An Analysis of Blonde by Frank Ocean
*The iconic album cover
Frank Ocean, known for his musical versatility and the depth of his lyrics, released one of the most listened to albums, Blonde, in 2016. This nearly 10 year old album that focuses on themes of love, self-discovery, identity, and heartbreak. Frank Ocean creatively experiments with soul, pop, indie rock, and R&B music. In the songs, you would find that the instrumentals in this album seem very minimal and sound very atmospheric, different from typical song structures due to the incorporation of layering vocals, new and unfamiliar beats, and a lot of ambient sounds. As said by Ryan Dobal, “Its spareness suggests a person in a small apartment with only a keyboard and a guitar and thoughts for company.” Frank Ocean: Blonde / Endless Album Review | Pitchfork. Just because of the minimalist music does not mean the lyrics are minimal, in a complete opposite manner, each song is soulful and every lyric is written with an intent, where Frank shares aspects of his own life. The meaningful lyrics and the softness of Frank’s voice add to the depth and vulnerability of the album. In many cases, people see this album as a sad album and something to cry to, which it is, but if you look (listen) closely, you can tell each song on this album tells a story. Frank sings about feelings of loneliness and allows people who are struggling with feelings seen, to connect with him, as said by Bailey Shehan in Review: Frank Ocean's 'Blonde'
Blonde has no skips, each song special in its own way. However, I’ll be covering my analysis on my top five songs of the album, which I feel reflect the main themes that Frank Ocean is trying to portray throughout the album.
The opener of the album is a slow, ambient track, with Frank’s voice pitched up at first and then throughout the song switches over to his original voice. Nike is written almost as a critique of consumer culture, the first lyrics starting off with “These bitches want Nikes,” implying poeples’ obsession with materialistic values and material items. This song essentially is written as a metaphor for people’s need for a superficial symbol for status. This song deals with Frank's struggles with conformity to shallow pleasures in life and his search for authenticity.
The second track, Ivy, has a hint of nostalgia due to the soft strumming and riff of a guitar, contrasting with the lyrics and depth of the lyrics. This song is a reflection of a past relationship that did not end up working out. The lyrics are tender and bittersweet due to Frank expressing his regret for letting the relationship fall apart. His lyrics “We’ll never be those kids again,” reflect his feelings of innocence and memories during the relationship that have been lost or have a negative connotation now. At times Frank’s voice becomes scratchy and distorted/loud and sometimes it becomes soft, which emphasizes his feelings of guilt and regret and his feelings of anger toward the relationship.
Pink+White has a lush and an “earthy” background, making the song sound like being at peace. The song’s themes revolve around acceptance of the nature of life with the lyrics “That’s the way everyday goes, every time we’ve no control,” shows Frank’s acceptance of the unpredictability of life. Frank reflects on how memories help shape our future and present and how the passage of time is inevitable and we all will eventually pass through innocence to maturity and the importance of accepting both milestones of our lives.
Solo deals with the feelings of loneliness and the different aspects of being alone. One form of loneliness is talked about being single and the isolation one might feel when in this point of life. However, on the opposite end, the lyrics hint at the bliss of self-reflection and patience, “It’s hell on Earth and the city’s on fire, inhale, inhale, that’s heaven.”
Siegfried is one of the most introspective tracks on this album. This song deals with concepts of existential questions and the struggle with identity in Frank’s point of view. It’s clear that in this song faith, identity, and the fear of being like everyone else come into play. “I’d rather live outside,” shows Frank’s wanting to reject social norms and expectations.
Usually, I would have something to critique about an album, but I’d say this album was genuinely one of the most calming, refreshing, and inspirational albums that I have heard in a long time. Frank Ocean’s musical versatility had me stunned from the moment I heard this album for the first time. It has lessons that can be used by everyone and almost feels like a safe space whenever I listen to it. I believe that through this album, Frank was also able to give acceptance to the inconsistencies of life because that’s what makes it so beautiful. I look forward to Frank’s future (hopefully) musical endeavors. Take a listen and let me know what you think!
****LISTEN TO THE FULL BLONDE ALBUM*****