Texas Hold 'Em was the perfect lead. Sometimes I wonder if y'all just love to complain about literally everything she does. Texas Hold 'Em was her biggest hit since the Sasha era in most of Europe. It was everywhere. 

8 minutes ago, beyonceparkwood said:

Texas Hold 'Em was the perfect lead. Sometimes I wonder if y'all just love to complain about literally everything she does. Texas Hold 'Em was her biggest hit since the Sasha era in most of Europe. It was everywhere. 

While I know that sometimes the Hive complains too much, I do think the chat above about Texas is pretty healthy, fair, and balanced. 

 

Several things can be true at once. 

 

Texas factually was a huge hit and I literally unpack why above (so trust that I get it and get what you mean), but it being a huge hit doesn't discount the fact that their are other songs we're allowed to question whether would have also excelled in that first single slot or excelled simply by being pushed. It's all...ok lol. 

11 minutes ago, beyonceparkwood said:

Texas Hold 'Em was the perfect lead. Sometimes I wonder if y'all just love to complain about literally everything she does. Texas Hold 'Em was her biggest hit since the Sasha era in most of Europe. It was everywhere. 

.

23 minutes ago, beyonceparkwood said:

Texas Hold 'Em was the perfect lead. Sometimes I wonder if y'all just love to complain about literally everything she does. Texas Hold 'Em was her biggest hit since the Sasha era in most of Europe. It was everywhere. 

The girlies in here are showing clear signs of revisionism cause CHILE, Texas was everywhere when it came out and was such a HUGE success for her. Like what?

 

You mix her inability to sustain her hits, which I think is PURPOSEFULLY done on her part, with the potential and splash it made.

Texas was PERFECT as a lead single

12 minutes ago, Cbreezy said:

it being a huge hit doesn't discount the fact that their are other songs we're allowed to question whether would have also excelled in that first single slot or excelled simply by being pushed. It's all...ok lol. 

Maybe I should leave ATRL, because why would you want to waste your energy thinking about hypotheticals all the time?  None of the other songs would have done what Texas Hold 'Em did

16 minutes ago, Jay07 said:

I agree with Bodyguard or Tyrant as the lead and Levi's (with a push) as the second single.

 

15 minutes ago, AxelFox said:

Ya Ya is in my top 3 but I would have to agree with this. Texas was the perfect lead, Bodyguard should've been the follow up in late spring and then perhaps Tyrant for the summer. But oh well

Yes Bodyguard Hive!

 

The only caveat, I'd say, playing Devil's advocate, is that we now live in an era where post-album singles almost never do anything. 

 

It's a weird by-product of this streaming/immediate gratification era. Like, it's apparent with almost all artists, big and small. If a post-album single isn't already buzzy or outright viral, it's not going to do much. Especially not fulfill the potential its "obvious hit status" suggests. It's such a frustrating reality about the way masses consume music these days and the way music, as a result, is marketed. 

 

Look at any major release from any act of late. It usually goes: 1 big era launching single, MAYBE  1-2 promo/pre-order songs, and a single that "launches" the album or is simply the "focus track" on streaming. Because labels now wait to see what fans care for post-release, there's next to never videos ready to roll upon launch. Almost as if the thinking is, 'let's not hitch our ride to Song A when all the buzz is randomly around Song B".

 

The problem then is, when they finally pull their finger out and start pushing Song B (playlisting, radio, video), the organic hype has evaporated. It happens like clockwork with almost all acts nowadays. Ultimately, though, I think they all (labels, artists etc) don't care as much as we do, as the real win/bragging right is if the era has done enough to let them launch a successful tour, which is where the real $$$ is to be made. I've also been hearing that cumulative streams is the real metric labels care about. So, an "obvious smash" may peak at #34 (and thus not fulfil its chart potential), but if maxes out 500 million streams+, a label would be over the moon and it's considered a hit. 

