Fans were shocked to see Beyoncé joining TikTok, but they’re a bit suspicious it’s just for album promotion.
As if we needed another reason to join TikTok! In July 2022, six years after the platform was officially launched, Beyoncé graced fans with her first-ever post on the video hosting service.
She joined the platform ahead of the release of her highly anticipated 2022 album Renaissance, which is her first since 2016’s Lemonade.
In addition to posting a video in support of the first track off her new album, ‘Break My Soul’, Beyoncé had another surprise for fans on the platform: users now have access to Beyoncé’s entire music catalog to use as audio, or “sounds” in content they create on the platform.
Just hours after joining TikTok, Beyoncé already attracted millions of followers. As of July 2022, she has 3.8 million followers. She has since posted another video in support of Renaissance, and fans expect that Queen B will only post more in the lead-up to the album release!
What Was Beyoncé’s First TikTok Video?
Rolling Stone reports that Beyoncé posted a video to the platform that featured a variety of creators who had posted videos dancing to her single ‘Break My Soul’, from her upcoming album Renaissance.
One of the TikTok users featured in the video said that they were on their way to quit their job after being inspired by the song’s lyrics. Another was an American Sign Language creator, and the video also included guest appearances from Shangela, of Drag Race fame, and Cardi B.
Queen B blessed fans by captioning the video with a personal sign-off: “Seeing y’all release the wiggle made me so happy! Thank you so much for all the love for BREAK MY SOUL!”
Beyoncé also credited every creator featured in the video, tagging them in the comments.
When Is Beyoncé Releasing Her New Album?
According to Elle, the album will be available for streaming on July 29, but the exact time is still unknown. Fans can listen to Renaissance on Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify.
Though the album is yet to be released, there are already several reports floating around the internet sharing important details. Sources report that the album will feature 16 tracks and be a multi-part album rather than a standalone. On July 20, Beyoncé shared the full track list via her Instagram story.
She also shared some of her inspiration, writing in an Instagram caption, “Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world.”
The Houston-born singer added that her intention in making the album was “to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom.”
In terms of the musical styles, reports suggest that fans can expect a blend of hip-hop, R&B, and as evidenced by ‘Break My Soul’, disco and house music.
Writer EIC Edward Enniful, who did have a chance to hear the album, had an excitingly positive reaction, claiming (via Elle) that the music makes listeners “want to get up and start throwing moves.” The songs were further explained as “music that will unite so many on the dance floor” and “music that touches your soul”.
The album will also reportedly feature songwriting credits from Ryan Tedder, who wrote one of Beyoncé’s iconic hits ‘Halo’, from her 2008 album I Am … Sasha Fierce
Why Is Beyoncé’s New Song Causing Controversy?
Though ‘Break My Soul’ has been mostly positively received by fans, it is causing controversy with critics who are analyzing the song’s political message.
With lyrics like, “Now, I just fell in love/And I just quit my job/I’m gonna find new drive/Damn, they work me so damn hard/Work by nine, then off past five/And they work my nerves/That’s why I cannot sleep at night”, ‘Break My Soul’ has been dubbed an anti-capitalist anthem.
But critics like Skylar Baker-Jordan, writing for the Independent, believe the song isn’t anti-capitalist.
“‘Break My Soul’ is a fantastic song but the woman who grew up wealthy and once received $2 million to perform for Gaddafi isn’t an icon for overcoming working-class oppression,” Baker-Jordan claims, adding that with a net worth of $440 million, if someone broke Beyoncé’s soul, “she could probably afford to buy a new one.”
In his article, Baker-Jordan argues that being able to quit your job is a privilege that is not afforded to everybody, so fixing an economic system that supports inequality can’t just be about resigning from your job.
“Individual action might make me feel better or you feel better, but it does nothing to help the most oppressed workers in our economy,” he writes.
“So, by all means quit your job if you’re miserable. Life is too short. But understand that this is a personal, not a political, act — and that only by joining hands with your fellow workers to demand a just economic settlement will you help effect real change. Resigning isn’t enough. We need a revolution.”
