This album manages to be both 'standing on the shoulder of giants' and 'sending the elevator back down'. In other words, the album is full of references to iconic cultural moments, as well as the work of new artists.
This post is about some of the samples used to create Lemonade, as listed by this Twitter account that doesn't have a name.
"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."
– attributed to Sir Isaac Newton
If you’re lucky enough to do well, it’s your responsibility to send the elevator back down.
– Kevin Spacey
This is the most kickass one of all... Beyoncé sampled the sounds of Venus in the LEMONADE trailers. LAYERS!! pic.twitter.com/61goRWHbL7
— ️️ (@stopshootingus) 10 January 2017
Nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance
1. Can't Get Used To Loving You // Andy Williams
— ️️ (@stopshootingus) 10 January 2017
- Sampled in the GRAMMY nominated Hold Up
- Was a #2 hit in 1963 pic.twitter.com/esXm1KUpHV
2. Maps // Yeah Yeah Yeahs
— ️️ (@stopshootingus) 10 January 2017
- Sampled in Hold Up
- Ezra Koeing built the refrain on this part
- Was a Hot 100 hit in 2004 pic.twitter.com/WEPhIVoWHq
3. Turn My Swag On // @souljaboy
— ️️ (@stopshootingus) 10 January 2017
- sampled in the outro of Hold Up
- a classic JAM
- was a top 20 hit in 2009 pic.twitter.com/TjxnX1QUaD
Nominated for Best Rock Performance
4. When the Levee Breaks // Led Zepplin
— ️️ (@stopshootingus) 10 January 2017
- sampled in Don't Hurt Yourself
- they should perform this live together
- 1929 / 1971 pic.twitter.com/ytZUKZXdY4
Led Zepplin reworked the original 1929 song by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie which was about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.
— ️️ (@stopshootingus) 10 January 2017
This is especially interesting given LEMONADE's relationship to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath in New Orleans.
— ️️ (@stopshootingus) 10 January 2017
5. My Girls // Animal Collective
— ️️ (@stopshootingus) 10 January 2017
- not a direct sample but they're credited because the lyrics are similar
- bridge of 6 Inch
- 2009 pic.twitter.com/nLNpKXXTAd
6. Walk On By // Isaac Hayes
— ️️ (@stopshootingus) 10 January 2017
- sampled instrumental for 6 Inch
- a 12 min cover of the Dionne Warwick original
- a top 40 hit in 1969 pic.twitter.com/DnDRevuweh
Nominated for Best Rap/Sung Performance
7. Let Me Try // Kaleidoscope
— ️️ (@stopshootingus) 10 January 2017
- sampled in Freedom
- a Puerto Rican psych rock band
- late 1960s pic.twitter.com/BmbZHooJoR
8. Untitled Collection Hymn/Sermon
— ️️ (@stopshootingus) 10 January 2017
- from 1959 field recordings at Memphis' Great Harvest Missionary Baptist Church
- sampled in Freedom pic.twitter.com/SLrnE3T8gr
9. Stewball // Prisoner 22
— ️️ (@stopshootingus) 10 January 2017
- sampled in Freedom
- a 1947 recording at Mississippi State Penitentiary
- a Negro prison song pic.twitter.com/wc6gHF7Jz3
10. SpottieOttieDopaliscious // OutKast
— ️️ (@stopshootingus) 10 January 2017
- sampled in All Night and Flawless Remix
- a BOP
- 1998 pic.twitter.com/otBnUg1n3U
Formation is then nominated for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year & Best Music Video
And Lemonade for Album Of The Year, Best Urban Contemporary Album & Best Music Film