Lily Allen Ventures into Country Music Following Beyoncé’s New Direction
Lily Allen recently expressed interest in delving into the realm of country and western music, despite having previously criticized Beyoncé for heading in the same direction. During an interview with the Dish podcast, the British singer shared her thoughts on exploring new musical avenues while working on fresh material in Nashville, known as the country music capital of the world.
Speaking about her experiences in Nashville, Allen mentioned, “There’s so much legacy here. I have to say it’s quite intimidating being here. People are really talented.” Discussing her departure from her signature style, she explained, “I’m just making some space for some music to reveal itself. It’s not an album…it’s just, yeah. I’m just, you know, trying some stuff out to see if it works. I do love country and western music. And also, I feel like with my writing, it’s quite storytelling, sort of like narrative-led music.”
Allen elaborated on her connection to the genre, stating, “Because I don’t feel things, so it’s never about emotions. So yeah, and country and western music lends itself quite well.” She aims to experiment with her music and sees the potential of storytelling within a country music context.
Earlier, Allen had criticized Beyoncé’s recent record, ‘Cowboy Carter,’ specifically for covering Dolly Parton’s iconic track “Jolene.” Expressing her confusion over the choice, Allen remarked, “It’s very weird that you’d cover the most successful songs in that genre. I just feel like it’s quite an interesting thing to do when you’re trying to tackle a new genre, and you choose the biggest song in that genre to cover. I mean, you do you, Beyoncé – and she literally is doing her, but why is she doing Dolly?”
Axealia Banks swiftly responded to Allen’s comments, highlighting allegations of past racism and dismissing her critique of Beyoncé. Taking to Instagram Stories, Banks recounted a phone call from Allen years ago where she allegedly begged for forgiveness for making racist remarks. Banks emphasized Allen’s alleged past actions and suggested she should refrain from commenting on Beyoncé’s work.
As the music industry continues to evolve and artists explore new genres, both Lily Allen and Beyoncé have attracted attention for their musical transitions. The intersection of country music and pop icons like Beyoncé invites discussions on artistic expression, storytelling, and the boundaries of musical genres.
