Renaissance (also referred to asAct I: Renaissance) is the seventh studio album by American singer and songwriterBeyoncé. Released on July 29, 2022, byParkwood Entertainment andColumbia Records, it is the first installment of a planned trilogy of albums.Beam,Grace Jones, andTems appear as guest vocalists on the album.
Beyoncé conceived and recordedRenaissance during theCOVID-19 pandemic, intending to inspire joy andescapism in listeners after a period of collective isolation. Celebrating the club culture that served as a refuge forBlack andqueer communities, the album pays homage to the pioneers who shaped those spaces. Arranged like a continuousDJ mix,Renaissance incorporates post-1970sBlackdance music styles—such asdisco,house,funk—and pays homage to the overlooked contributions of the pioneers who shaped those genres. Its lyrical themes center on escapism,hedonism, confidence, and self-expression.
Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom.
In the latter half of the 2010s, Beyoncé released several critically acclaimed, narrative-driven[2] projects that explored the legacies of Black musicians and artists,[3] including 2016'sLemonade; her 2018Coachella performance and theNetflixfilm andlive album that documented it; and 2019'sThe Lion King soundtrack albumThe Gift and its visual companion, 2020'sBlack Is King.[4]
Beyoncé toldBritishVogue that the lockdown due to theCOVID-19 pandemic changed her as a person, stating that she has "spent a lot of time focusing on building my legacy and representing my culture the best way I know how. Now, I've decided to give myself permission to focus on my joy."[5] Further, she called this period the most creative time in her life as she sought to escape feelings of isolation by recording new music.[1] As lockdowns began to end, Beyoncé toldHarper's Bazaar that "we are all ready to escape, travel, love, and laugh again. I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible."[6]
Beyoncé sought inspiration in post-1970s Blackball culture,dance music andclub culture.[7] Beyoncé noted that she was largely introduced to this culture by her "Uncle" Johnny, hergay cousin[a] who helped raise her until his death during theAIDS epidemic.[9][10][11] Further, she wanted the album to be a celebration of the underappreciated pioneers of dance music, whose contributions had been unrecognized in the mainstream.[12]
I had no idea what type of genre I would end up singing for [Renaissance], but I tried to stay open and open my palette and discover aspects of myself or create something new. [...] I always wanted to make a record that I could work out to [..] It's a little bit over an hour and it's exactly that. It just makes you wanna move, it makes you wanna dance, it makes you laugh, it makes you wanna fall in love and it makes you wanna be with your man or your woman, it makes you just wanna have some joy and have some fun and that's really all I wanted to do. I felt like that was my mission and that was my assignment. I was inspired by so many incredible artists, I knew if I was gonna do an album that haddance music elements, l would have to make it my own and mix a few things together, so I think it has elements ofdisco,techno,electronic andsoul and still some elements ofhip hop. I wanted to give myself permission to just have fun, that's the goal. Because I definitely had fun recording it.
— Beyoncé in pre-recorded audio speech at 'Club Renaissance' 2022 party.[13]
Renaissance was heavily influenced byStudio 54.[14] Beyoncé wanted to challenge listeners with songs of longer length,bridges,vamps andmelody in a musical landscape where it was lacking.[13] An early version of "Thique" was made in 2014, but the track did not fully materialize until Beyoncé picked it back up again 8 years later for the album.[15]
The cover art has been compared toLady Godiva, an 1897 painting by English artistJohn Collier.
On June 30, 2022, Beyoncé revealed the album's cover art, shot by fashion photographerCarlijn Jacobs, on her social media accounts. In the image, she is seated atop a mirroreddisco ball horse[16][17] (dubbed "Reneigh" by fans)[18][19][20] in a3D printed silverbodysuit designed by Nusi Quero.[21] The piece ishelix-shaped, detailed with spikes and embellished withcrystals.[22] Critics interpreted the equestrian pose as an allusion both toJohn Collier's 1897 paintingLady Godiva and to photographs ofBianca Jagger riding a horse intoStudio 54.[23][24]
An alternate cover image for thevinyl release features Beyoncé atop the same horse, but "wearing a white cowboy hat with a silver headpiece that hides her hair" and "sparkling silver chains that drape her arms and legs, as white, feathery poofs hang along the body of the horse".[25][26] Behind her liesLuca Giordano's 1690 paintingLa Conversion de Saint Paul, depicting theConversion of Paul the Apostle.[26]She continued the horse motif on her next album,Cowboy Carter.
