We do not typically do this sort of thing, but today we are covering some new Taylor Swift music! So, come one, come all Swifties. The Pennsylvania pop phenom has just left off her 11th album called THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT as of April 18. However, Swift stunned and most likely sent her die-hards into a frenzy when she revealed overnight that this was a “secret double album.” That is why there now two version available for streaming, with the elongated version being called THE ANTHOLOGY.
She tweeted out, “I’d written so much tortured poetry in the past 2 years and wanted to share it all with you, so here’s the second installment of TTPD: The Anthology. 15 extra songs. And now the story isn’t mine anymore… it’s all yours. As you can imagine, the Swifties are running up the streams and plays across all platforms. “Fortnight” with Post Malone is already one the album’s most tuned into tracks and for good reason. The opener has a lot of possible secret callbacks to past relationships and flings, as Genius has so astutely researched and theorized.
Listen To “Fortnight” By Taylor Swift & Post Malone
If you want a further lyrical breakdown, check out the link below. As for the song itself, “Fortnight” is a moody, soft, and smoky introduction to the LP. Jack Antonoff, one of Taylor’s most frequent producers, lays down some incredibly pretty synths that give it an 80s vibe. Post Malone chips in subtly with background vocals, but they add so much to the track. This first team-up goes over very well and it figures to be one the record’s strongest cuts.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new song “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift and Post Malone? Should they continue their work relationship moving forward, why or why not? Should Post have had more glaring contributions or did the background vocals work? How are you feeling about Swift’s new album THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Taylor Swift and Post Malone. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the music world.
Quotable Lyrics:
And for a fortnight, there we were, forever running ‘Til you sometimes ask about the weather Now you’re in my backyard, turned into good neighbors Your wife waters flowers, I wanna kill her And for a fortnight, there we were, together running ‘Til you sometimes come and tug my sweater
Now, according to CBS News, the album’s impact can even be traced back to the stock market. On April 5, the outlet reported that “Levii’s Jeans,” a collaborative track with Beyoncé and Post Malone, boosted Levi Strauss’ stock value.
As the pair sang about their love for the brand’s tried and true denim, financial analysts connected it to a 20% increase in Levi’s overall public value. In a statement, the company’s CEO, Michelle Gass, shared her excitement for the peak in consumers’ interest. “I would just say that denim is having a moment, and the Levi’s brand is having a powerful moment around the world,” she said.
Gass also addressed the report that Beyoncé aided in the uptick in sales. “One of the things that really is significant about the Levi’s brand,” she said. “We also place a lot of emphasis and investment in making sure that Levi’s brand remains at the center of culture. And I don’t think there’s any better evidence or proof point than having someone like Beyoncé, who is a culture shaper, actually name a song after us.”
First, Uber and Lyft were fighting to offer the Beyhive a better promo code. Now, Levi has entered the mix. Maybe apartment management companies or mortgage lenders will take note.
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow, and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
Beyoncé dreams of a world where everyone and everything can exist as they choose to. Where gatekeepers are without agenda beside guarding the integrity of the structure they earned the position and respect to protect. “Texas Hold ‘Em” lives in this utopia where patrons at your local dive bar dance in jolly unison and throw back shots of liquor.
When Beyoncé sings about laying your cards and throwing your keys up, it’s without a care in the world for what exists outside. Renaissance resides here too as its 16 songs are a safe space for Black, brown, and queer bodies who are not only in love with dance and ballroom but created a home for themselves there. In this utopia, there’s nothing to prove, there’s nothing to overcome, and there’s no one to fight. The sanctity of human autonomy is preserved and protected. You can be country today and dance under the disco ball tomorrow.
Cowboy Carter should’ve been born into this utopia. Instead, we have an album born out of disregard for Beyoncé’s country roots as well as her right to create as she pleases. When Beyoncé unveiled the cover for Cowboy Carter, she alluded to the criticism she faced after performing “Daddy Lessons” at the 50th CMA Awards. Beyoncé – born in Texas to parents with roots in Texas, Alabama, and Louisiana – had everything from her true intentions for the song to her country roots questioned. Ironic for the singer who was once considered “too country.”
As Beyoncé sings of dive bars, hoedowns, and tornadoes sweeping through the Lone Star State on “Texas Hold ’Em,” leads a “Riiverdance” with fingernails as her percussion, and cocks her weapon with promises to be “your shotgun ride ’til the day I die” on “II Most Wanted” with Miley Cyrus, it’s clear that questions about her country background are less about “preserving” the genre, and more about excluding stories that tell the truth about country. To bill Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter as an album built to prove these critics wrong would be to shortchange it. Instead, it finds Beyoncé using the sound and environment she was born into to expand the possibilities of genre — and leave them behind.
