Revisiting Channel Orange 6 Years Later
Since the time that Channel Orange came out, so much has changed with my life, I’m pretty much a new person. I have went from wanting to be liked by all, to just wanting to keep the friends that I have. From some kid who thought he was smart to realizing that intelligence is something that comes with a certain motivation and is not limited to what high school has to offer. I used to be a kid who, thought leading was, decision making and pretty much bossing people around, while I realize now I am fit to lead in the way that I offer my knowledge, but do not force it. Overall I’m happy with where I have come along in these six years. I thought about going into my thoughts on these tracks because this album actually made me listen to what artist are saying, and finding that songs can mean one thing to a person, and something else to another. Much like life and personality, perception of songs and pretty much any else you can think of can change.
Start - This opening is sweet and simple, a few familiar sounds that warm us up to relating to Frank as a person. He likes what we like, the sound of the original playstation starting up always jumps out to me, because that was the only console I really had (personally) growing up.
Thinking bout you - I have such a love hate relationship with this song because everyone knows it, and to some people it’s all they will know Frank for. The messages come off very easy to understand which is why I hate that, this is what people will think about when they think about Frank since his words can go so much deeper. My personal favorite line is where he says “It won’t ever get old, not in my soul, not in my spirit, keep it alive. We’ll go down this road till it turns from color to black and white” Which to me means that his first love will never be forgotten, and he will always keep it with him while he is alive, but once he dies a part of the image of that love dies with him in the form of the color.
Fertilizer- This song is such a happy feeling song for it to have such a harsh message to it. “Fertilizer I’ll take bullshit if that’s all you’ve got.” Basically I’ll keep your bullshit if it’ll keep you around me.
Sierra Leone- “ I sing a Lennon lullaby, she can have a pretty dream Baby girl if you knew what I know, knew what I know “ I like this line because it wraps the song so nicely. Everything is not real to us as kids, and we don’t realize how hard things are, basically until our parents let us discover. On a personal level, I never knew how hard my parents were struggling until I grew up, asked questions and put things together. I was also born when things were looking up for my family. So I never knew, until my parents were okay with telling me they hated their jobs, and bosses ect.
Sweet Life- This song kind of shaped my view on life in general. Part of the hook “ The sunshine always kept you warm, so why see the world, when you got the beach “ Super easy to understand, if you have something (or someone) that provides for you (warmth) and is beautiful in your eyes (in this case the beach) why not appreciate it instead of taking the risk of losing it by being greedy and wanting more?
Super Rich Kids - This song relates to me in the way that, my parents provided me with what I needed, and still do until this very day. But, they know almost nothing about my life and no one has really cared too much. Because of this very minimal parent interaction Frank later gets to the point, where yeah he can do all these things and have fun doing them, but at the end of the day if you’re not experiencing it with someone you love then, what the fuck is the point because in the moment because if you are with someone who you don’t end up with forever the memory is tainted. However, if you do end up lasting your lifetime, appreciate it because it’s rare. Didn’t choose a lyric because the song was an entire song is a bit of a story and I still feel like I did it justice.
Pilot Jones- This song is kind of a reality check with love. The lyric “ You're the dealer and the stoner with the sweetest kiss around” and later “ But I ain't been touched in a while by the dealer and the stoner with the sweetest kiss I've ever known” makes this song beyond comprehension to me because of the layers it presents. it could be that Pilot Jones is his lover and in the latter possibly his ex lover who he misses his relationship with OR it can be a metaphor of the drug of choice where he is relapsing and is craving his fix. It could also be that drugs took his lover away from him and this condo on clouds that she can stay at that is heaven. Then he is going to get one meaning he needs another dose of whatever to reconnect.
Crack Rock - I was so stuck on the opening of this song “You don’t know how little you matter until you’re all alone.” Because I always have that thought, if I stop hitting people up, if I just disappear, would anyone really notice or care?
I mean the song has so much more to it, showing how people shun addiction instead of wanting to help and the people who are supposed to be helping (the police) are actually the ones tearing your life apart further from those that actually used to care (his family).
Maybe I’ll finish this another day, I really like giving my personal interpretation of songs and lyrics, but it’s 3AM... So for now goodnight.
