Frank Ocean is the artist our generation needs because his music serves as a bridge to classic R&B music and contemporary music with a personal spin. Ocean has written songs for artists such as Beyonce, The Internet, Brandy and John Legend. His music expresses euphoria, nostalgia, and intense human emotions and desires. He is one of the most versatile artists in the sense that he has experimented with genres such as rap, R&B, pop, and indie rock, yet he still is seen as one of the most extraordinary R&B artists of our time. His music fills people with serenity, joy and a purpose for living. His songs help listeners escape their own problems and bring light to a very dark world. Each song has its underlying meaning. "Channel Orange" garnered the Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album as his debut album and songs such as "Thinking Bout You" and "Novacane" have topped the charts. Here is a top 10 list of best songs that Frank Ocean has sung and written; as examples/reasons for his reverence.
1. Pink Matter.
This song is beautiful and incredibly romantic and sensual. The piano and guitar together along with the strong vocal runs and riffs turn into an extraordinary concoction for musical genius. Andre 3000 is featured in this song about the worth of a woman, true love, the inquisition of sexual desires and true sexuality.
2. Pyramids.
This is one of the most complex and lyrically brilliant songs of Frank Ocean. The riffs and the runs are very smooth and beautiful especially with Ocean's soothing voice. The metaphor of a powerful African woman (Cleopatra) and her pyramid is one that hits the listener with awe. The transitions between the electronic instrumental sections and the rhythm and blues are extraordinary, along with John Mayer's legendary guitar solo during the outro.
3. Thinking Bout You.
"Thinking Bout You" is one of Frank Ocean's most well known songs. It is a song filled with romance, remorse and hope. The song can be best described as a daydream for the visionary.
4. Lost.
This is a bouncy indie-pop-rock song that many Ocean lovers will appreciate. The instrumental associated with the chorus and the bass line are very catchy, and Ocean's vocals as usual are A1. A voluptuous woman is used as a metaphor --again due to Ocean's creative genius.
5. Miss You So.
This song has a very early 2000s R&B vibe to it, and is about a lost passionate love and reoccurring memories and images. "We didn't make love/We celebrated its creation/Confetti on the mattress-I used to have those images/Tonight I came home and they were just embers in the fire."
6. Strawberry Swing.
Nostalgic. Vibrant. Feel good. These are the words that describe this beautiful song about childhood memories and dreams. "Just in case an atom bomb comes falling on my lawn...you should hear I've loved the good times here."
7. Swim Good.
This is a song about a broken heart and releasing emotional baggage. Ocean has opened up more about his sexuality and in the song "We All Try," as he says, "I believe that marriage isn't between man and woman, but between love and love." In "Swim Good" he speaks in great length about heartache. "There's a pretty big Trunk in My Lincoln town car...I'm about to drive in the ocean...swim from something bigger than me." The trunk is his heart and the ocean is his escape.
8. Novacane.
"Been tryna film pleasure with my eyes wide shut but it keeps on moving." This song "Novacane" refers to an oral anesthetic applied during a dentist appointment. It also refers to emotional numbness.
9. She -- ft. Tyler the Creator.
Odd Future is the band that Tyler the Creator and Frank Ocean were both in. This song refers to obsessive love. Music is a way to let out aggressive emotions, and lyrics such "Gore-geous, baby you're gorgeous" show that a strong desire for someone can be dark and dangerous, even gory. This rap-R&B genre shows how versatile Ocean is.
10. Wise Man.
Frank Ocean's vocals are incredibly powerful over the simple guitar strokes in the background of this song. The tone and transitions between the high and low notes give the song its beauty. None of Ocean's lyrics are ever meaningless. Ocean takes us through the history of man -- beast, primate and the modern day man of flesh and blood. It is a song of manhood and male sensitivity, but also a song we can close our eyes to while on a road trip.
Other songs not mentioned but close on the list: "When I'm Done," "I Need Love," "Bad Religion," "Super Rich Kids" and "Forrest Gump."
Listen to "Lonny Breaux," "Nostalgia/Ultra" and his well known album "Channel Orange." Anticipate his new album or give a listen to his old songs!