Eight years after “Daddy Lessons,” Beyoncé returns to her “old friend” which she greets with chippy sarcasm on the opening track to Cowboy Carter. “Ameriican Requiem,” as much as it is a requiem, is a reckoning Beyoncé seeks. Between grand, orchestral vocal runs and twangy and croaking verses, Beyoncé speaks to her critics directly: “Can you hear me? / “Or do you fear me?” The exclusion of Black and brown people in certain spaces, especially ones they occupied in abundance for as long or longer than so-called gatekeepers, is an attempt to eliminate stories of strife and struggle caused by the same group who wants to whitewash those faults in hindsight.
However, these stories will constantly resurface in the art Black and brown people create, making it hard for these antagonists to brush them off with claims that things weren’t that bad or that they’re a lot better now, a contradiction that melts the brain if you think about it too hard. They fear the reminder, but the constant presence of these stories that track our progress and celebrate those from the past who opened the doors for today are too valuable to be erased.
Cowboy Carter resurrects stories of Beyoncé’s past as well as those from Black artists in the South. “16 Carriages” mourns the innocent life she once had as a child in the land of milk & honey with a future she naively hoped would be just as sweet and nourishing. Though her music dreams came true, the price at which they were granted produced an “undеrpaid and overwhelmed” child, a mother “goin’ so hard, now I miss my kids,” a battered relationship between her parents that ended in their separation after her father’s infidelity. The record, just like Cowboy Carter, thrives in the face of unfortunate circumstances.
“Ya Ya,” a blood-pumping, foot-stomping, and hand-clapping chant, salutes the legacy of the Chitlin Circuit, a string of venues in the South that was home to Black artists who wanted to perform their music as they were denied the opportunity to do so in white venues. Undeniable legends like James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, B.B. King, Little Richard, the Jackson 5, and Tina Turner all performed throughout the Chitlin Circuit. The Chitlin Circuit and Cowboy Carter are both born from the attempted exhalation by their respective distractors and oppressors. Their greatness won’t be questioned, but they should’ve been able to exist with better circumstances at their foundation.
Cowboy Carter doesn’t exist in the world that country is “supposed” to be in. Instead, it blends genres that go against tradition and brings us the brash “Spaghettii,” the bass-knocking “Tyrant,” the pop-leaning “Levii Jeans,” and the funky “Desert Eagle.” Things are much different in Beyoncé’s country, just as they were in her ballroom. With the inclusion of talented burgeoning artists like Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, and Shaboozey, she uncovers a side of country that deserves more time in the spotlight. It proves that country, just like other genres, is simply what you make of your roots and experiences that sprout from it. Everyone should be able to tell their story how they please. Cowboy Carter protects and advocates for the undisturbed existence of art from Black and brown creatives, and through 27 songs, Beyoncé stands as a winner in a fight that should’ve never existed.
Cowboy Carter is out now via Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records. Find out more information here.
Aside from today’s Easter holiday, many people all over the world have also been celebrating the release of BeyoncéCowboy Carter. The singer’s eighth album is also the second installation in a trilogy of albums she promised before the release of Renaissance. Cowboy Carter is a sprawling 27-track effort that captures Beyoncé in a full country swing, swapping 808s and uptempo dance production for the twang of a strumming banjo and a good ol’ time at the rodeo.
So far, Cowboy Carter has been met with positive reviews as it even went on to break a Spotify streaming record in the first 24 hours since its release. Throughout the album’s 27 songs, Beyoncé recruited help from names all over the industry. Some are frequent collaborators (The-Dream & Jay-Z) and others are new to working with Beyoncé (Shaboozey, Tanner Adell & Brittney Spencer). With all that being said, we dove into the album credits to see who helped Beyoncé make each of the songs on Cowboy Carter a reality. You can scroll down to check out the full list.
