Purple Lemonade: Prince & Beyoncé

EPISODE #35

It has been a period of musical loss and celebration. On the same week we lost Prince, the world was gifted Beyoncé’s Lemonade. Both artists contain multitudes of musical traditions, collaborators and themes that weave throughout their song. In the first half of the show, we break down Beyoncé’s “Hold Up,” an exemplary piece about Lemonade’s main theme of marital distress. But the song is not as simple as it may seem. Its compositional restraint suggests more complex ideas about love. Speaking of love, Prince may have published more songs on the subject than any other recording musician. In the second half of the show, we speak with scholar and Musiqology contributor Matthew Valnes about Prince’s musical legacy.

MORE

You can read Matthew Valnes’ article “When Doves Cry” over at Musiqology.

Also check out Behind The Linear Notes’ latest episode on the history of the Castrati featuring a clip from our episode on One Direction.

SONGS DISCUSSED

Beyoncé – Pray You Catch Me

Beyoncé – Freedom

Beyoncé – Formation

Beyoncé – Love Drought

Beyoncé – Sorry

Beyoncé – All Night

Beyoncé – Daddy Lessons

Beyoncé – Hold Up

Major Lazer & DJ Snake – Lean On

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps

Vampire Weekend – Obvious Bicycle

Beyoncé – Don’t Hurt Yourself

Prince – Musicology

Joshua Redman – How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore

Prince – How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore

Prince – When Doves Cry

Sly & The Family Stone – Thank You

Prince – Super Bowl Press Conference Performance

Marcus Miller – Jean Pierre (live at North Sea Jazz Festival)