Culture

Beyoncé fans declare new house banger Break My Soul a “gay anthem”

By Sam Damshenas

21st June 2022

Beyoncé has finally made her comeback with the Big Freedia-assisted Break My Soul.

The first single from the star’s highly-anticipated seventh studio album Renaissance, Break My Soul is a thumping, 90-inspired house banger that heavily samples Robin S’ classic Show Me Love and Freedia’s bounce track Explode.

“Now, I just fell in love, and I just quit my job / I’m gonna find new drive, damn, they work me so damn hard / Work by nine, then off past five / And they work my nerves, that’s why I cannot sleep at night,” she sings on the track.

The anthem was produced by The-Dream and Tricky Stewart, who are also credited as writers alongside Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Big Freedia, BlaqNmilD and the original writers of Show Me Love, Fred McFarlane and Allen George.

Freedia, who previously collaborated with the icon on her 2016 single Formation, said it “feels surreal” to be on another track with Beyoncé and is “so honoured to be apart of this special moment”.

“I’m forever grateful lord,” she added, “someone please catch me”.

Break My Soul has been met with widespread praise from listeners, especially Beyoncé’s queer fans, who lauded the star for releasing a defiant floorfiller in the middle of Pride Month.

“Break My Soul is made for voguing, Beyoncé is saying Happy Pride Month with this one,” tweeted one fan. “The LGBTQI+ community is eating eating with the recent album releases.” 

Another wrote: “Beyoncé releasing BREAK MY SOUL during Pride month is honestly the greatest form of allyship I’ve ever seen.”

Check out the best responses below.

Renaissance is due for release 29 July. It marks Beyoncé’s first solo studio album since Lemonade, which won two Grammy Awards and has since been hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time.

You can listen to Break My Soul here or below.