The tracks are connected by seamless transitions facilitated bybeatmatching, evoking aDJ mix.[42][43] This reflects "the shifting moods and the physicality of the dance floor" rather than "the constraints of a radio station or a playlist", according toThe New Yorker's Carrie Battan.[44] Some tracks also have unconventionalsong structures, containing multipletempos andmovements.[27][45][7]
Lyrically,Renaissance contains themes ofescapism, self-assurance, self-expression,hedonism and pleasure,[42][46][47] with Beyoncé inspiring joy and confidence in listeners.[48] According toThe Guardian, it "urg[es] listeners to wholeheartedly embrace pleasure", particularly referencing joy inBlack culture.[29] The album's lyrics emphasize dance as both a measure of personalcatharsis and a liberating spiritual practice.[49]
Beyoncé collaborated with, sampled and interpolated several progenitors of dance music on the album, including both mainstream and underground artists. This made the album a celebration of Black and Black queer dance culture, withVulture's Charlie Harding likening it to "a DJ set curated by house-music pioneers".[50]
Beyoncé originally intended to releaseCowboy Carter (2024) as the first installment of her trilogy project, but explained that "with the pandemic, there was too much heaviness in the world", and so releasedRenaissance first, because "[people] deserved to dance."[51]
Beyoncé began to tease a new album on June7, 2022, by removing her profile picture from all of hersocial media platforms.[52][53] Four days later, the text "What is a B7?" appeared on the homepage of the singer's official website.[54] Fans noticed that the website also had a placeholder for "B8", interpreted as referencing an eighth studio album.[55] Beyoncé officially announced the album and released the pre-sale forRenaissance on her website anddigital streaming platforms the following day.[56][57][58]
After first joiningTikTok in December 2021, Beyoncé posted her first video, a compilation of people (including American rapperCardi B) "dancing, vibing, and singing along" toRenaissance's lead single, "Break My Soul", on July 14, 2022.[59] Further, she madeher entire catalog available for use on the platform,[60] attracting significant media attention.[61][62][63] Two days before the scheduled release, on July 27, the album arrived in retailers in France and eventuallyleaked onto the Internet.[64]
So, the album leaked, and you all actually waited until the proper release time so you all can enjoy it together. I've never seen anything like it. I can't thank yall enough for your love and protection. I appreciate you for calling out anyone that was trying to sneak into the club early. It means the world to me. Thank you for your unwavering support. Thank you for being patient. We are going to take our time and enjoy the music. I will continue to give my all and do my best to bring you joy.
