channel ORANGE - Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean's debut studio album takes the listener on a summery, nostalgic R&B-framed trip, flipping through the channels of his past.
Setting the Scene:
Frank Ocean got his start in the music industry as a songwriter for major artists like Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Brandy, John Legend, and Justin Bieber. When he decided to start performing on stage, he joined Odd Future, a group comprised of young hip-hop talents like Tyler, the Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, and Syd. This group helped propel Frank’s career, and in 2009 he signed a contract with the record label Def Jam Recordings. Despite this success, Frank did not feel he was receiving the support and resources he needed from his record label, so in 2011, he released a mixtape titled Nostalgia, Ultra with no ties to Def Jam. The mixtape was a hit, and critics and fans alike applauded Frank’s style and songwriting.
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With the success of Nostalgia, Ultra, Def Jam began to give Frank the support he needed. The two parties began to mend what had become a rough relationship, and soon Frank Ocean was featured heavily on Kanye West and Jay-Z’s album, Watch the Throne. In addition, the improved relationship between Frank and the record label resulted in the announcement of Frank Ocean’s debut studio album, channel ORANGE. Rollout for the album began with the lead single “Thinkin Bout You” being released in April 2012 and the full album slated for release in July during the peak of the summer.
Personal Thoughts:
With heat waves and record temperatures reaching so many corners of the world right now, it definitely feels like summer. But instead of going out into the blistering sun, I’ve been reaching for music that captures the spirit of what the season means to me. Recently, that’s meant revisiting songs like “4EVA” or albums like Un Verano Sin Ti, music that makes me feel like I’ve got my feet buried in the sand or my windows down on the highway. But when I want to feel nostalgic and a bit more contemplative about past summers, channel ORANGE hits the mark I’m looking for. Frank Ocean’s debut studio album packages relatable emotions and moving storytelling over some clever and breezy production. In just under an hour of catchy hooks and a slight variation on the R&B formula for the time, channel ORANGE moved the needle on what R&B could be and continues to hold up as a cornerstone album to play as the soundtrack for a summer day.
The lead single for the album, “Thinkin Bout You,” tells the story of a guy who is not over the feelings he has for his ex and wonders if they feel the same way. Although many songs have been written about heartbreak, what sets apart “Thinkin Bout You” is that the emotions revealed evolve throughout the song. In the first verse, Frank tries to appear composed until, at the end, he reveals he has been breaking down every time he thinks about his ex.
“A tornado flew around my room before you came
Excuse the mess it made, it usually doesn’t rain in
Southern California, much like Arizona
My eyes don’t shed tears, but boy, they pour when”
Clearly, Frank has been struggling based on the condition of his room and how he delivers half-hearted lies to try to make the situation seem lighter than it is. Then, in the second verse, Frank continues to tell obvious lies, but now he directs them towards his ex.
“No, I don’t like you, I just thought you were cool enough to kick it
Got a beach house I could sell you in Idaho
Since you think I don’t love you, I just thought you were cute
That’s why I kissed you
Got a fighter jet, I don’t get to fly it though, I’m lying down”
Here, it seems like Frank is trying to right past wrongs and win over his ex again. He makes promises and tells clear lies, as if he is desperate to do anything to convince his ex to come back to him. Finally, in the bridge, Frank makes a declaration that he would stay with his ex forever.
“We’ll go down this road ‘til it turns from color to black and white”
This line is a reference to The Wizard of Oz when, at the end of the movie, the picture turns black and white as the crew follows the road back home from Oz. Frank Ocean also revealed with this album that he is bisexual, so the line could also indicate that his ex is a man and he hopes that gay marriage will become legal. What is apparent is that here, at the end of the song, Frank is making his most desperate plea and is finally being fully honest. This transition of emotional states that he goes through over the course of just one song is relatable for anyone who has gone through heartbreak after a breakup.
“Thinkin Bout You” is just one of the songs on the album that showcases Frank’s unique songwriting ability, packing each verse with purpose and emotion. Songs like “Super Rich Kids” and “Lost” tell unique stories of their own, and I hope this post convinces you to experience those for yourself for the first time or to revisit these songs if you’ve heard them before.
Halfway through channel ORANGE, the song “Pyramids” tells the story of a woman who was a queen in Africa during the time of Cleopatra and was revered. The song then moves through time and shows that this same woman now works in Las Vegas under a pimp “at the pyramid,” most likely a reference to the Luxor hotel, known for its large pyramid structure. “Pyramids” is interesting not only because of the epic story it tells but also because of its unique production. As the first half of the song finishes, the previously mentioned time skip occurs, and to illustrate this, the production reverses the sound of some drums, giving the effect of moving through time. These reversed drums are just one example of the creative production featured on the album that makes it stand out.
When channel ORANGE was released, much of R&B focused on love and sex and was generally pretty sensual. On this album, Frank Ocean still focuses on these themes, but he does it through wordplay, metaphors, and stories, unlike most other work in the genre at the time. He also uses the genre of R&B to talk about mental health and normalize his sexuality, which were not very common topics at the time. Since this release, artists like Gallant and SZA have used similar techniques in their songs within the same genre. Frank’s influence can be felt in pop and R&B to this day, and albums like this push genres to expand to new heights.
Thank you for reading my recommendation for Frank Ocean’s concept album, where we see him flipping through old memories like channels on a TV. I hope this gives you a taste of what the album has to offer and entices you to listen to more if you haven’t already. Check out some of the album with three of my favorite tracks in the next section, and let me know your thoughts in the poll and comments below.