"Texas Hold 'Em" (stylized in uppercase) is a song by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé. It was surprise released on February 11, 2024, through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records, as the co-lead single alongside "16 Carriages" from her upcoming eighth studio album, currently under the tentative title Renaissance Act II.
Background and release[]
Titled after the poker game, "Texas Hold 'Em" was teased by Beyoncé after she hinted that she would be releasing new music through her Super Bowl LVIII commercial for Verizon. The song is an uptempo country pop and Western music tune featuring elements of folk and soul. Music critics praised "Texas Hold 'Em" for its playful tone and Beyoncé's vocal performance.
Her appearance was teased by the company in the days leading up to the Super Bowl with teaser trailers referencing her sixth and seventh studio albums, Lemonade (2016) and Renaissance (2022).[1][2] At the end of the commercial, which sees the singer attempt to "break the Internet" in various ways, Beyoncé says, "Okay, they ready. Drop the new music," leading to media speculation of the second act of her seventh studio album Renaissance.
Beyoncé then took to her Instagram account and announced her eighth studio album, tentatively titled Act II, with a release date of March 29, 2024, through a teaser of an unidentified woman starting up a car with a license plate that read "Texas Hold 'Em".[3] As she drives through an empty road, she passes by a group of men staring at a Billboard with the same slogan as the license plate featuring a cutout of Beyoncé in a seductive pose.[4] As the Super Bowl continued, she released two lead singles from Act II to streaming services and digital download: "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages".[5]
Lyrics[]
[Chorus]
This ain't Texas (Woo)
Ain't no hold 'em (Hey)
So lay your cards down, down, down, down
So park your Lexus (Woo)
And throw your keys up (Hey)
Stick around, 'round, 'round, 'round, 'round (Stick around)
And I'll be damned if I can't slow-dance with you
Come pour some sugar on me, honey too
It's a real-life boogie and a real-life hoedown
Don't be a bitch, come take it to the floor now, woo, ha (Woo)
[Verse 1]
There's a tornado (There's a tornado)
In my city (In my city)
Hit the basement (Hit the basement)
That shit ain't pretty (That shit ain't pretty)
Rugged whiskey (Rugged whiskey)
'Cause we survivin' ('Cause we survivin')
Off red-cup kisses, sweet redemption, passin' time, yeah
[Pre-Chorus]
Ooh, one step to the right
We headed to the dive bar we always thought was nice
Ooh, run me to the left
Then spin me in the middle, boy, I can't read your mind
[Chorus]
This ain't Texas (Woo)
Ain't no hold 'em (Hey)
So lay your cards down, down, down, down
So park your Lexus (Woo)
And throw your keys up (Hey)
And stick around, 'round, 'round, 'round, 'round (Stick around)
And I'll be damned if I can't slow-dance with you
Come pour some sugar on me, honey too
It's a real-life boogie and a real-life hoedown
Don't be a bitch, come take it to the floor now, woo
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 bitch, come take it to the floor now, woo
[Post-Chorus]
Woo-hoo
Woo-hoo
Woo-hoo
[Verse 2]
There's a heatwave (There's a heatwave)
Comin' at us (Comin' at us)
Too hot to think straight (Too hot to think straight)
Too cold to panic (Cold to panic)
All of the problems
Just feel dramatic (Just feel dramatic)
And now we're runnin' to the first bar that we find, yeah
[Pre-Chorus]
Ooh, one step to the right
We headed to the dive bar we always thought was nice
Ooh, you run to the left
Just work me in the middle boy, I can't read your mind
[Chorus]
This ain't Texas (Woo)
Ain't no hold 'em (Hey)
So lay your cards down, down, down, down, oh
So park your Lexus (Hey)
And throw your keys up (Hey)
And stick around,' round, 'round, 'round, 'round (Stick around)
And I'll be damned if I cannot dance with you
Come pour some sugar on me, honey too
It's a real-life boogie and a real-life hoedown
Don't be a bitch, come take it to the floor now (Woo)
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—, come take it to the floor now, ooh
[Outro]
Take it to the floor now, ooh
Hoops, spurs, boots
To the floor now, ooh
Tuck, back, oops (Ooh, ooh, ooh)
Shoot
Come take it to the floor now, ooh
And I'll be damned if I cannot dance with you
Baby, pour that sugar and liquor on me, too
Furs, spurs, boots
Solargenic, photogenic, shoot
Critical reception[]
"Texas Hold 'Em" received acclaim from music critics.[6] Beaumont-Thomas admired the rooted and "authentically country" vocal and instrumental arrangements, as well as how Giddens’ inclusion on the song highlighted her work to deepen audience's understanding of the origins of American music.[7] Craig Jenkins for Vulture praised how "thornily" the song "plays dealer with a stack of country clichés like wisdom earned in card games and dive bars but pumps them full of lyrics that would make a Grand Ole Opry audience sweat."[8]