— Beyoncé via social media on the day of the album's release.[65]
The album was released on July 29, 2022. Upon the album's release, Beyoncé posted a note on her website revealing thatRenaissance is the first part of a trilogy project that she recorded over the past three years, during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[66]
Critics opined thatRenaissance appeared to be getting a more conventional rollout than a number of Beyoncé's previous albums, which were surprise releases, an approach Beyoncé herself was credited with popularizing.The New York Times wrote that the album's rollout reflected its throwback themes and music, with Beyoncé eschewing an exclusive digital release and instead releasing elaborate vinyl and CD packages.[67] This ushered in a revival of CD sales, according toBillboard.[68]
However, despite Beyoncé's decision to forego a surprise release,Renaissance's rollout quickly proved to be unconventional and disruptive in several other ways. Beyoncé kept her public appearances to a minimum, foregoing interviews and promotional efforts, and mostly keeping her communication limited to subtle clues, Easter eggs, and messages placed throughout her online media. She also completely avoided promotional live performances for the album until theRenaissance World Tour. Her only other performance following the album's release wasa private concert atAtlantis The Royal,Dubai in January 2023, but, despite anticipation, the set list did not contain any material fromRenaissance. Most notably, Beyoncé has eschewed a traditional release schedule for music videos. As of now, there are no official music videos available to accompany the songs from the album as part of its promotional efforts.[69]
On June 20, 2022, Beyoncé announced the album's lead single, "Break My Soul", would be released at midnightEastern Time on June 21, to coincide with the 2022summer solstice.[70][71] The song appeared on music streaming serviceTidal hours early, on June 20, and a lyric video was later released onYouTube.[72][73] The song peaked atop the USBillboard Hot 100, making it her twelfth total career chart topper (eighth as a solo artist) and her first song without an accompanying artist to do so since "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" in 2008.[74] On August 5, 2022, Beyoncé released a remix exclusively through her online store, before releasing it to streaming services; "The Queens Remix" is a collaboration withMadonna, sampling and interpolating her 1990 song "Vogue". It features Beyoncé name-dropping Madonna and many iconic black women during the song's rap verse.[75]
On September 21, 2022,Hiphop-n-more reported that "Church Girl" would be released as the album's second single; a week later, it was announced that it would be simultaneously released alongside "Cuff It" as the next two singles.[76] "Church Girl" was scheduled to impact rhythmic contemporary radio on October 4, 2022,[77] but the release failed to materialize whereas "Cuff It" was released as the sole second single, being sent to radio in France on September 28, 2022.[78] It impactedrhythmic andurban contemporary radio stations in the United States on October 4, 2022.[77][79] The song peaked at number 6 on theBillboard Hot 100, making it the 21st song in her solo career to reach this milestone, and 31st overall.[80] On April 11, 2023, the song became Beyoncé's longest-charting solo Hot 100 song.[81] Charting for a 34th week on the Hot 100, the song surpassed her collaboration withLady Gaga, "Telephone" which released in 2010 and charted for 33 weeks.[81]
"Virgo's Groove" impacted European radio stations starting on April 28, 2023, as the radio follow-up to "Cuff It" and third overall single.[82][83] A remix of "America Has a Problem" featuringKendrick Lamar was released through digital and streaming platforms on May 19, 2023, as the fourth single. The remix debuted at 38 on the USBillboard Hot 100.[84]
On February 1, 2023, Beyoncé announced theRenaissance World Tour via herInstagram account.[85] The concert run began on May 10, 2023, atFriends Arena in Stockholm. It was her first solo tour sinceThe Formation World Tour in 2016. The tour quickly received widespread acclaim, withRolling Stone dubbing it a "once-in-a-lifetime show from one of pop's greatest live performers".[86]
WhenRenaissance was first released, Beyoncé stated through a press release that she wanted fans to focus on the music, rather than anyvisual components, but confirmed that visuals were eventually forthcoming.[87] On August 9, 2022, Beyoncé released a teaser video for the album's opening track, "I'm That Girl", that included a rapid montage of over twenty outfits that news outlets interpreted as previewing the various impending music videos for each track on the album. Some scenes included Beyoncé recreating Moi Renee performing her 1992 song "Miss Honey", Beyoncé and 2 dancers frontingLa Conversion de Saint Paul, and Beyoncé in ahedge mazelabyrinth.[88][89]. Despite this, no sign of visuals forRenaissance orCowboy Carter have been released or even teased.