1. Ameriican Requiem
Guest Vocalists: Ink (Background Vocals) Producers: Beyoncé, Derek Dixie, Jon Batiste, Khirye Tyler, No I.D. & Tyler Johnson Co-Songwriters: Ink
2. Blackbiird
Guest Vocalists: Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts (Featured Artists) Producers: Beyoncé, Khirye Tyler & Paul McCartney Co-Songwriters: Beyoncé, John Lennon & Paul McCartney
3. 16 Carriages
Guest Vocalists: N/A Producers: Beyoncé, Ink, Dave Hamelin, Raphael Saadiq & Stuart White Co-Songwriters: Beyoncé, Raphael Saadiq, Ink & Dave Hamelin Drums: Lemar Carter Guitar: Dave Hamelin, Ink & Justus West Organ: Dave Hamelin & Gavin Williams Piano: Dave Hamelin Steel Guitar: Justin Schipper & Robert Rnadolph Synthesizer: Dave Hamelin Trumpet: Ryan Svendsen
4. Protector
Guest Vocalists: Rumi Carter (Intro Vocals) Producers: Beyoncé & Jack Rochon Co-Songwriters: Beyoncé, Ryan Beatty, Camaron Ochs & Jack Rochon
Guest Vocalists: Willie Nelson (Featured Artist) Producers: Beyoncé & Dave Hamelin Co-Songwriters: Beyoncé, Dave Hamelin, Jeff Gitelman & Leah Nardos Takele
15. Just For Fun
Guest Vocalists: Willie Jones Producers: Beyoncé & Dave Hamelin Co-Songwriters: Beyoncé, Dave Hamelin, Jeff Gitelman, & Ryan Beatty
16. II Most Wanted
Guest Vocalists: Miley Cyrus (Featured Artist) Producers: Beyoncé, Jonathan Rado, Michael Pollack, Miley Cyrus & Shawn Everett Co-Songwriters: Beyoncé, Michael Pollack, Miley Cyrus & Ryan Tedder
17. Levii’s Jeans
Guest Vocalists: Post Malone (Featured Artist) Producers: Beyoncé & Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant Co-Songwriters: Beyoncé, Austin Post (Post Malone), Nile Rodgers, S. Carter (Jay-Z) & Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant
Guest Vocalists: N/A Producers: Beyoncé, Dave Hamelin & Jack Rochon Co-Songwriters: Beyoncé, Ryan Beatty, Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant, Dave Hamelin, Mark Spears & Jack Rochon
25. Tyrant
Guest Vocalists: Dolly Parton Producers: Beyoncé, D.A. Got That Dope & Khirye Tyler Co-Songwriters: Beyoncé, Camaron Ochs, David Doman, Dominik Redenczki, Ezemdi Chikwendu & Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant
26. Sweet ★ Honey ★ Buckiin’
Guest Vocalists: Shaboozey (Featured Artist) Producers: Beyoncé & Pharrell Williams Co-Songwriters: Beyoncé, Collins Chibueze (Shaboozey), Hank Cochran, Harlan Howard, S. Carter (Jay-Z), Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant & Pharrell Williams
27. Amen
Guest Vocalists: Danielle Balbuena (070 Shake) Producers: Beyoncé, 070 Shake, Dave Hamlin, Derek Dixie, Ian Fitchuck, Sean Solymar, Tyler Johnson Co-Songwriters: Beyoncé, Camaron Ochs, Danielle Balbuena (070 Shake), Darius Dixon, Dave Hamelin, Derek Dixie, Ian Fitchuk & Tyler Johnson
Cowboy Carter is out now via Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records. Find out more information here.
Two Texas legends have teamed up in stylish southern fashion. Tonight (March 29), Beyoncé dropped her eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter, which features some festive collaborations. On a steamy song called “Levii’s Jeans,” Bey and Post Malone turn up the heat in their favorite denim garments.
“Levii’s Jeans” is full of sexy metaphors, as Bey sings “Boy, I’ll let you be my Levi’s jeans / So you can hold that ass all day long / Call me your sexy little thing / Snap a picture, bring it on.”
Posty chimes in with some southern twang, ruminating over a long-distance lover, and how they’re going to spend the time together once they reunite.
“Rodeo in your room, that’s you, break zoom, sweet perfect timin’ / Love it when you tease me in them jeans, girl, you don’t need designer / And when that thing gon’ hide your plane, baby girl, you the pilot / And I ram along, I could go on, but I’m goin’ on sight,” sings Posty.
The song arrives as an early contender for song of the summer, and is enough to put the unspoken beef between Dallas and Houston to rest.
You can listen to “Levii’s Jeans” above.
Cowboy Carter is out now via Parkwood and Columbia Records. Find more information here.
Beyoncé’s highly anticipated country album, Act 2: Cowboy Carter, has finally hit the airwaves. The anticipation for the project reached a high point yesterday when she dropped off the tracklist. However, the album showcases a diverse array of features and talent. Released tonight (March 29), the album serves unforgettable journey into the heart of country music, with an impressive lineup of collaborators and an abundance of heartfelt tributes. Miley Cyrus and Post Malone made guest appearances to name a few. Cyrus joins Beyoncé on the track “II Most Wanted,” while Malone lends his distinctive vocals to “Levii’s Jeans.” Additionally, country music legends Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson make appearances on the album, contributing to an interlude alongside Linda Martell, the pioneering black female solo artist who made history at the Grand Ole Opry. In addition, Beyoncé’s daughter Rumi Carter joins her for the track “Protector.”