 

In short, it's a changed time. Some aspects of which I'm here for (music not being as "chart-defined' anymore), others I'm not because I legit feel like with the right strategy it's possible to win on the charts and with long-term streams of the song too. All of which only benefits the artist's everything. More GP hits help chart stats, monthly listeners, which directly feeds the success of future releases, and...puts people in seats on tour to hear it all live.  

14 minutes ago, beyonceparkwood said:

Maybe I should leave ATRL, because why would you want to waste your energy thinking about hypotheticals all the time?  None of the other songs would have done what Texas Hold 'Em did

Iono about everyone else you're mentioning, but I actually am fine with how everything went with Texas. And, as Chart Hive, I loved the moment for her/us, even if I don't adore the song itself.

 

For the convo at hand though, I do find it a bit reductionist to keep referencing the fact that the song was a huge hit as some kind of indicator of quality or invalidating metric of pondering how another GP-pleasing song would have done in that slot or with a tweaked release strategy. 

 

We're in the midst of an era that definitely has its highs (AOTY, #1 hit single etc), but also an era that didn't yield much single-wise post-release, despite having several serviceable singles/songs that charted well out of the gate. I also don't hear Texas anywhere now, which IMO sees it not quite beating the novelty allegations.

 

And with CC not having the natural organic staying stint/virality as the entirety of Rennie, this is all actually a very relevant debate. As miore hits, with a possibly tweaked campaign (beyond the launch) maybe would have the album resonating a bit more (GP-speaking) now.

Edited May 16, 20251 yr by Cbreezy

WHO is styling this tour

 

The only reason I removed Texas as the debut single is because it's too polarizing just like BMS. Let's go back to her lead singles wanting to draw people into excitement for the album not push them away. But who could've guessed so many people would find it annoying after a couple weeks? It's not her fault every song on TikTok got banned except for hers sksksk

1 hour ago, alien superstore said:

WHO is styling this tour

 

Miss Tina, I heard. 

Her opening gold outfit last night.

 

 

1 hour ago, Fleahive said:

The only reason I removed Texas as the debut single is because it's too polarizing just like BMS. Let's go back to her lead singles wanting to draw people into excitement for the album not push them away. But who could've guessed so many people would find it annoying after a couple weeks? It's not her fault every song on TikTok got banned except for hers sksksk

The polarizing comment is fair, but let's not romanticize her old lead singles. The only lead single she's ever released to universal acclaim was Crazy in Love.

 

Deja Vu had a hate campaign and a video petition

Single Ladies was polarizing

Run the World underperformed

Drunk in Love was received really well but there was a big scandal about her newfound sexuality

Formation divided America

Apeshit peaked at 13

Spirit tanked like a brick

Edited May 16, 20251 yr by alien superstore

1 hour ago, BnPac said:

Miss Tina, I heard. 

well then let me be respectful 

When she adds Sweet dreams  to the setlist.

It's time to shift the budget from the dancers to the band. Especially for the act iii tour 

16 minutes ago, king_queen said:

It's time to shift the budget from the dancers to the band. Especially for the act iii tour 

!!. This is one my biggest criticism.

 

The instrumentals for this tour are rather unimaginative compared to her other tours. I am enjoying the show still, but other than Spaghetti and Yaya none of the CC performances have that "elevated" live-feel. They all sound just like the record

 

22 minutes ago, Havoc said:

!!. This is one my biggest criticism.

 

The instrumentals for this tour are rather unimaginative compared to her other tours. I am enjoying the show still, but other than Spaghetti and Yaya none of the CC performances have that "elevated" live-feel. They all sound just like the record

 

The band needs to be front and center during the Alligator Tears-Flamenco segment. At least a guitar… 

50 minutes ago, king_queen said:

It's time to shift the budget from the dancers to the band. Especially for the act iii tour 

Yes please. CC deserved a full live band at all times... what a missed opportunity and misread from bey. 


 

  

On 5/14/2025 at 11:45 PM, PrettyHurts said:

if you don't think bey releasing visuals for ren/cc would go viral then you're delusional. she is known for visuals and if they're any good, people will watch and share like crazy. it would probably help with streaming a lot too. did you guys forget how instrumental the videos for st and lemonade were? if the videos are put out at the right moment, they can be huge for her. 

