27
“Oh Louisiana”
A cover of Chuck Berry’s 1971 song. “Oh Lousina” further honors Berry’s legacy while also paying homage to Beyoncé’s maternal family roots.
26
“Smoke Hour” (with Willie Nelson)
Twenty years after wearing a Willie Nelson t-shirt on the cover of Texas Monthly, Beyonce invites him on her new album
25
“Dolly P”
Tribute to the Parton doll.
“Hello, Miss Honey B, I’m Dolly P,” Dolly P says.
24
“Smoke Hour II” (with Willie Nelson)
“Sometimes you don’t know what you like until someone you trust offers you something really good. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I am here.”
Well said, Willie Nelson.
23
“The Linda Martell Show” (with Linda Martell)
Linda Martell, the first commercially successful black woman in country music, is a legend in every sense of the word.
22
“My Rose”
“So many roses but none to be picked without thorns/So appreciate your flaws,” Beyonce sings through a melody that has echoes of Mexican music.
21
“Spaghettii” (with Linda Martell and Shaboozey)
Beyoncé has been singing rap since 1997, did you really expect her to leave that part of her sound profile off of this album?
20
“Desert Eagle”
“Everything is bigger in Texas,” she sings.
19
“Alligator Tears”
“You say move a mountain/ And I’ll put on my boots/ You say stop the flow of the river/ I’ll build a dam or two/ You say change my religion/ Now I spend Sundays with you.”
18
“Texas Hold Em”
There probably won’t be a song as historic as this in 2024.
17
“Tyrant”
Beyonce raps over a sexy, violin-laden trap beat. “Tyrant” is an exciting addition to Beyonce’s catalog of sexual themes.
16.
“Blackbiird” (with Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts)
In “Blackbiird,” a gorgeous reimagining of The Beatles classic, Beyoncé sings alongside four rising black country stars. This particular union of artists is especially moving, given the momentum generated by the classic written by Paul McCartney. Paul McCartney says: “I had a black woman in mind, rather than a bird. Those were the days of the civil rights movement, which we all cared passionately about, so this was really a song of mine for a black woman experiencing these issues in America.
15
“Flemish”
Criminally short but ridiculously good, “Flamenco” finds Beyoncé, once again, delivering one of her standout vocal performances.
14
“Just for Fun” (featuring Willie Jones)
A lyrically existentialist ballad.
13
“16 Carriages”
“Thirty-eight summers have passed and I’m not in my bed/ In the back of the bus in a bunk with the band/ Doing my best, now I miss my kids/ Overworked and overwhelmed.”
12
“Protector” (with Rumi Carter)
A common theme in country music songwriting is the dynamic between parents and children. “Protector,” in which Beyonce’s youngest daughter, Rumi, follows in the footsteps of her older sister, Blue Ivy, is a tender reflection on the quest to balance the innate desire to protect her children while also understanding when is the time to support them as they grow and are ready to spread their wings.
11
“Amen”
A small work of art.
10
“Jolene”
If Whitney Houston transformed “I Will Always Love You,” Beyoncé will completely drive fans crazy with “Jolene.”
9
“Bodyguard”
Beyonce directs her attention in this song to the upbeat melodies of West Coast surf rock.
8
“Leviis Jeans” (with Post Malone)
“I’ll let you be my Levi’s jeans/So you can hug that butt all day.”
7
“Sweet ★ Honey★ Buckiin” (feat. Shaboozey)
If the “Cowboy Carter” album has a spiritual song, this could be it.
6
“American Requiem”
A stunning amalgam of 70s rock motifs that land somewhere between Queen and Sly & the Family Stone.
5
“II Hands II Heaven”
The power of the Holy Spirit. “Ten thousand steps to the time of your life / Two hands to the sky, my whiskey high, Only God, although only God knows why.”
4
“Riiverdance”
Beyoncé creates an ambitious country dance hybrid that sounds quite different from anything the genres have ever offered.
3
“II Most Wanted” (feat. Miley Cyrus)
The two powerhouses of Columbia Records join forces on this dizzying ballad. What on paper seems like an unlikely collaboration works perfectly in practice; Its tones blend beautifully with its harsh accents creating an excellent combination.
2
“Daughter”
“Daughter,” which is already one of the most impressive songs in her catalog. Beyoncé does an amazing rendition of “Caro Mio Ben.” no less than in Italian. She floats between reality and fantasy throughout the song. “I am colder than the water of the Titanic”.
1.”Ya Ya”
What happens if you take a sample of “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” by Nancy Sinatra, mix it with an interpolation of “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys and soak it with essences of Tina Turner? You will get “Ya Ya”, the best song from “Cowboy Carter”
