RING THE ALARM -- Beyoncé is here.
The Houston superstar dropped "Break My Soul" late Monday night, the first listen from her new album "Renaissance." And if it's indicative of the full album, we're about to dance through the summer.
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"Break My Soul" is built on a sample of the house classic"Show Me Love" by Robin S. That 1993 hit is considered one of the greatest dance songs of all time and a gay anthem. It also samples "Explode" By New Orleans bounce queen Big Freedia.
It's likely no coincidence that the song is being released during Pride Month and what is consideredPride Week in Houston, the lead-up to the weekend's parade and festival. The song's title hook -- "You won't break my soul" -- could be a rallying cry for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in Texas, where Republic politicians have repeatedly tried to legalize hate.
It's the Pride anthem we didn't know we were getting:
"BEY IS BACK AND I'M SLEEPING REAL GOOD AT NIGHT
THE QUEENS IN THE FRONT AND THE DOMS IN THE BACK
AIN'T TAKIN' NO FLICKS BUT THE WHOLE CLIQUE SNAPPED"
It feels surreal to be on the track with the Queen Beyonce once again I’m so honored to be apart of this special moment I’m forever grateful lord ?’??’??’??’?❤️❤️❤️❤️?”??”??”??”?someone please catch me#beyonce#bigfreedia#BreakMySoulpic.twitter.com/AL8jn5lX6J
— Big Freedia ?’? (@bigfreedia)June 21, 2022
"It feels surreal to be on the track with the Queen Beyonce once again I’m so honored to be apart of this special moment I’m forever grateful lord, someone please catch me," Freediatweeted shortly after the release.
"Show Me Love" has frequently been sampled by other artists, includingCharli XCX,rapper Kid InkandJason Derulo. But only Beyoncé has the power to make the decades-old songtrend on Twitter.
"Renaissance," Queen B's first album since 2016's "Lemonade," is set for a July 29 release.British Vogue photographerRafael Pavarotti described the album as, "Music that makes you rise, that turns your mind to cultures and subcultures, to our people past and present, music that will unite so many on the dance floor, music that touches your soul."
The album is said to featuredance and country-leaning tracksproduced by Ryan Tedder and Raphael Saadiq.