This Ain't Texas

I'm not particularly in love with country music, though there are songs I like. And though I have loved and admired Beyonce since Destiny's Child was on the scene, my reactions to her song, Texas Hold 'Em, and especially to people dancing to it, surprise me.

My Reactions to Texas Hold 'Em

First, watch the beauty of this guy's choreography...
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Sometimes I tear up, or can't stop watching it, when I see dance challenge videos for this song.

​Now, I will admit that as an empath, it's not that unusual for music to make me cry, especially when I see people dancing and singing their hearts out. But this might be different.

Though it's hard to articulate, I think it has to do with breaking new ground, or reclaiming old ground. For example, I cried at the beginning of her Coachella documentary, Homecoming.
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After Beyoncé made history with her song “Texas Hold ‘Em” hitting No. 1 on Billboard’s country chart, making her the first Black female artist to ever hold the top spot, she set her eyes on reclaiming the country music genre in a perfectly executed history lesson on the Dark and Shady History of Country Music. - bingeworthy

Texas Hold 'Em: Take that!

​Yeah, that might be a motive, as he says in the video below. But I don't think that's what moves me, precisely.

I would say that it's more likely to be pride by association because she is standing up for herself in a big way, but maybe it feels like she's standing up for me, too.
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I doubt that she would use the word revenge, but she has said that Act II is partially a response to the way she was treated after her CMA performance of Daddy Lessons with The Chicks.

​Anyway, I do love the song, and in case you haven't heard it yet (but where have you been?), here it is...
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Sing Along with Texas Hold 'Em

(As I do, whenever I hear it!)
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Want to learn the dance? 

I'm sitting this one out. My body says,
"this ain't the 80s!" I do miss the old days, when after a decade of jazz dance classes, I probably could have done it.
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Learn the Texas Hold 'Em Dance

Did you try it?
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Final Thoughts

You know, I think, to me, this is an example of Beyonce using her celebrity for good. Because a lot more people will learn about country music's African/black roots than would have otherwise.

And though I realize that Tik Tok might be able to get people to dance to anything, I think it speaks to me of acceptance, when I see them dancing to Texas Hold 'Em.

What are your thoughts about or reactions to this phenomenon?

See you next time!

love, Jeanine
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