Beyoncé has given her number one hit “Texas Hold ‘Em” a surprise remix that features not only new lyrics but a new sound.
Released on Wednesday (April 3), “Texas Hold ‘Em (Pony Up) Remix” sees Queen B give the country track a New Orleans bounce makeover with harder drums and a dance-friendly breakdown.
After calling “all my cowboys to the dancefloor,” Bey also delivers a new verse where she sings: “Woke up this mornin’, my heart keeps racin’/ Straight to the bottom, we all need salvation/ Need you to in this drought, take me downtown/ Gon’ leave the truck, whiskey, baby/ Let’s get weekend wasted.”
She also sing-raps on the track: “Pony up and salute your town/ Chasin’ our sins away, way brown/ And I’ll be damned if I cannot dance with you/ Baby, pour that sugar and liquor on me, too/ Furs, spurs, boots.”
Listen to the “Pony Up” remix below.
The original version of “Texas Hold ‘Em” previously topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, making Beyonce the first Black woman to ever reach number one on the chart.
The song, produced by Bey alongside Killah B and Nathan Ferraro and co-written by R&B legend Raphael Saadiq, also topped the Billboard Hot 100.
The album it appears on, Cowboy Carter, is also on track to top the charts with the project expected to move at least 400,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.
That figure would not only top her previous effort, 2022’s Renaissance which opened with 332,000 units, but would mark the largest sales tally this year so far.
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Despite Cowboy Carter‘s country leanings, Beyoncé recently thanked rock legend Jack White for inspiring her when making the album.
Earlier this week, the White Stripes star shared photographs of a bouquet and a thank you note from the former Destiny’s Child singer that reads: “I hope you are well. I just wanted you to know how much you inspired me on this record.”
In the caption of the Instagram post, White responded by expressing his admiration for Bey: “What a sweet gesture to receive here in Nashville this morning from the talented and gracious @beyonce celebrating her new Cowboy Carter album.
“Much love and respect to you Madam, and thank you kindly. Keep making beautiful and powerful music, nobody sings like you.”
The two previously collaborated on “Don’t Hurt Yourself” from Bey’s 2016 album Lemonade.
