The Legacy Of Frank Ocean's Blond

In this era of modern streaming and rapid releases, it’s absurdly rare that an album is able to transcend beyond the sound of its influences. To stand so completely new, it creates a ripple effect that redefines the possibilities of music beyond genre or form. 

Among other few, this rare spotlight shines on singer-songwriter Frank Ocean’s most mature and recent 2016 release, Blonde.

While whispers of guidance from pop, soul, and hip hop (among others) echo within its layers, Blonde’s soundscape runs so consistently fresh and imaginative that listening feels like a practice of detachment in itself—“An R&B album only in the most elastic and expansive sense,” as Rolling Stone puts it. 

On a first listen, it’s easy and most natural to overlook the more intimate and reserved tracks, perhaps registering as background music with a message that's subliminal at most prominent. Where only fast-paced heavy hitters like ‘Pink + White’ and ‘Nights’ may strike a familiar chord that listeners are used to. 

Until expectations are dismantled, and the guard is lowered, only then does Blonde’s full intention and conceptuality take true notice.

Although Blonde does its side of high octane, punchy and confident hip hop extremely well, its identity as an album lies equally parallel in its ability to refrain and its willingness to take away. 

Clearest in tracks such as ‘Self Control’, ‘White Ferrari’ and ‘Godspeed’, listeners find that percussive elements are almost completely removed. Instead, Ocean solely relies on the natural rhythm and raw feel of his vocals and melodic instruments to immerse listeners.

Even further beyond the guitar, organs and synths, listeners discover the true driving force behind the album’s intrigue and captivation—Ocean’s intimate and deductive storytelling.

Lyrics that paint a picture is an understatement of Ocean’s ability to create familiar yet distinctly clever and mature attitudes about his experiences. He rarely misses a beat, all while morphing these stories into a universal canvas where the listener can reflect with their own colors.

In the opening track ‘Nikes’, Ocean laments “I’m not him / But I’ll mean something to you.” With a heartbreaking straightforwardness, Ocean describes the grief of not measuring up to the love he wishes for.   

Furthermore, in ‘Self Control’, he sings “You cut your hair, but you used to live a blonded life / Wish I was there, wish we’d grown up on the same advice”.  In this cut, Ocean metaphorises innocence and youth, all while expressing his desire to connect on a further level with his lover.

These vivid expressions embody the minimalistic flair of Ocean’s songwriting, and they are abundant all throughout the album—blending into Blonde’s larger narrative of navigating love, nostalgia and longing. 

Beyond its accolades, Blonde is simply an honest representation of a lived experience and the reflection that follows. Released nearly a decade ago, listeners still testify to its transcendent sound and themes, with new emotions being evoked every repeat. A true testament to something timeless. 

Written by: Aryan Jibran Koesmahargyo