It’s an introspective look into life in the wake of tragedy.
#MEANING BEHIND FRANK OCEAN BLONDE ALBUM SKIN#
The lyrics paint a vivid picture in the mind of the listeners, opening verse two with “In the wake of a hurricane, dark skin of a summer shade, nosedive into flood lines…if you could die and come back to life, up for air from the swimming pool…”. A New Orleans native, Ocean describes the suffering he faced as a college student in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and offers this song as an ode to a lost loved one. Featuring backup vocals from Beyonce, a driving drum beat and piano melody, and descriptive lyricism, this is a standout track.
During that transitional and confusing period, “Blonde” felt like an old friend guiding me through the new challenges I faced being away from home. In the months I moved away from home and began going through life entirely on my own for the first time, this is the album I listened to the most. “Blonde” has a special place in my heart. Staff Pick of the Week: Sydney, Program Director You know, a virtual thing.Sydney Chatani, Spinnaker Radio Program Director She told me like, uh, it’s over and I can’t believe it. And she told me like, ‘Accept me on Facebook.’ It was virtual, made no sense,” he says on the track. And I don’t want it because I was like, in front of her. “Facebook arrived and she wanted me to accept her on Facebook. On the new album, there’s a track in which SebastiAn tells a story about a girl who once dumped him after he refused to accept her friend request on Facebook. French producer SebastiAn, who has worked with Daft Punk, Beastie Boys, and Charlotte Gainsbourg, collaborated with Ocean on a few songs for Endless and Blond. “Facebook Story” is a dating anecdote from producer SebastiAn. Not to drink alcohol, not to use drugs, don’t use that cocaine, or marijuana, because that stuff is highly addictive.” This might be a little awkward since his opening essay on Boys Don’t Cry references the first time he did ’shrooms and that “Mine,” a song off of Endless, features the lyrics “how come the ecstasy always depresses me so?” Maybe you should listen to your mother, Frank? “You’ve understood the things that I’ve taught you. Be yourself and know that that’s good enough,” she says. In the one-and-a-half minute clip, his mom gives him a little pep talk and warns him of the dangers of drugs. The track “Be Yourself” is actually a voicemail message from Ocean’s mother, Katonya Breaux Riley, which may have been recorded when he was in college. A voicemail message from Ocean’s mom appears on the album.