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The Narrative and Analysis of 'Blonde' by Frank Ocean.
RTs would mean a lot to me :)
RTs would mean a lot to me :)
Background: After the critically acclaimed Channel Orange in 2012, fans of soulful R&B star Frank Ocean were anticipating his next record. The album was originally titled Boys Donāt Cry and Frank teased the album again and again between 2012 and 2015. By 2016, many fans thought t
hat Frank would never release an album and simply lost hope. But on August 19th, 2016, Frank Ocean dropped Endless, a visual album, exclusive to Apple Music. The album was about 40 minutes long in length but something felt off. This didnāt feel like a fully finished project, but
the thing is, Endless wasnāt exactly supposed to feel that way. Endless was just a way for Frank to end his contract obligations with his label Def Jam because 24 hours later, Frank Ocean released the actual album. Blonde. The album that was supposed to be Boys Donāt Cry. The alb
um went number one and received acclaim from both fans and critics. But there are so many questions people have on what this album is about and not many answers. Here are my interpretations.
Nikes: OK so we all Nikes but REAL Nikes. We want real love, real friends, real success, and real happiness. The Nikes can be the representation for whatever you want in life. The first half of the song has Frankās voice pitched up and it seems off. Thatās because this is a young
er Frank actively searching for these āNikesā which is basically what he wants in life. Frank is just reflecting on this track wondering will he ever get those Nikes? Will we ever get what we want in life?
Ivy: It appears in this track Frank does find his Nikes with young love, but the lyrics detail the downsides of a relationship. An unhealthy relationship with someone Frank truly loves and reflects on what went wrong is explored in this track. Both of the people clearly have had
enough but they love each other and they just donāt wanna let go of the Nikes they thought had. This song is basically the beginning of the end of a relationship in Frankās life.
Pink + White: On this more traditional instrumental, Frank appears much more joyful and talks about what his lover showed him. He references experiences he has had with this person like stealing cigarettes and getting high and just enjoying life. This is the peak of Frankās life.
Solo: Solo explores the ups and downs of being away from Frankās lover. Thatās why the hook has Frank saying it feels like heaven and hell at the same time. Frank can enjoy getting high and dancing around his house but he still feels distant and alone. Even though in Ivy he feels
like heās had enough of his partner, he keeps coming back to them because of the way he feels around them (as detailed in Pink and White). He also uses the phrase āSo Lowā as in he is feeling low throughout the song. Frank is trying to learn self-love without being around his pa
rtner in this song.
Skyline To: This song feels like random thoughts and like itās just a day passing. Itās probably my least favorite track on Blonde just because it doesnāt really add anything to the album. Itās just Frank being careless throughout the day.
Self Control: Frank and his lover finally drift apart. They care for each other, but theyāre too different for a relationship. It just didnāt work out and this is the final farewell to this person. Itās like a prom where you know things arenāt gonna end happily ever after so you
just slow dance for one last time. You will both remember each other and youāll never forget the happiness you gave each other.
Good Guy: Frank is single at this point in the album and meets someone new at the bar. Frank has high hopes for this person but itās not the same as his ex. He isnāt excited to be around someone anymore. The excitement is short-lived so Frank is alone again.
Nights: Probably my favorite song of all time, Frank Ocean reflects on the day where he had to relocate from New Orleans due to a hurricane. The first half of the song is hard to interpret but I think this is the first half of the day. A lot is going in the lyrics which leads to
the hurricane, represented by the beat switch. Itās now night time and everything is ruined. Every night fucks every day up.
Solo (Reprise): If things were bad without your lover, now youāre alone with nothing left. Frank is solo but also so low he can see under the skirt of an ant as portrayed in the lyrics. This is rock bottom for Frank. The love of his life is gone, and his home is destroyed.
Pretty Sweet: This is the most experimental song on this album and I feel like this is chaos in Frankās mind. He doesnāt know what to do and heās trying to find a reason to keep going and to keep being motivated. Frank has to try. Hitting rock bottom might just be what he needed.
Facebook Story: Nothing much here tbh, just another message from a good friend of Frankās about virtual love that I guess Frank really liked and put on the album.
Close To You: Frank desperately wants this person back. He doesnāt care anymore he just wants their comfort and their presence cause thatās what kept Frank happy.
White Ferrari: Frank is trying to get over it all. Heās driving in a White Ferrari contemplating what went wrong. This track feels more psychedelic and Frankās heart is broken into pieces. He is alone without his lover but heās getting better, but would still do anything to have
them back in his life.
PT.2 will be posted shortly
PT.2 will be posted shortly
