Beyoncé samples Barbara Ann Teer speech on Alien Superstar and fans are obsessed

Beyoncé’s seventh studio album Renaissance has finally arrived and fans couldn’t be more excited.

The 16-track album has some incredible collaborations and composers, including Skrillex, Jay-Z, Drake, Nile Rodgers, The-Dream and loads more.

There are some great samples and interpolations too, like the famous Robin S. club tune Show Me Love and Kelis, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo’s Milkshake.

However, fans are most excited about one sample on the third track, Alien Superstar…

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Barbara Ann Teer sampled on Renaissance

As outlined by Pitchfork, the official Renaissance credits reveal that Alien Superstar contains a sample from influential woman Barbara Ann Teer.

The words come from her “Black Theatre” speech which was provided to YouTube by Smithsonian Folkway Recordings.

The 20-minute clip sees Barbara, who founded Harlem’s National Black Theatre, speaking about her life, background and creating the New York performing arts company.

Barbara’s voice can be heard towards the end Beyoncé’s new song Alien Superstar. A portion of her speech has been sampled which begins at 2:48.

“We dress a certain way. We walk a certain way. We talk a certain way. We paint a certain way. We make love a certain way, you know?” she says.

“All of these things we do in a different, unique specific way that is personally ours,” she continues before Beyoncé’s voice reappears.

Who is Barbara Ann Teer?

Barbara Ann Teer was an American writer, producer, teacher actress and social visionary who died in 2008 at the age of 71.

In 1968, she founded Harlem’s National Black Theatre, which was the first revenue-generating black theatre in the whole of the US.

Born in Illinois to parents who were educators and community leaders, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in dance education from the University of Illinois.

Then, she went on to study dance in Paris and Berlin before settling in New York City and pursuing a career as a professional dancer.

She toured with many big dance companies and made her Broadway debut in 1961 as dance captain in the award-winning musical Kwamina.

After a knee injury in 1962, she became interested in theatre and had a successful acting career, performing in Broadway, television, film and other theatre productions.

However, she always hated the lack of representation and negative stereotypes – which drove her to found the National Black Theatre.

It was committed to social change within African-American communities, and she also developed her own methodology which was taught there called “TEER: The Technology of Soul”.

This used West African traditions, symbolism and mythology and celebrated its heritage whilst straying away from the westernised idea of theatre.

Fans are obsessed with Alien Superstar

On Twitter, fans love the new track Alien Superstar and use of the Barbara Ann Teer sample.

One person wrote “Alien Superstar for me is giving” whilst another said: “Okay so I realised I was listening to the album on shuffle…….BUT alien superstar is a HIT.”

A third person said “Alien Superstar is amazing I’m sorrryyyy” and another wrote: “Alien Superstar my fav so far.”

“Alien Superstar been on repeat! Definitely in my top three,” another added.

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