BEY
“It's not the diamonds
It's not the pearls
I'm that girl (I'm that girl)
It's just that I'm that girl (I'm that girl)
It's not my man (Ooh)
It's not my stance (Ooh)
I'm that girl (I'm that girl)
It's just that I'm that girl”
“I’M THAT GIRL”, Beyoncé (2022)
With Beyoncé’s film “RENAISSANCE: A Film by Beyoncé” premiering this weekend, it felt like no better time to talk about the album ‘Renaissance’ and my relationship with the amazing artist herself. I considered discussing my earliest remembrance of Bey, but I think there are three better stories to share about my experience with the famed artist.
“Bet you you'll see far
Bet you you'll see stars
Bet you you'll elevate
Bet you you'll meet God
'Cause I feel like fallin' in love
I'm in the mood to fuck somethin' up
We gon' fuck up the night”
“CUFF IT”, Beyoncé (2022)
Back in summer 2003, I was out with my cousins, older brother and my beloved Aunt Kem. We were driving around some part of the greater Dallas-Forth Worth area while we sat illegally in the trunk of her full truck. We were singing along as we descended to some festival miles away from her Mesquite residence at the time. The windows rolled down, laughter filled the car and there wasn’t a care in the world for 9-year old Corliss. Happiness was the only feeling seeping from my pores—and the sweat of Texas heat. The radio suddenly went silent and the host announced that Beyoncé’s debut single ‘Crazy in Love’ had just gone #1 on the Billboard Hot 100! We roared with excitement for Bey! My aunt immediately turned the radio to what I’d imagine was an illegal decibel level as Bey’s song played over and over and over. We all sang along to the catchy, fiery hit while driving to our destination. I believe the radio may have played the song 7-9 times in a row. It was intoxicating by the end of the ride, but me, my older brother and cousins were covered in bliss. I could barely balance myself due to the partial shattering of my eardrums but who gives a damn. It’s Beyoncé, right?
“Nobody can judge me but me (Ooh)
I was born free (Ooh, ooh)”
“CHURCH GIRL”, Beyoncé (2022)
Back in spring 2008, one of my cousins had graduated from high school, and my aunt/uncle threw this incredible celebration for her. My aunt and uncle are known for throwing great parties and this was no different. All of my cousins beautiful girl friend’s attended and teenage me was in enamored by all of the radiating women. At some point of that night, my aunt inexplicably turned on the DVD of one of Beyoncé’s tours—I believe The Beyoncé Experience. Suddenly and almost simultaneously, everyone in the house turned their heads and just started spectating the ongoing tour. The music was blasting through the surround-sound speakers, and we celebrated the ceremony into the wee hours of the morning. It was incredible to watch as a teenager. I couldn’t fully comprehend the magnetism of an artist like that. I was sleepy, full of food, possibly tipsy and bewildered but who gives a damn. It’s Beyoncé, right?
“We ain't got time like we used to
But we still shine like we used to
And we still grind like we used to
And we cut ties when we need to
But I need more you on me and me on you, oh”
“VIRGOS GROOVE”, Beyoncé (2022)
Back in summer 2018, I was fortunate enough to buy me, my younger sister and ex-girlfriend-who-shall-not-be-named tickets to On The Run II. It was Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s magical couples tour together. We drove to the metro and rode the train to the lousy FedEx Field. The feeling of Beyoncé’s performance was palpable. There was almost this spirit hovering over the stadium as thousands of fans slowly walked in and sat. During some part of the performance, me and my ex-girlfriend got into a heated argument over some frivolous matter. In the heat of this moment we had somehow lost my sister! Now my sister was 22-years old at this point, so we weren’t too worried, but she hadn’t answered her phone for maybe 20-30 minutes. Eventually she calls us, after we spent several moments panicking, telling us she was on the floor!? We had no idea how she had even gotten there. Somehow she had caught the eye of a security guard, and he had given her a wristband to enter the floor. Now, I’m sure most of you are familiar with Beyoncé concert floor prices; but, for anyone that’s not: floor seats for this show were around $1,100 at minimum. My sister had gotten it essentially for free! We ran down to the floor because I was concerned for her safety. She ended up getting us on the floor as well, and we got to see Bey perform up close and personal. The experience was so intimate despite her domineering presence. She danced around the stage while singing at the top of her lungs. The experience felt out-of-body at moments. It’s hard to comprehend or fathom an artist of this magnitude being in front of you. It was amazing! We could have been kicked out or banned from FedEx Field but who gives a damn. It’s Beyoncé, right?
