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LOS ANGELES — Beyonce is back with two new country tracks — Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages.
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After a Verizon commercial starring Beyonce aired during the Super Bowl ended with the superstar saying “They ready, drop the new music,” the question became — was she serious? Later, a cryptic Instagram video with country iconography appeared on her page, teasing act ii on March 29. (Beyonce’s 2022 album Renaissance is frequently referred to as Act I: Renaissance.)
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At the end of the clip, a plucky acoustic guitar riff plays and Bey’s unmistakable voice kicks in. She sings, “This ain’t Texas / Ain’t no hold ’em / So lay your cards down down down,” in a southern twang.
It appears on her official website as well. Under the “music” tab, two titles were listed — Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages, which later appeared as full songs on Tidal, YouTube and Spotify. The first is an up-tempo country and western stomp. She sings in the earworm bridge: “And I’ll be damned if I cannot dance with you / Come pour some liquor on me honey, too / It’s a real-life boogie, and a real life hoedown / Don’t be a bitch, come take it to the floor now.”
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The second, 16 Carriages, is a soulful slow burn with ascendent organs and steel guitar, Beyonce singing an ode to hard work and legacy. “I miss my kids / Overworked and overwhelmed,” she sings in the pre-chorus. “Still workin’ on my life, you know / Only God knows, only God knows.” A quick examination of the credits shows she may be working closely with Tony! Toni! Tone!’s Raphael Saadiq.
In a mostly fictional Verizon commercial that aired moments before the Instagram announcement, Beyonce tried several tactics to try to break the internet.
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With former Veep star Tony Hale playing an adviser, she opens a lemonade stand, releases a saxophone album called “Let’s Get Saxy,” does her own version of the Barbie movie called “BarBey,” sells a cyborg version of herself, runs for “Beyonce of the United States” and blasts off in a rocket to become the first woman in space.
After Hale tells her none of that worked, she says on the space ship intercom, “OK, Bey ready: Drop the new music.”
Beyonce was also shown soon on the telecast soon after at Allegiant Stadium watching the Super Bowl with husband Jay-Z.
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