9 months later, Beyoncé embarked on the album's companion tour on May 10, 2023. Part of her tour visuals additionally included a message stating that, although fans were demanding visuals, "a queen moves at her own pace".[90] During her concert in Louisville, Kentucky, on July 17, 2023, Beyoncé addressed a fan's sign inquiring about the visuals, responding, "You are the visuals, baby."[91] Jeff Sneider ofAbove the Line reported on August 31, 2023, that avisual album forRenaissance, directed byNadia Lee Cohen, was secretly filmed and is being shopped to various studios and streamers. He described it as anart film that is "weirder" than Beyoncé's previous works,Lemonade (2016) andBlack Is King (2020).[92]
The last show of the Renaissance World Tour atArrowhead Stadium inKansas City, Missouri on October 1, 2023, closed out with a trailer forRenaissance: A Film by Beyoncé. Released on December 1, 2023, the film features highlights from the tour and documentary footage from the development of both the album and the tour.[93][94] A non-album track "My House" plays over the end credits; it was released as a single the same day as the film.[95]
I thought it was important that during a time where all we see is visuals, that the world can focus on the voice. The music is so rich in history and instrumentation. It takes months to digest, research, and understand. The music needed space to breathe. Sometimes a visual can be a distraction from the quality of the voice and the music [...] The fans from all over the world became the visual. We got the visual on tour and from my film.
In July 2022,Balmain's creative directorOlivier Rousteing was inspired byRenaissance to sketch designs that related to the songs and lyrics. Rousteing refined the sketches during a vacation in August and proposed to Beyoncé and her stylist Marni Senofonte to create a couture collection in collaboration. Over the next five months, they developed a Balmain x Beyoncé couture collection inspired by the history of thehouse and the performer's musical heritage. The collection includes 16 pieces for the 16 tracks on the album, two of which were worn by Beyoncé at the Grammys and theBRIT Awards in early 2023. Rousteing described the collaboration as historic, expressing his gratitude to Beyoncé for launching the collaboration and partnering with him to design a collection that reflected the power of the album's compositions. Rousteing noted that he is the first Black person to lead a Parisian couture house and that he believes Beyoncé is the first Black woman to oversee a collection from a Parisian couture house.[97] Beyoncé fronted the April 2023 edition ofVogue France to promote the collection.[98]
Renaissance received widespread acclaim from critics,[105][106][107] many of whom praised its cohesive yeteclectic production, joyous nature, vocal performance, and celebration of post-1970s Black dance music.[108][109]Renaissance is the most highly lauded album of 2022, topping many critics' year-end lists.[110] On review aggregatorMetacritic,Renaissance received a score of 91 out of 100 based on 26 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".
Veteran criticRobert Christgau hailedRenaissance as "the album of the year" and Beyoncé's "finest album", calling it unconventionally political, "erotically explicit, knowledgeable, and felt", with each song a "shrewdly differentiated pop smash".[102] Characterizing it as a "modern classic" and Beyoncé's most impressive album,Exclaim!'s Vernon Ayiku wrote thatRenaissance is "the sound of a once-in-a-generation superstar performing at her peak".[48] According to Kyle Denis ofBillboard,Renaissance is an "absolutely stunning body of work", and perhaps Beyoncé's most innovative andexperimental album with her "most nuanced vocal performances" to date.[27]NPR'sAnn Powers described it as "Beyoncé'sSistine Chapel", with its "stunning" design and detail, multifaceted nature and "timeless" impact.[110]
Describing the album as "intergenerational musical exchange that landed like a cultural comet",Okayplayer's Robyn Mowatt praised Beyoncé's ability to bring together dance legends (such as Grace Jones and Nile Rodgers) with contemporary underground musicians.[111]The Line of Best Fit critic David Cobbald described the album as one of Beyoncé's best, noting that it is a departure from her previous work. Cobbald praised the album for celebrating "underappreciated architects" of disco, house and funk music.[112] Music journalist Kate Solomon, writing fori, dubbed the album a "dazzling tribute tounderground and underappreciated Black culture" and a dancefloor record aimed to heal "thepain and anguish" of the COVID-19 pandemic.[113] Melissa Ruggieri described it "adanceteria devoted to hedonism, sex and most importantlyself-worth" inUSA Today.[47]
