Beyonce’s ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ sounds an awful lot like the ‘Franklin’ theme song
This ain’t no Texas, ain’t no Turtle.
Fans of Beyoncé’s country song “Texas Hold ‘Em” were left dumbfounded when several social media users pointed out similarities between the track and, well, the “Franklin” cartoon theme song.
“Millennials trying to figure out why this sounds so familiar,” one TikTok user wrote Monday, playing the song before transitioning to the Canadian cartoon.
In another video, one TikToker attempted the arduous task of breaking down each of the song’s melodies and tracking the similarities.
“I don’t know if it’s actually a sample but I love the inspiration,” the video’s caption reads.
Others, however, thought the comparison was a stretch.
“People can hate the song, that is their choice, BUT the song is a hit whether you ALL like it or not,” one person wrote.
“They don’t sound the same,” a second user chimed in. “There is a small similarity to a two-tone note. the composer of Franklin music says Texas Hold em is Beyoncé.”
A third user touted that the song was a “vague comparison.”
Others saw the opportunity to make light of the whole situation.
“Franklin did it better,” a user laughed. “Where’s his Grammy?”
“Franklin getting album of the year,” cackled a second user.
“Woah! I knew it sounded familiar. Reduce reuse recycle! I guess,” a third person stated.
Even Bruce Cockburn — who composed the “Franklin” theme during its 1997 to 2004 run — weighed in.
“I think Beyoncé’s ‘Texas Hold ’Em’ is a good record. Unfortunately, I can’t claim to have had any part in writing it,” Cockburn, 78, told People. “The rhythmic feel is similar to my theme song for the ‘Franklin’ TV series, but to my ears, that’s where the similarity stops. ‘Texas Hold ’Em’ is her song, and I wish her success with it!”
The singer dropped her song after appearing in a Verizon Super Bowl commercial earlier this month.
Since then, the 32-time Grammy Award winner, 42, has become the first-ever black woman to secure the No.1 spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs.
Billboard announced the achievement on Feb. 13, which has been charting country songs since 1958.
Beyoncé’s tune also holds the No. 2 slot on the Hot 100 chart, behind Jack Harlow’s “Lovin on Me.”
At the time, “Texas Hold ’Em” received 19.2 million streams, while “16 Carriages” gained 10.3 million and was No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs.
According to the “Halo” songstress, her upcoming album — out March 29 — is “Act II” of “Renaissance,” her album cycle that started with “Renaissance: Act I” in 2022.
Her new songs didn’t come without some controversy, however, after one Oklahoma station refused to play them.
KYKC responded in an email: “We do not play Beyoncé on KYKC as we are a country music station.”
Fans were outraged, with some accusing the station of “blatant racism and discrimination.”
“The refusal to play these songs raises concerns about the station’s stance on artists of color. Whether intentional or not, such action contributes to the narrative of racial bias within the country community,” one fan wrote to the station.
The radio station later changed its mind, sharing in a post: “Lots of calls coming in for Beyoncé’s ‘Texas Hold ‘Em.’ It’s coming up in minutes.”
