Frank Ocean is a Passionate Generational Artist

Music is such a wonderful medium. I once saw a quote that read something along the lines of how art is the medium we decorate space with, while music is the medium we decorate time with. When I think of a well-decorated musician, I think of Frank Ocean. It’s interesting because I have always heard of Frank Ocean here and there throughout the internet pipeline. I never knew much about him, honestly. I recognized his name, but I never really listened to any of his music.

I had heard parts of his music, however. On some trending videos on both TikTok and Instagram, songs like “Chanel” and “In My Room” were popular audio bits creators used to make their videos with. It’s funny because, when I later listened to these songs, I recognized them. I’ve been listening to Frank Ocean a lot lately. I listen to him at least once a day. Listening to his music as much as I have lately has made me realize how unique and one-of-a-kind Ocean is as an artist and performer.

Nostalgia Orange

Screenshot by Nicolas Scagnelli, courtesy of Def Jam Records and Apple Music

Frank Ocean has a very interesting aesthetic as an artist. He’s got quite a varied discography. His earliest songs were all very similar in a sense. They all had great vocals from Ocean and had recognizable instruments like piano keys or sometimes striking synth waves. In some of his earliest tracks, like “Swim Good” and “Novacane,” this is very apparent. What’s crazy is how great these songs are, still to this day. Ocean’s style of music has changed a lot since his debut mixtape, “Nostalgia Ultra,” and even his first album, “Channel Orange.”.

That first album was a great step for Ocean. It really gave people a sense of his style and vibe for his musical voice. There were a couple of big hits on that album, and some more underrated picks, if you ask me. “Thinkin Bout You” might be one of, if not Frank Ocean’s, most iconic and recognizable songs. The first line even spawned a viral meme on the now-shutdown social media app, Vine. Other songs on the track are great, like “Crack Rock,” “Super Rich Kids,” “Bad Religion,” and the criminally underrated “Forrest Gump.”

A Blonded Life

So here it is, “blonde.” Or “blond,” depending on the spelling you choose. Blonde is Ocean’s second musical album. Notice how I said musical, since “Endless” was a visual album he made before “Blonde.” There’s a long story with that one, but I want to talk about “blonde” right now. This album is absolutely incredible. I don’t even know where to start. First off, this album really put Frank Ocean on the map, coming out in 2016. Ocean was known at this point, but this album bolstered his popularity.

“Blonde” made Frank Ocean the superstar shut-in that he is today. Songs like “Nikes,” “Ivy,” “Pink + White,” “Self Control,” “Nights,” “Solo,” “Solo (reprise),” “White Ferrari,” oh man. This album is breathtaking; it ended up being Apple Music’s fifth-best album of all time. Can you believe that? I’m not saying Apple Music’s ranking is gospel, but that has to speak for something, right? Ocean’s storytelling on this album is incredible. It is slow, it is nostalgic, it is emotional, it is heartfelt, and it is heartbreaking. It’s kind of a joke, but Ocean’s music is kind of sad in its own right. There are upbeat songs by Frank Ocean, but many of his pieces are on the melancholic side.

Frank Ocean Heading For An Early Retirement?

Screenshot by Nicolas Scagnelli, courtesy of Def Jam Records and Apple Music

Frank Ocean’s music is so special to me due to this melancholy. His lyrics capture such sad yet human emotions that I can’t help but just relate to them. If you play Ocean in my car, there’s a good chance I’ll zone out for a couple minutes and think about my ex-girlfriend or some other important, formative memories of my life. Frank Ocean’s musical voice and vibe are second to none and are so unique. This just makes it even worse that, to this day, Frank Ocean rarely releases any new tracks. Fans speculate over Ocean’s musical release schedule.

His last official album was in 2016, and in the years since, he has released various singles. Many of these singles are great; I particularly loved his cover of “Moon River.” It’s very modern yet classic-sounding at the same time. Many fans joke about Frank Ocean retiring, but it seems like he doesn’t have motivation to create music anymore, which is a shame. Ocean is busy taking care of his other endeavors, like his magazine and luxury brand. Of course, I want Frank Ocean to make more music. He might be my favorite artist. Whether he does or not, I will continue to listen to and enjoy all the great music he’s already released.

About the Author 

Nicolas Scagnelli is a young and ambitious writer. He graduated with a degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing at Binghamton University. As an undergrad, he published over 60 op-eds for the campus newspaper, Pipe Dream. Nicolas has his own personal blog, Lunch with Nick, where he posts daily about various topics ranging from entertainment to music to mental health. Other than writing, Nicolas loves to spend time in the gym, reading, listening to music, and hanging out with family and friends.

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