By Cassiedy Galang
Blonde is Frank Ocean\’s 2nd Studio album, and his most streamed album. It\’s a mix of themes including RnB, Pop, and Soul.
I really think that the theme of the tracks from the album illustrates Ocean’s journey into self-discovery, emotional growth, and his way of navigating life’s profound experiences.
Ocean’s songs are about different people which makes it interesting because not many artists successfully show the discovery journey of themselves and others which really made the album very out of the ordinary. However, what really struck me about the album is what it meant to him to exist, love, and evolve. How he took his thoughts, and feelings and made them into lyrics that tell a story, how he organized all of the tracks to seasons of his life, and how he transitioned from his teenage years to adulthood by pitch-shifting is truly inspiring.
I think that even though his music is not for everyone and can be controversial,
Frank Ocean\’s music can be very heartwarming and has such a strong vibe.
It\’s not just about the sound, but the way his songs make you feel. There\’s a warmth and depth to them that really connects with many people\’s emotions and beliefs in a unique and honest way, in which I feel people have a musical bonding. I love the way he blends emotional depth with innovative sounds to create an album that not only holds your attention but also emotionally connects with listeners, which is why it\’s no wonder so many people find a sense of understanding and comfort in his work.
There are many different meanings to his songs, but what really struck me is about what it meant to him to exist, love, evolve, and transition from his teenage years to adulthood. Ocean skillfully turned his thoughts and feelings into lyrics for his songs on “Blonde”.
My personal favorites from the album are “Pink + White” and “Ivy”. “Pink + White” is the best song on the album because of the way Beyonće and Frank Ocean’s vocals sound together and how the tone carries a vibe filled with gratitude for the beauty of the past but also accepting that it’s gone. Yes, it is the most popular song on the album but it just makes sense. “Ivy” follows closely behind, because of the lyrics and the beat. The meaning of his song, “Ivy”, is about his past relationship from when he was a teenager and how even though the relationship caused great pain and regret later, it still holds bittersweet memories for him.
My overall rating for this album is 8.5/10 because of the profanity and some of the meanings to Frank Ocean’s songs are pretty hard to understand in the first few listens, but overall I like this album and I would recommend it to many people.