Writing for Consequence, Mary Siroky proclaimed "Texas Hold 'Em" as her early song of the summer while lauding Beyoncé's "inimitable" vocal performance.[9] Pitchfork's Nadine Smith appreciated how the song brought the "parallel worlds" of country and soul music together through its collaborators, but criticized Beyoncé's attempts at "9-to-5 relatability" and "car commercial"-esque production. Will Hodgkinson of The Times wrote that the track "sure is fine", praising the "ultra-catchy melody" and describing it as a soon-to-be wedding classic.[10]
Chris Richards of The Washington Post found "16 Carriage" and "Texas Hold 'Em" were released as a pair "because neither could stand on its own", found the two songs with less impact than the previous lead singles "Formation" or "Break My Soul". The writer wrote that both the songs "feel dull, dry, unimaginative, unnecessary, unconfident and uncool."[11]
Controversy[]
Country radio station reaction[]
After the publication of the lead singles "Texas Hold ‘Em" and "16 Carriages", they were sent to U.S. pop, Hot AC, rhythmic, urban AC and country radio stations. In the two songs’ first 24 hours of release 8 out of 150 radio stations considered for Billboard Country Airplay Chart played "Texas Hold ‘Em" while no one played "16 Carriages".[12]
On February 13, 2024 a listener requested Oklahoma S.C.O.R.E. country station KYKC play "Texas Hold 'Em". The general manager Roger Harris replied, writing, "We do not play Beyoncé on KYKC as we are a country music station."[13] The answer went viral and caused a stir on social media against country music stations, leading Beyoncé's fans to flood the radio station with requests to play the song and started trending on X/Twitter with #Beyonceiscountry.[14][15][16] After adding the song to radio rotation, a representative from S.C.O.R.E. responded to racism and boycott accusations against the singer's music with a statement: "We are a small market station. We're not in a position to break an artist or help it that much, so it has to chart a little bit higher for us to add it. But we love Beyoncé here. We play her on our [other top 40 and adult hits stations] but we're not playing her on our country station yet because it just came out."[17]
Variety reported that Sony Music, owner of Columbia Records that holds a contract with Beyoncé's company Parkwood Entertainment, "did not immediately respond to requests for comment about any plans to promote the song at country radio", as of IHeartRadio e Cumulus Media.[18] After the media attention, CMT added "Texas Hold 'Em" to its branded streaming stations.[19] In the afternoon of the same day, after the impact on social media, Billboard confirmed that Columbia officially sent the song to country radio stations, pointing out that country stations generally do not broadcast songs not supported by the labels.[20]
Release history[]
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various | February 11, 2024 | Digital download, streaming | Parkwood, Columbia |
| United States | February 13, 2024 | Contemporary hit radio | Columbia |
| Country radio | |||
| Rhythmic contemporary radio | |||
| Italy | February 23, 2024 | Radio airplay | Sony Italy |
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ "The Beyhive was right: Verizon's cryptic teasers led to a Beyoncé Super Bowl ad"
- ↑ "Verizon Seemingly Confirms Beyoncé Starring In Super Bowl Ad — Here's What We Know"
- ↑ "Beyoncé Drops 2 New Songs, Unveils 'Act II' Release Date: Here's When It Arrives"
- ↑ "Beyoncé Drops 2 New Songs, Unveils 'Act II' Release Date: Here's When It Arrives"
- ↑ "Beyoncé Surprise Drops New Songs "Texas Hold 'Em" & "16 Carriages" Following Super Bowl Commercial"
- ↑ "Beyoncé: Texas Hold 'Em/16 Carriages review — the star goes country"
- ↑ "Beyoncé: Texas Hold 'Em and 16 Carriages review – country gets brilliantly Beyoncéfied"
- ↑ "Beyoncé's New Country Songs Are Plain Ol' Fun"
- ↑ "Beyoncé's Country Era Starts Strong with Two Songs: Review"
- ↑ "Beyoncé: Texas Hold 'Em/16 Carriages review — the star goes country"
- ↑ "Beyoncé goes country? Might be a wrong turn"
- ↑ "Country Radio Has Been Slow to Play Beyoncé's New Music, But That Doesn't Mean It Won't"
- ↑ "Country radio station plays new Beyoncé songs after fan outcry"
- ↑ "A radio station is now playing Beyoncé's country song after an outcry from fans"
- ↑ "Oklahoma country station won't play new Beyoncé song — here's why"
- ↑ "Beyoncé fans launch campaign to get new singles on country radio"
- ↑ "Oklahoma country station explains why it turned down a fan's Beyoncé song request"
- ↑ "Will Country Radio Play Beyoncé's New Songs? A Superstar's Surprise Move Will Put Old Rules to the Test"
- ↑ "Country Radio Has Been Slow to Play Beyoncé's New Music, But That Doesn't Mean It Won't"
- ↑ "Country Radio Has Been Slow to Play Beyoncé's New Music, But That Doesn't Mean It Won't"