“Find me, I don't need to call him
I don't need no phone, yeah
I don't need to fall, yeah
You know me, I'm vibin'
You and me's a vibe, yeah
Always catchin' vibe, eh
Give me a little fire
Give me a little flame, yeah
Give me a relight and wine
I don't want to contemplate”
“MOVE”, Beyoncé (2022)
RENAISSANCE! Growing up, I can admit I wasn’t the biggest Beyoncé fan. I never quite felt like the targeted audience oddly enough. Despite mentioning a fraction of my experiences with her above, I just hadn’t grown an attachment to her music until ‘Renaissance’. This album sold me from the first listen. It’s a modern take on the 1970’s Black dance era of music with a mixture of pop, disco, house and R&B of course. It’s able to merge these sounds and accompany them with incredible song topics to make—what I would argue—the greatest album of the 2020’s thus far. What makes this album even more tantalizing is its ability to blend songs together into these seamless transitions resulting in almost one singular cohesive thought. It immerses you into this night of endless partying filled with highs, lows, highs and finally a euphoric conclusion. It’s amazing, and I’m sure everyone reading this has heard it.
“Bad bitches to the left
Money bitches to the right
You can be both, meet in the middle, dance all night
Take it all off or just a little if you like, it's pure”
“PURE/HONEY”, Beyoncé (2022)
THE DRINK! AMC actually made a special drink in honor of “RENAISSANCE: A Film by Beyoncé”, and I thought it would be a cool way to celebrate the legendary artist while also giving you all something simple and delicious to make at home while you play her music in the background.
“I wanna crush you, I won't overanalyze
I'm gonna trust you even though we met tonight
But I'm gonna take you all the way
Baby, can I take you all the way?”
“SUMMER RENAISSANCE”, Beyoncé (2022)
AMC’s RENAISSANCE: A Film by Beyoncé Paloma (our interpretation)/party Paloma (our twist)
ingredients
AMC’s Paloma
1 1/2oz. mezcal (i used del maguey vida mezcal)
1oz. gin (i used the botanist)
1/2oz. lime juice, freshly squeezed
3oz. strawberry simple syrup
1oz. fresh grapefruit juice
ice
jalapeno, seedless/de-stemmed + sliced in shaker and mixed well
optional: sliced grapefruit for garnish
Party Paloma
1 1/2oz. mezcal (i used del maguey vida mezcal)
1oz. gin (i used the botanist)
1/2oz. lime juice, freshly squeezed
3oz. strawberry simple syrup
1oz. fresh grapefruit juice
ice
jalapeno, seedless/de-stemmed + sliced in shaker and mixed well
strawberry puree pass through
optional: sliced grapefruit/strawberry for garnish
Strawberry Simple Syrup
1c strawberries, sliced + de-stemmed
1c raw sugar
2 1/4c water
Helpful items:
cocktail shaker
measuring jigger
small whisk
small/medium strainer
medium sauce pot
long glass
measuring cups
blender
pairing knife
cutting board
recipe (strawberry simple syrup):
In a medium size pot, pour in sugar and set to medium-low. Allow sugar to slowly cook for 4-5 minutes then immediately add water. Continually whisk until sugar has fully dissolved in water. Turn off heat. Add strawberries into pot ensuring it is submerged as possible. Set pot away from heat and allow to cool for 30-35 minutes. Pour simple syrup into glass through a medium strainer into a measuring cup. Transfer from measuring cup into a container. Set strawberries aside.
recipe (AMC’s Paloma):
In a cocktail shaker, add ice, jalapeno, mezcal, gin, strawberry simple syrup, lime juice and grapefruit juice. Shake. Shake again. Shake one more time. Pour into long glass with a light amount of ice. Add sliced grapefruit for garnish. Enjoy!
recipe (party Paloma):
Blend leftover strawberries from Step 1 into a fine puree. Gently whisk from a small strainer into a long glass with a light amount of ice. 1/4 of glass should have strawberry puree. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, jalapeno, mezcal, gin, strawberry simple syrup, lime juice and grapefruit juice. Shake. Shake again. Shake one more time. Pour into long glass. Add sliced grapefruit/strawberry for garnish. Enjoy!
