Background

Stans have criticised Beyonce for employing a long list of writers and producers to create her records. But while many artists can utilise the same tactic, only she has delivered “Summer Renaissance”.

“Summer Renaissance” is the closing track of Beyonce’s seventh studio album, Renaissance, released on July 2022. The song heavily samples and interpolates the 1977 disco classic “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer.

The writing credits are long on this one, with ten core contributors (Beyoncé, Denisia “Blu June” Andrews, Brittany “@Chi_Coney” Coney, Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant, Mike Dean, Leven Kali, Atia Boggs p/k/a INK, Levar Coppin, Saliou Diagne, and Ricky Lawson) and three additional ones due to the sample and interpolation (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, and Peter Bellotte). The track was produced by Beyonce, NOVA WAV (Denisia Andrews and Brittany Coney), and Mike Dean, with Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant, Leven Kali and Sol Was also receiving co-producing credits.

The Rebirth of Donna

Even though the legendary Donna Summer has left this world, I am certain she would have given her stamp of approval to “Summer Renaissance”. She is celebrating and innovating on music founded by artists such as Donna.

The song title is itself a tribute, and that flew over my head. “Summer” refers to the disco diva’s last name, and Beyonce is paving the way for the rebirth of the genre. Beyonce is clearly influenced by Donna’s work, as this is Beyonce’s second go at a sample, after “Naughty Girl” borrowed music from “Love to Love You”.

Five decades after its release, “I Feel Love” still plays often in bars and clubs, straight or otherwise. Artists through the years have covered the song, the most memorable in my head being versions of Vanessa Mae and Sam Smith. An overexposure to the source material is a logical conclusion. But infatuation was never scientific and I still got enchanted with “Summer Renaissance”. The sample played a big role in transporting me to an adult playground and putting me in a state of trance. Its magic hasn’t wore off and probably never will.

Homage to Dance Music, the Ballroom Scene, and Black Culture

Like all the other songs on Renaissance, the track is a tribute to his Uncle Jonny, who introduced Beyonce to ballroom music and received an explicit shoutout in “Heated“. The appreciation also extends to Donna Summer, whose role in the track and dance music needs no further explanation.

But the more I dig deep into the references, the more I appreciate how much reverence Beyonce has given to the people who paved the path for her, as well as the communities she represents. She’s unapologetically embracing her roots and heritage and is proudly displaying them.

• Take the use of a b*tch track, a concept I now understand as spoken-word diva vocals or repetitive, sharp ad-libs, meant for vogueing battles and solo showcases. The outro is a prime example of a lesson I just digested and will never forget.
• Houses play a major role in the ballroom scene. The different groups compete based on themes such as luxury brands. Beyonce proclaims that she herself is a brand and that the category is Bey. That is one power move that gets 10s across the board!
• She also decided to ditch the Birkins made by fashion brand Hermes, and shifted to contemporary Black-owned brand Telfar. There’s not enough diversity in mainstream pop and I’m happy Beyonce is helping bring that in through her art.

Unapologetically Dominant

Traditional gender roles for heterosexual relationships are not just reversed in “Summer Renaissance”. They are taken to the extreme. She’s dominating him and flexing her power. She’s housing her husband, making him tat his ring, touching him, and had him walking with a limp.

Those provocative visuals might seem exaggerated at first listen. They even sound like fantasies. But before I dismiss the imagery as fiction, the artist in discussion is Beyonce. She’s the most awarded person in Grammy history, and argued by some as the greatest pop star of this generation. If she’s able to reign over music, then she would have little in her way to own a man.

Conclusion

Beyonce took me all the way. It’s so good, it’s so good, it’s so gooood! Applause, a round of applause.

There were many ways that her tribute and sample could have gone wrong. But she brought one of the dance genre’s classics and made another classic in the process.