Proletarians of the world, unite behind Beyoncé!
The billionaire singer’s new track, Break My Soul, calls for workers to “release your job” and “release your trade” as she rails against the 9-5.
She sings: “I just quit my job”, followed by: “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.”
Some listeners have called the idea of Beyoncé singing about working a 9-5 “disingenuous” while others have commended her “solidarity” with real working people – and celebrated her releasing an “anti-capitalist dance bop” for “burnt out millennials”.
It samples the 1990s club smash Show Me Love by Robin S.
Break My Soul sees the singer issue a rallying call, with guest vocalist Big Freedia rapping: “Release your anger, release your mind / Release your job, release the time / Release your trade, release the stress.”
Many fans joked on social media that the track – the first from Beyoncé's upcoming album Renaissance – was released to support the first day of the RMT rail strike action yesterday.
But others pointed out that in the first few hours of its release, the song was exclusively available on streaming service Tidal owned by Jay Z and Beyoncé.
We are all equal – but some are more equal than others.