white high school after the ruling ofBrown vs. Board of Education. “I think she does a magnificent version of it and it reinforces the civil rights message that inspired me to write the song in the first place,” the singer-songwriter wrote. “I think Beyoncé has done a fab version and would urge anyone who has not heard it yet to check it out. You are going to love it!”
The Fab Four member continued, “When I saw the footage on the television in the early ’60s of the black girls being turned away from school, I found it shocking and I can’t believe that still in these days there are places where this kind of thing is happening right now.”
“Anything my song and Beyoncé’s fabulous version can do to ease racial tension would be a great thing and makes me very proud,” his thoughtful post concluded.
Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ album artwork.Blair Caldwell
Blair Caldwell
A handful of the rocker’s followers also suggested that he and the “Break My Soul” singer find an opportunity to perform “Blackbird” together. “How about a version together? just saying 😂❤️,” one fan replied.
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For Beyoncé’s rendition of “Blackbiird,” the 32-time Grammy winner curated an all-star quartet of Black country singers, includingBrittney Spencer,Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell andTiera Kennedy, to team up with her on the song.
Her efforts in getting collaborators on the track not only amplifies Black women’s voices within the country genre, which has a racist history and long shut out non-white and female artists, but calls back how McCartney andJohn Lennonoriginally penned the song about having hope despite adversity (“take these broken wings and learn to fly”).
Aside from Parton, fellow country legendWillie Nelsonalso makes an appearance on the project, as well asMiley CyrusandPost Malone.
Many of Beyoncé’s collaborators have all expressed their love forCowboy Carterand the hitmaker since the album dropped.
Post Malone, 28, shared his team-up with the star, “LEVII’S JEANS,” onsocial mediaandcalled the album “beautiful.”
Meanwhile Cyrus, who appears on “II MOST WANTED,” shareda touching postabouthow long she’s admired the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer.
“I’ve loved Beyonce since long before I had the opportunity to meet & work with her,” wrote the pop star, 31. “My admiration runs so much deeper now that I’ve created along side of her. Thank you Beyonce. You’re everything & more. Love you. To everyone who spent time making this song so special thank you from the bottom of my heart. Sincerely , Miley.”
Beyoncé.Blair Caldwell
Act II: Cowboy Carterarrived on Friday, March 29, a little over a month after the musician announced that a sequel to her 2022 albumRenaissancewas on the way.
Ahead of the LP’s release, Beyoncé revealed in a candid poston Instagramthat theproject was five years in the makingand “born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed.”
“And it was very clear that I wasn’t,” she wrote. “But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”
The “CUFF IT” singer’s post continued, “The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work.”
After noting that she seesCowboy Carteras a continuation ofRenaissance, she concluded, “This ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album. This is act ii COWBOY CARTER, and I am proud to share it with y’all!”
source: people.com
