I had the pleasure of hosting a Beyoncé Renaissance listening party at Second Vine Wine, a black-owned wine shop on Magazine Street. Beyoncé didn’t POP in! I’m MAD!! It’s okay! Still OBSESSED! I heard she hosted her own listening parties. The fierce & fabulous showed and I got the chance to meet some people that I have never met. Thank you for gracing me with your presence.

Second Vine Wine provided a complimentary tasting for the event, and the wine was House of Brown Wines. We also offered a light spread of cheese and charcuterie. The listening party brought back so many memories of my childhood. My father had a room similar to Second Vine, where he would smoke, play chess, burn incense and listen to records. Some of the barrel-style furniture reminds me of our house in the 7th Ward.

I always enjoyed reading the reviews of listening parties held by Kanye and Jay. I was trying to bring that vibe to New Orleans. My twin sister initially presented me with the idea and I was all in.

Renaissance is a French word meaning "rebirth." It refers to a period in European civilization marked by a revival of Classical learning and wisdom. The Renaissance is traditionally divided into three major phases: Early, High, and Late. This makes me curious if Beyoncé will use this process with her follow-up music on Renaissance. This latest album comes at a precarious time in culture. Modern society has to deal with the R-word, Global Pandemics, Crime, and Movements for Black/ Brown Rights, Women, Gays, Transgendered, Older, and Disabled people.

Renaissance is giving unapologetic Beyoncé. Grown woman music channeling empowerment, grief, acceptance, relationships, pop culture, and other hot topics. It’s a Masterpiece! We are a part of the 2022 Rhythm Nation.

Some tracks make me wanna get that dress out the back of the closet and 'Get me bodied.' Pull up on a party, my husband, my job. Give them all ‘KODAK ENERGY’.

Overall, I heard the voice of 'PRIDE' on this album. I will give y’all my favorite tracks, but a few songs are giving Saturday Night Fever, Dance & Techno beats. I can see us dancing the night away in Republic , Tapout Friday at Don Villavaso on the Bayou or a Midnight Brunch at Ciao. That's the way the world should be.

It amazes me how much Beyoncé has accomplished and her undeniable influence on culture, yet people are still CRYING; it’s not that GREAT. Those are typically the first people at her shows throwing salt at her performance. 

I am claiming ‘ I am that Girl' as my favorite, but keep reading to get all the juice. Favorite verse ‘I be beatin' down the block, knockin' Basquiats off the wall-all’. Very unconventional language but this is America. In this day and age, what does it really mean to be American? I guess we have to define it for ourselves and stop thinking everything is Un-American if it doesn’t fit in our box. I have a problem with people trying to box others in. They say ‘You are a wife you shouldn’t hang out on weeknights’ etc. I wonder if those people realize they are only stifling their own performance by not fully realizing all life has to offer. Don’t sweat the technique, though! You can be a wife, mom, business woman and influencer of whatever your choice. Basically, you can have it all.

Renaissance has Romantic Songs. Warning, the Dangerously in Love era has ended. I guess you can call this the new Dangerously in Love Era.

Cuff it is a vibe that puts me in the mood to hang out with my girls and pour up then roll up on my man. We had enough of those 'Me Myself & I ballads.' We deserve feel-good music. 

Plastic Off The Sofa, Not on the sofa but off. I love this song so much. It's the perfect ballad for a renaissance woman singing to a renaissance man. 

Summer Renaissance is, am convinced a love song. In some sick way, she is singing to her lover. I love the last part of the song when she mentions all of the luxury brands then throws in This Telfar bag imported, Birkins are out of style. In case you missed it, Telfar is a Black Owned luxury designer.

Women's Anthems on Renaissance: 

Cozy will fool you with the title but keep listening, 'Might I suggest you don’t mess with my sis'? Line of the century; ya heard me! YES! I have my ‘Day Ones’, Nikki, Rhonda, Dawn, and Shawn. Shan is also my round. I had to learn the difference between 'Friends' and 'Friendships.' Loyalty means EVERYTHING in Friendship. Loyalty and Friendship like bread & crust or champagne and sparkle.

Break My Soul, what more can we say about Beyoncé and Big Freedia teaming up on this song? This is probably the BEST track on the album. Of course, the artist on the track is from New Orleans. Here’s some tea, is Freedia channeling Beyoncé on her new IG profile pic? Just asking.

Church Girl, pays tribute to New Orleans culture. You know the songs with ‘Drop it like it’s hot’ ,Bounce dat’ ,‘Twerk dat’ music. It’s the New Orleans bounce 'fa' me!

Alien Superstar is probably the sleeper on the album and the HOTTEST. If you liked this song when you first heard it, you are a true music lover. This song has dope verses and beats. I love this verse. ‘Don’t try to compete with me’. That is a perfect statement for a Unicorn. 

Virgo’s Grove, I don’t know any Virgo women. If I were a VIRGO, this would be my theme song.

MOVE out the way I am with my girls, and they all need space. Sounds like a BEEF song to me. Yes, you are 'The Queen of Culture.’

HEATED is for them, HATERS. Cool it on down. ‘A whole lot of reservations for sure; playing victim and villain at the same time’. ‘I am just as PETTY as you are’. This cut is really for those slick haters. Drinking my water, minding my biz has to be the messiest line ever. When I see it, I know you are not minding your business. My thing is, mind ya business and drink ya champagne. 

THICKE, WHEW CHILE, YES. This is for my foodies and girls with meat on their bones and are unapologetic about that. ‘Champagne and cherry, that’s that ball drop’. I am praying for a Renaissance tour with Live Nation soon. The music industry needed this REBIRTH, if you will. Yes, we still need albums with good music.

I hope you all enjoyed my review of the Renaissance album.