Wesley Morris ofThe New York Times noted Beyoncé's "galactic" vocal performance, delivery and range.[114] Mikael Wood of theLos Angeles Times called the album "the year's smartest record [and] also its most deep-feeling", praising its rhythms, harmonies and vocals.[115]Pitchfork critic Julianne Escobedo Shepherd called it "a challenging, densely-referenced album" that forays into dance andclub music more successfully than similar projects by Beyoncé's peers.[3] Marcus Shorter ofConsequence wrote thatRenaissance is "damn close to perfect" with its "infectious and not overbearing, elegant, but not shallow" songs.[116] John Amen, writing forPopMatters, complimented the album's contemporaneous production, dubbing it "alitany ofsamples,allusions, and tributes" but with "more style than substance" at times.[117]Resident Advisor's Kiana Mickles praised Beyoncé's use of experimental production and genres on the album but wrote that it "falls flat" when Beyoncé references Black/Brown queer ballroom culture.[118]
ProducerKelman Duran, who received permission from the late Memphis rapperPrincess Loko's family and main collaboratorTommy Wright III to use her catalog of songs in his productions, sampled a song of hers with Wright (1994s "Still Pimpin") to createdembow andreggaeton-infused opening track "I'm That Girl".[119][120] Jamaican singerGrace Jones was featured on the track "Move"; Jones said how she does not usually collaborate with other artists, but agreed to work with Beyoncé because she is "a beautiful person, a beautiful talent" and she attends the same church as Jones' brother.[121][122] American television personalityTs Madison, whose viral video clip "Bitch, I'm Black" is sampled on "Cozy", expressed gratitude to Beyoncé for allowing her to "let me use my voice" and "let it be known that we are all Black in totality" to a global audience.[123] Other artists who expressed gratitude for being included onRenaissance includeKevin Aviance, whose song "Cunty" is sampled on "Pure/Honey";[124] andballroom commentator Kevin JZ Prodigy, whose chants are borrowed from the 2009 DJMikeQ track "Feels Like" on "Pure/Honey".[125]
While many artists felt honored to have their work sampled on this album, a few took issue with it. One of them being American singer and songwriterKelis, whose 2003 single "Milkshake" was interpolated on "Energy". Beyoncé sought permission fromPharrell Williams andChad Hugo ofthe Neptunes – the sole writers, producers, and rights owners of "Milkshake" – who subsequently cleared the interpolation. Kelis voiced anger about this, claiming that the Neptunes made her sign an exploitative contract and that she should have been notified of the song's use in advance. In response, the interpolation was removed from "Energy".[126] British tabloidThe Sun claimed that English pop duoRight Said Fred said that Beyoncé did not seek permission to interpolate their 1991 single "I'm Too Sexy" on "Alien Superstar". In response, Beyoncé's representative said that the accusation is false, with permission being sought on May 11, 2022, and granted on June 15, noting that the duo had previously spoken of their gratitude for being on the album on social media.[127] Other featured producers on the album includeSkrillex,A. G. Cook, Nile Rodgers,Honey Dijon, andGreen Velvet.[128][129][32]
Additionally, the song "Heated" was met with criticism online for its use of the word "spaz" in its lyrics, which, as Australiandisability advocateHannah Diviney pointed out, is anableistslur,[130][131] and other fans agreed.[132][133] Other users online said that "spaz" has a different meaning inAfrican-American English and is synonymous with "freaking out".[134][132] Beyoncé announced the following day that the word would be removed from the song, with the word soon being replaced with "blast".[135]
At the end of 2022,Renaissance appeared atop several critics' lists ranking the year's top albums. According toMetacritic, it was the most prominently ranked record of 2022, and the album that was listed at number one by the most publications (25 publications).[136]Renaissance was the most nominated album at the65th Annual Grammy Awards, receiving eight includingAlbum of the Year,Song of the Year andRecord of the Year. This tied Beyoncé with Jay-Z as the most Grammy-nominated artists of all time. Her four wins made herthe most awarded artist in Grammy history with 32 wins, surpassing the previous record of 31 that was held for 22 years by Hungarian-British conductorGeorg Solti.[137][138]Rolling Stone placedRenaissance at number 71 on their500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.[139]Pitchfork named the record the fifth best album of the 2020s so far, on their ranking of the one hundred best music projects released during this period (2020–2024).[140] In 2025,Paste named the project the 8th best album of the 21st century so far.[141]
