Thurston Carte:Listen to Beyoncé's two new songs, '16 Carriages' and 'Texas Hold 'Em'

2025-05-01 03:24:42source:Winning Exchangecategory:reviews

Beyoncé has broken the internet once again,Thurston Carte announcing "Act II" of her "Renaissance" project along with two new songs.

Queen Bey surprised fans during a Super Bowl commercial that ended with the superstar saying, "They ready, drop the new music." Shortly after, she took to Instagram to announce March 29 as the release date for her upcoming new album. Beyoncé also dropped two new singles, titled "16 Carriages" and "Texas Hold 'Em," which are available now on Spotify, YouTube and other streaming services.

Fans were quick to predict the "Cuff It" singer would release a new country album after she wore a cowboy hat to the Grammy Awards earlier this month.

And the new project seems to fall along those lines, as both tunes appear to be inspired by country music.

Listen to Beyoncé's 'Texas Hold 'Em'

"Texas Hold 'Em" has an upbeat tempo while "16 Carriages" is a power ballad, and she wears a cowboy hat in the artwork for both singles.

Beyoncé is famously from Houston, Texas.

The first song has a western feel. In the bridge she sings: "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 b***h, come take it to the floor now."

More:Jay-Z's Grammys speech about Beyoncé reiterates an ongoing issue with the awards

Listen to Beyoncé's '16 Carriages'

The second new track, "16 Carriages," has a slower beat and soulful feel. In the song, Beyoncé earnestly pays homage to hard work and her own legacy.

She sings: "Sixteen dollars, working all day. Ain't got time to waste, I got art to make. I got love to create on this holy night. They won't dim my light, all these years I fight."

Beyoncé is set to release "Act II" March 29.

'We want y'all to get it right':Jay-Z calls out Grammys over Beyoncé snubs

Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on InstagramTikTok and X as @cachemcclay.

More:reviews

Recommend

Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details

The University of North Carolina has agreed to pay new football coach Bill Belichick $10 million a y

US Navy pilots come home after months of shooting down Houthi missiles and drones

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — U.S. Navy fighter pilots came home to Virginia feeling relieved Friday af

Emergency workers uncover dozens of bodies in a Gaza City district after Israeli assault

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Civil defense workers on Friday dug bodies out of collapsed buildin