Moreover, one of the standout moments on the album is Beyoncé’s rendition of Parton’s classic hit, “Jolene.” Following Parton’s interlude, Beyoncé’s soulful interpretation of the 1973 track serves as a powerful homage to the country music icon and adds a fresh perspective to the beloved song. The release of Cowboy Carter follows the surprise drop of singles “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” during the Super Bowl, building anticipation for the full album. Serving as the long-awaited Act II of Beyoncé’s 2022 project, Renaissance, the album represents a culmination of the singer’s exploration into the country genre.
Moreover, Beyoncé’ recently revealed that her journey to “Cowboy Carter” began five years ago. Furthermore, this revelation was sparked by an incident at the Country Music Association Awards in 2016. Reflecting on her experience, she shared on social media last week that she felt unwelcome in the country music community at the time. However, this experience inspired her to delve deeper into the genre’s rich history, leading to the creation of Cowboy Carter and a newfound appreciation for its musical legacy.
With its diverse lineup of collaborators, heartfelt tributes, and Beyoncé’s unmistakable talent, Cowboy Carter is set to leave a lasting impression on the world of country music. As fans immerse themselves in the album’s captivating melodies and soul-stirring lyrics, they are sure to discover a newfound appreciation for the genre and Beyoncé’s groundbreaking contributions to its evolution. Are you excited to listen to the entire project? Let us know on HNHH which track is your favorite!
Tracklist: AMERICAN REQUIEM BLACKBIRD 16 CARRIAGES PROTECTOR MY ROSE SMOKE HOUR WILLIE NELSON TEXAS HOLD ‘EM BODYGUARD DOLLY P JOLENE DAUGHTER SPAGHETTI ALLIGATOR TEARS SMOKE HOUR II JUST FOR FUN II MOST WANTED LEVII’S JEANS FLAMENCO THE LINDA MARTELL SHOW YA YA OH LOUISIANA DESERT EAGLE RIVERDANCE II HANDS II HEAVEN TYRANT SWEET HONEY BUCKIN’ AMEN
Beyonce fans were probably anticipating that they’d have to wait until Midnight tonight to get all the juicy details on her new country album COWBOY CARTER. But thanks to overseas markets where the album dropped early a flood of information on the record made the rounds ahead of its official release. The included information about its length which is officially an hour and 18 minutes. It also included details about the concept of a country music radio station that runs throughout.
But perhaps most importantly for fans, it confirmed two new collaborators who lent their voices to COWBOY CARTER. Post Malone and Miley Cyrus will both be making contributions to the record, both of whom feel like fitting choices for Bey dipping her toes into country. Miley will be appearing on a song called “II MOST WANTED” while Post will contribute to a track called “LEVII’S JEANS.” The album is due out tonight and will look to make a splash on both the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 in the coming weeks.
COWBOY CARTER has already been teased with two successful singles. After the album’s surprise announcement during the Super Bowl, Bey dropped “16 CARRIAGES” and “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM.” The former performed quite well while the latter became a full on smash hit that’s still lingering in the top 10 of the Hot 100.
Another big reveal about the album came earlier in the week. When the names of the tracks on the record were shared it revealed that the project contains a cover version of Dolly Parton’s country classic “JOLENE.” The song also features an appearance from legendary country figure Willie Nelson. Fan hype is through the roof waiting to see just how much Bey indulges in the sounds and styles of country throughout. What do you think of Post Malone and Miley Cyrus making contributions to COWBOY CARTER? Are you looking forward to hearing the new album when it drops tonight? Let us know in the comment section below.
The Beyoncé story continues with the release of her latest album, Cowboy Carter. She didn’t make the project by herself, though, so these are the artists she got to feature on the album.
Who Is Featured On Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Album?
As Consequence notes, the full tracklist with features was revealed before the album’s North American release, when it started being available in international markets like Australia and New Zealand. Shaboozey, Miley Cyrus, and Post Malone are featured on the album. The site also reports the album is presented in the style of a country radio show, and Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Linda Martell appear as DJs. On a related note, the album also features covers of Parton’s “Jolene” and The Beatles’ “Blackbird.”
Check out the album’s full tracklist below.
