Beyoncé’s latest release, Cowboy Carter, is making waves across the musical universe. Writer Santi Elijah Holley, in his review of the album for NPR Music, describes Cowboy Carter as “a far-reaching and phenomenal album, and arguably (no shade to Lemonade) Beyoncé’s most ambitious yet.”

Of the many far-reaching and ambitious aspects of Cowboy Carter is its use of covers, samples and interpolations. Ranging from the Beatles to Dolly Parton to a 1783 operatic composition “Caro Mio Ben,” the musical expression of Cowboy Carter is virtually unlimited. 

The scope of the music raises all kinds of interesting questions: How do Beyoncé fans feel about Cowboy Carter? For people who haven’t listened to much Beyoncé before, have they been curious to learn more, to listen to the album and find out what all the buzz is about? If someone wasn’t a fan before, are they feeling a bit Beyoncé-curious now given how big this is as a music story and a cultural phenomenon?

We can dig a bit into those questions buy celebrating some of the source material underpinning Beyoncé’s landmark album.

So for today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs that are sampled, covered or interpolated on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter do you want to hear?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

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Songs Played
The Beatles – Blackbird
Nancy Sinatra – These Boots are Made for Walking
The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations
Underworld – Born Slippy (Nuxx)
Son House – Grinnin' in Your Face
Sister Rosetta Tharpe – Down By The Riverside
Dolly Parton – Jolene