Renaissance was a commercial success.[166] Upon release, Beyoncé became the first artist in history to simultaneously chart at #1 on 23 or more Billboard charts.[167]Renaissance garnered the record for the most single-day streams for an album by a female artist onSpotify in 2022, with over 43 million streams.[168] Within three months of its release,Renaissance amassed over 1 billion streams on Spotify.[169] It was also the 17th best-selling album of the year according to theInternational Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).[170]Renaissance was the number one most streamed album worldwide onDeezer in 2023.[171]
Renaissance debuted at number one on theBillboard 200 chart, with 332,000album-equivalent units—the second biggest 2022 album debut by a female artist and the third-biggest overall.[172][173] In doing so,Renaissance became Beyoncé's seventh consecutive studio album to debut at number one and the first album released by a woman in 2022 to reach number one.[172] Already the first artist to have her first six albums all debut at number one, she became the only female artist whose first seven albums did so as well.[174]
Following its release, all tracks fromRenaissance charted on theBillboard Hot 100 in the chart dated August 13, 2022. All 15 new tracks debuted inside the top 70 of the chart, while previously released lead single "Break My Soul" ascended to number one,[175] makingRenaissance Beyoncé's second album to chart all of its tracks simultaneously afterLemonade achieved the feat in 2016.[176] Additionally,Renaissance became Beyoncé's first album sinceI Am... Sasha Fierce (2008) to achieve multiple top ten singles in the United States, with "Break My Soul" and "Cuff It" peaking at numbers one and six respectively.[177]
Renaissance received 179.06 million streams in its first week, the eighth-biggest of the year overall, and the most of Beyoncé's career.[172] In terms of traditional album sales,Renaissance posted the fourth-largest sales week for an album in 2022 with 190,000 albums sold. Additionally, the album sold 26,000 vinyl copies in its debut week.[173]
Renaissance went on to spend its first 14 consecutive weeks within the top 10 of theBillboard 200. It returned to the Top 15 after a boost following the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.[178]
By its second day of release,Renaissance was outselling the rest of the week's top five bestselling albums combined in the UK.[42] The album debuted at number one on theUK Albums Chart, becoming Beyoncé fourth album to do so as a solo act, and her fifth including Destiny's Child. The album also debuted at number one on theOfficial Vinyl Albums Chart.[179]
In Ireland,Renaissance debuted atop theIrish Albums Chart, becoming Beyoncé's fifth number one album in the country. Simultaneously, "Break My Soul" also peaked at number one on theIrish Singles Chart, allowing Beyoncé to score an Irish chart double.[180]
In France,Renaissance debuted at number one on theSNEP albums chart, becoming Beyoncé's first number one album and her fourth top-ten album in the country. Previously,4 was Beyoncé's highest-charting album in the country, peaking at number two in 2011. Additionally, the album was the first album by a female artist to top the chart in 2022.[181]
In Canada,Renaissance debuted at number one on theCanadian Albums Chart, becoming Beyoncé's third consecutive album to do so and her fourth number one album overall.[182]
In the Netherlands, the album landed atop theAlbum Top 100, becoming Beyoncé's third consecutive album to reach the summit in the country. The album has so far spent three non-consecutive weeks at number one, following its return to number one in its 11th week on the chart.[183]
In Australia, the album debuted at number one on theAustralian Albums Chart, becoming Beyoncé's third consecutive number-one album in the country afterBeyoncé andLemonade.[184] Additionally, seven tracks from the album debuted in the top 50.[185] It spent two consecutive weeks at number one, becoming her first album to do so sinceBeyoncé.
