Beyoncé kept fans on their toes for years following the release of "Lemonade" in 2016, and our patience was finally rewarded. After releasing her song "Be Alive" for the "King Richard" soundtrack, Beyoncé released her seventh studio album, Renaissance on July 29.
"With all the isolation and injustice over the past year, I think we are all ready to escape, travel, love, and laugh again," she told Harper's Bazaar on Aug. 10, 2021, as fans patiently awaited the new album. "I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible. I've been in the studio for a year and a half."
At the 2022 Oscars, Beyoncé performed "Be Alive" with Blue Ivy by her side on the same tennis court that Serena Williams and Venus Williams trained at in their youth.
The album includes hits like "Break My Soul," "I'm That Girl," and "Cuff It." In an Instagram post revealing the album art on June 30, Beyoncé explained that the album was a deeply personal project that she's proud to share with her fans.
"Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving," she wrote. "My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration. I hope you find joy in this music. I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are."