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tracklist
1. “Ameriican Requiem”
2. “Blackbird” (The Beatles cover)
3. “16 Carriages”
4. “Protector”
5. “My Rose”
6. “Smoke Hour With Willie Nelson”
7. “Texas Hold ‘Em”
8. “Bodyguard”
9. “Dolly P”
10. “Jolene” (Dolly Parton cover)
11. “Daughter”
12. “Spaghettii” Feat. Shaboozey
13. “Alliigator Tears”
14. “Smoke Hour II”
15. “Just For Fun”
16. “II Most Wanted” Feat. Miley Cyrus
17. “Levii’s Jeans” Feat. Post Malone
18. “Flamenco”
19. “The Linda Martell Show”
20. “Ya Ya”
21. “Oh Louisiana”
22. “Desert Eagle”
23. “Riiverdance”
24. “II Hands II Heaven”
25. “Tyrant”
26. “Sweet Honey Buckin’”
27. “Amen”
Cowboy Carter is out 3/29 via Parkwood/Columbia. Find more information here.
Things are about to get real, as we’re just days away from the March 29 release date of Beyoncé’s new album, Cowboy Carter. In the lead-up, fans have been clamoring for details about the project, and today (March 27), Beyoncé revealed some big ones by unveiling the tracklist.
The tracklist, as presented on Beyoncé’s Instagram post sharing it, doesn’t confirm or deny the rumors of Travis Scott and Lady Gaga being featured on the album. However, there does appear to be a track called “Dolly P,” followed by a track titled “Jolene,” presumably a cover of Dolly Parton’s classic. Again, the post’s formatting doesn’t make it clear, but it looks like there’s either a song called “Smoke Hour Willie Nelson” or a song called “Smoke Hour” featuring Nelson, with the latter option seeming more likely.
(Update: The full tracklist with features was revealed ahead of the album’s North American release, when it became available in international markets like New Zealand and Australia, as Consequence notes. Featured on the album are Shaboozey, Miley Cyrus, and Post Malone. The publication also notes the album is presented in the style of a country radio show, and making appearances as DJs are Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Linda Martell.)
Check out the Cowboy Carter tracklist below.
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tracklist
01. “Ameriican Requiem”
02. “Blackbird” (The Beatles cover)
03. “16 Carriages”
04. “Protector”
05. “My Rose”
06. “Smoke Hour With Willie Nelson”
07. “Texas Hold ‘Em”
08. “Bodyguard”
09. “Dolly P”
10. “Jolene” (Dolly Parton cover)
11. “Daughter”
12. “Spaghettii” Feat. Shaboozey
13. “Alliigator Tears”
14. “Smoke Hour II”
15. “Just For Fun”
16. “II Most Wanted” Feat. Miley Cyrus
17. “Levii’s Jeans” Feat. Post Malone
18. “Flamenco”
19. “The Linda Martell Show”
20. “Ya Ya”
21. “Oh Louisiana”
22. “Desert Eagle”
23. “Riiverdance”
24. “II Hands II Heaven”
25. “Tytant”
26. “Sweet Honey Buckin’”
27. “Amen”
Cowboy Carter is out 3/29 via Parkwood/Columbia. Find more information here.
On Wednesday evening, March 20, Post posted an Instagram Reel teasing a snippet of an unreleased single featuring Wallen. “Let’s go with the real mix this time @morganwallen [cry-laughing emoji],” Malone captioned the video, which shows him drinking a Bud Light and giddily singing along. Wallen commented, “I had some help getting to the point of posting it at 4 am [three cry-laughing emojis] this song is one of my favs in a long time. Proud to be on it w u bub!!”
This is just the latest in a string of posts hinting at an imminent Post Malone country album. Earlier this week, he posted photos of a session with Luke Combs, roughly one month after sharing an unreleased snippet of his song featuring Combs. Last week, Malone shared another snippet of a country-adjacent ballad alongside the caption, “missin you like this [blue heart emoji],” which people presumed is the title of the song.
During a Twitch livestream last November, Malone assured,” Country record is coming. I keep singing a song that we made while I was in Nashville, and it’s so f*cking sick, but it’s not out,” as relayed by American Songwriterat the time.
In the meantime, Posty fans can look forward to hearing him as the featured artist on “Fortnight,” the opening track on Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, which is due out April 19.
As you can imagine, the Swifties are running up the streams and plays across all platforms. “Fortnight” with Post Malone is already one the album’s most tuned into tracks and for good reason. The opener has a lot of possible secret callbacks to past relationships and flings, as Genius has so astutely researched and theorized. 