In New Zealand,Renaissance debuted at number one on theNew Zealand Albums Chart, becoming Beyoncé's second consecutive number one album in the country following 2016'sLemonade, and her seventh top ten albums in the country overall.[186]
In Brazil, the album achieved massive success and was awarded diamond certification byPro-Música Brasil.[187]
Upon release,Renaissance sparked conversations and essays on the history of dance music and its roots in Black culture.[188][189]
Several industry fellows reacted positively toward the release. American singerCrystal Waters, who helped make house music mainstream in the 1990s, said she was "ecstatic" when she heard Beyoncé's new music and expressed gratitude for how she is shining a light on underappreciated house singers.[190] Chicago house DJRon Carroll describedRenaissance as a "trailblazing" album that has reintroduced house music to the radio and encouraged other musicians to follow Beyoncé's lead.[191] Aluna Francis of English electronic music duoAlunaGeorge laudedRenaissance for its impact on dance music and its Black creators. Francis explained that throughout her career, she had hoped and fought for the widespread recognition of Black musicians' place in dance music. Francis wrote that this revolution has now occurred following the release ofRenaissance, with Beyoncé breaking stigmas and declaring that dance music is Black music, in turn encouraging listeners to reflect on the visibility and exploitation of Blackness within dance genres. Francis added thatRenaissance could greatly benefit the investment and growth of communities around the world which allow Black dance music to thrive.[192]
Other musicians also praised the album for its impact and musicology. British singer-songwriterEllie Goulding said that her then-upcoming albumHigher Than Heaven is a dance and house album in the same vein asRenaissance, with Beyoncé taking those genres to a global level.[193] She later said thatRenaissance restored her faith in pop music after the genre was heading in a bad direction.[194] American singerSZA said that the album was the biggest risk a mainstream artist has taken in recent years.[195] American musicianSufjan Stevens praised the production on the album, tellingStereogum: "The wizardry on that album is so awesome and frustrating for me as a musician because even if you took out her vocals, I'm still obsessed; I'm still intrigued by the engineering and production that's going on and the harmonic relationship between chords."[196]
Beyoncé's mention ofTelfar andBirkin bags in the closing track "Summer Renaissance" caused searches for both items to increase onGoogle Trends and multiple re-sale websites.[197]
Considered by many music critics and journalists to be the favorite for Album of the Year at the65th Annual Grammy Awards,Renaissance's loss toHarry Styles'sHarry's House was widely considered a "snub" or upset, with some critics ascribing Beyoncé's repeated losses in this category to the Recording Academy's overlooking or misunderstanding of Black female musicians andAfrican American musical styles.[198][199][200]
^John Edward Rittenhouse Jr. was nephew of Beyoncé's motherTina Knowles-Lawson. Tina stated that, although Beyoncé and her sisterSolange referred to him as "Uncle", Johnny was her nephew, not her brother.[8]
^The Samples choir consists of Alexandria Griffin, Anthony McEastland, Ashley Washington, Ashly Williams, Chelsea Miller, Deanna Dixon, Erik Brooks, Fallynn Rian, Herman Bryant, Jamal Moore, Javonte Pollard, Jonathan Coleman, Naarai Jacobs, and Porcha Clay.
^Regan, Jenny; Denis, Kyle (August 9, 2022)."See Beyoncé In Her Stunning 'Renaissance' Era Photos".Billboard.Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. RetrievedJune 24, 2023.Some members of the Beyhive have lovingly nicknamed theRenaissance horse "Reneigh."
^Parkwood Entertainment (July 28, 2022)."BEYONCÉ RELEASES RENAISSANCE" (Press release). New York: Cision. PR News Wire.Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. RetrievedNovember 4, 2022.The originator of the visual album format, and the preeminent visual artist, decided to lead without visuals giving fans the opportunity to be limitless in their expansive listening journey... [T]he visuals are scheduled for a later date.
^Sharf, Zack (August 1, 2022)."Beyoncé to Remove Offensive 'Renaissance' Lyric After Ableist Backlash".Variety.Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. RetrievedMay 22, 2024.Beyoncé's seventh studio album "Renaissance" debuted July 29 to universal acclaim, but one lyric in the song "Heated" left many listeners outraged on social media.
^Wood, Mikael (December 4, 2022)."The 20 Best Albums of 2022".Los Angeles Times.Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. RetrievedDecember 4, 2022.
^Powers, Ann (December 12, 2022)."Best Albums of 2022".NPR.Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. RetrievedDecember 12, 2022.
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