Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s critically acclaimed visual album “Lemonade” is making a return with a new twist, just in time for its 10-year anniversary. Rockabye Baby, the world’s leading lullaby music brand, has taken on the task of transforming the Grammy-winning singer’s sixth studio album into a kid-friendly version. Set to be released on April 10, this lullaby project reimagines the entire album in a completely different way compared to previous releases. The songs will feature gentle sounds like bells and xylophones instead of Beyoncé’s vocals, as reported by Billboard.
This new rendition comes as the 12-track project celebrates its 10th anniversary. Beyoncé first introduced “Lemonade” on April 23, 2016, as a surprise release through her Parkwood Entertainment company and Columbia Records, accompanied by a visual film of the same name.
“We have to remember that before Beyoncé, albums used to come out on Tuesdays,” said Kinitra D. Brooks, scholar, professor, and editor of “The Lemonade Reader,” in an interview with USA TODAY. “Beyoncé really came forward with ‘Lemonade,’ dropping an album when it’s done and when she’s ready for it to be heard.”
The album blends music, poetry, and imagery to explore themes of love, betrayal, resilience, and Black identity. It has been widely praised for its emotional depth, genre-blending sound, and cultural impact, often being considered one of the most important albums of the 2010s.
“The Lemonade Reader,” edited by Brooks and Kameelah L. Martin, is an interdisciplinary collection that explores the nuances of the visual album.
“Lemonade was really the start of Beyoncé doing these meditations on genre, these meditations on the complexities of Blackness in America. And it opened her up for a more complex reading of her and her work,” she said. “She is very good at recognizing the coming zeitgeist and the waves of what will be necessary, important, and impactful in the culture. She’s able to magnify the conversations that are already being had.”
Rockabye Baby released the first single from the upcoming lullaby album in March, putting a new spin on Beyoncé’s “Hold Up.” The cover for the lullaby rendition features a teddy bear in a fur coat, in homage to Beyoncé’s original cover.
Previous lullaby album renditions have included versions of music by the Backstreet Boys, Ariana Grande, and Marvin Gaye.
