An artist that has captivated an entire generation… and then some. Christopher Breaux, known to the public as Frank Ocean, has spent most of his career in the shadows. Whether it would be strictly using Tumblr as his social media or keeping his instagram private for years, Frank Ocean is the music industry’s unsung hero. He goes ghost for years and then randomly one day he’ll drop a song and we’ll be instantly reminded of his greatness.
The past two album reviews (Mariah The Scientist & Kiana Ledé) that I’ve done were my first listens to the album. Now this is my first time listening to “Blonde” from front-to-back, but I have heard some of the songs before. That’s the thing about a Frank Ocean album, it’s almost impossible to avoid even if you tried.
Now I’ve had some Frank songs in my playlists, but my favorite song of his ever is this song called, “I Need It”. Pretty sure it never officially released, but that song is absolute magic. He burst on to the music scene with “Nostalgia, Ultra” in 2011. One year later he released his debut album, which is widely considered a classic, “Channel Orange”.
Four years later, he dropped the album we will be discussing in this article. 17 songs, one hour in total. I’ve listened to the album in full about five or six times now. Here’s what I thought about “Blonde”…
“The YSN Review”
- Pink + White
- Godspeed
- Self Control
- White Ferrari
- Ivy
- Solo
- Nikes
- Nights
- Solo (Reprise)
- Good Guy
- Futura Free
- Close To You
- Pretty Sweet
- Skyline To
- Seigfried
- Facebook Story
- Be Yourself
The high pitched voice that hits your speakers when you press play on this album sets you into a calming and peaceful mood. Over the slow-tempo’d 808s Frank talks about how these girls want rings like Carmelo, but he’s not going to be the one to give them what they want.
Later in the song, Frank talks about being just a “fill-in” or a “placeholder” for someone. As he’s just being used for physical intimacy but not on a relationship/loving level.
And throughout the album we are taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, reflection and heartbreak. On the second track “Ivy”, Frank is talking about an old relationship where deep down he felt good, but he knows that the other person will move on quickly after their separation.
“I broke your heart last week. You’ll probably feel better by the weekend”
And this goes back to the point I was making earlier about being a “placeholder” in someone’s life on the intro. The feeling of being wanted but disposable at any moment can easily wear away at one’s self confidence.
The song “Pink + White” as its own creative and unique meaning. Frank is rejecting the two colors to the color of the sky. That we as humans have no control of what color the sky is everyday, just like we have no control of everything that is happening in the world. It’s a humbling track for him, but also a reflection about being able to “control a relationship”. It’s simply just not possible. You just have to keep going with your best foot forward and hope for the best.
“That’s the way every day goes. Every time we’ve no control”
On “Solo” Frank is coming to terms that he may be better keeping distance from an ex-lover. That they’d be better off “solo”. And the nail in the coffin to that theory is him just smoking by himself and waiting for a phone call until his phone dies.
“I brought trees to blow through, but it’s just me and no you. Stayed up ’til my phone died”
In this song Frank is talking about how he has to face a choice between getting high (his own heaven) or staying sober and living in his crashing reality (his own hell). If he chooses to smoke he gets high enough to reach the sky. That’s why when he says, “Inhale, in hell there’s heaven“. The words “in hell” are a play-on words for “inhale”.
“You are from my past life. Hope you’re doin’ well”
This album is executed wonderfully. It’s creativity in both theme and instrumentals are what separates Frank from the rest of the pack. It’s what makes the world stop at a hint of a release or feature from him. In a mix of moving on and reminiscing Frank takes the listener through a journey that has shaped him into the person that he is today. Through all these experiences, song after song, he learns more about himself. And that’s the beauty of this album.
After the tragic passing of his little brother, I don’t know if we’ll ever get another Frank Ocean project. And that’s okay. We all just have to sit here and acknowledge the wonderful work he has already given us. Genre-defining music is what this is, and I’m thankful I gave it a chance. This is YSN, until next time, signing out.