Is this "right moment" in the room with us? No shade, genuinely curious what ya'll thoughts are? 

 

On 5/15/2025 at 1:25 AM, Jay07 said:

The visuals finally being released will definitely cause a splash, especially if they're good (and they will be) but I don't know how much they can help years old albums, especially if it's dense, hours long world building. The GP won't bother. Only of she cuts it up and releases single music videos but still, who will watch a new music video in 2026 for a song from 2022.

I agree with the part about the dense, hours-long world-building. 

----

 

I am really curious about the "visuals" aspect. So if we agree they will come after Act III, will it launch soon after? Will it be 1 film per album? Are we sure it will be videos for all songs? Is she approaching it like an actual movie with a plot? Which could mean a Netflix high-stakes release type thing. I really don't know what the path here is. 

Also, about the singles, they were perfect. We are basically upset about the other bangers not getting a chance to become hits, and we should be past expecting such promo. But I agree that bodyguard and Tyrant were mega smashes in the waiting. If it wasn't for Blackbird killing the album energy vibe at the start, the album songs couldn't done better, especially Bodyguard which comes early. Tyrant NEEDED a push cuz casuals would never reach that far in the project. We should remember casuals don't sit all the way through. They check out big respected names like B, but don't sit for 27 songs. Barely 4-5, maybe 7-8. Especially an album with so many moods. Renaissance countered this with its concept and transitions quite a bit

I have three other random thoughts (I have not structured my thoughts properly, but you can pick them up on the threads). 

1. We know B wants to prove herself as a filmmaker. I am sure that will be a goal behind this trilogy visuals - if there are any. I just hope its not like BIK and has a more concrete plot, actors and dialogue. I don't need every song to have a video if the goal is a movie. Tie it all together somehow. I am sure the approach will be "fun" as well. A lotta creativity to appreciate. 

2. The singles also showed this, but one of the themes through the two acts so far has been "healing", and we should remember that with whatever she might be up to. I also think the rock (and adjacent) act might not go as dark and hard (tho it should with our current politics - time for her own american idiot album) as the genre and politics might demand cuz she is a "healing" and uplifting girl at heart. Am curious for her take and approach. 

3. I did want to add that one thing is really in favor of act-III (rock), because every since people heard Renaissance, they became excited with the idea of B doing rock - especially casual listeners, etc. Country was a bit of an ehhhh for everyone before they heard the project. So I do believe that Act III will have a certain excitement for it based upon the genre that CC did not have (and renaissance did). 

 

 

Damn this whole trilogy thing requires patience tho. 

 

Also I hope we all are on the same page (more or less) that this is not some completely pre-planned master plan from B. She has ideas, she changes her mind and is figuring out a lot of it as she goes along. Which is normal tbh. 

Edited May 16, 20251 yr by Calypso

3 hours ago, alien superstore said:

WHO is styling this tour

 

She over spent on RWT costumes so now the budgets have to be budgeting for this tour! 

Why does @Teezy downvote everyone?! 

6 hours ago, Kristie Kuwa said:

The girlies in here are showing clear signs of revisionism cause CHILE, Texas was everywhere when it came out and was such a HUGE success for her. Like what?

 

You mix her inability to sustain her hits, which I think is PURPOSEFULLY done on her part, with the potential and splash it made.

Texas was PERFECT as a lead single

Why do you believe she purposefully doesn't try to sustain her hits?

56 minutes ago, Cbreezy said:

Why does @Teezy downvote everyone?! 

2 hours ago, Havoc said:

!!. This is one my biggest criticism.

 

The instrumentals for this tour are rather unimaginative compared to her other tours. I am enjoying the show still, but other than Spaghetti and Yaya none of the CC performances have that "elevated" live-feel. They all sound just like the record

 

1000%

This is my biggest issue with this tour. 

why tf is g.u.y. lurking in here lol.