Perspective: How Beyoncé’s cover of 'Before I Let Go' preserves and pioneers black culture
Beyoncé in a scene from her documentary “Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé.” By Brandon Tensley Brandon Tensley is the associate editor at New America, a host of Slate's"Outward" podcast and a writer. April 21 at 8:00 AM “A classic in its own right.” “Changed the game.” “Flawless.” That is just some of the effusive enthusiasm that greeted Beyoncé’s cover of “Before I Let Go.
Understanding the resonance of Beyoncé’s version of “Before I Let Go” requires looking at why the original is so significant. Released in 1981 by the soul band Frankie Beverly & Maze, the song quickly became a black cultural touchstone. Its lyrics agonize over a relationship that is on the verge of ending: “We were so close, our love was strong/ I can’t understand it, where did we go wrong?” Beverly sings.
True to form, Beyoncé’s spin on the song transcends mere duplication. For one thing, her version has been repurposed with the rhythms of a pep rally . After we hear the cheers of the crowd, the horns, hand claps and high-hats kick in — it feels like halftime on game day at one of the historically black colleges and universities that took center stage in the pop star’s musical odyssey last year.
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