Celebrating 6 Years of “Blonde”
At my high school, it was rare to catch a kid without headphones in their ears. I remember thinking my life was over on the days I forgot to bring my earbuds. Many music lovers, like myself, have an artist or an album that carried them through adolescence. For me, it was the unforgettable ambiance of Frank Ocean’s 2016 project, Blonde.
Frank Ocean is a singer and songwriter from New Orleans, Louisiana. He started his musical career as a ghostwriter for artists like Beyonce, Justin Bieber, John Legend, and other big names in music. In 2011, he released his first critical acclaimed mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra. From there, he began to collaborate with even more artists like Jay-Z and Kanye, as well as working on two projects simultaneously; being Endless and Blonde. Endless was used to end his contract with Def Jam Records, a label Frank signed with back in 2009. The other project, Blonde, turned out to be a platinum-selling album with positive acclaim from several media publications and listeners from all across the globe. Blonde is a concept album that focuses on duality, sexuality, love and so much more. The production is simple and clean at the surface with minimal instrumentation used; however, it carries heavy influence from almost every genre you can think of. Tara Joshi, a writer for The Quietus, mentioned that its form "isn't that of a typical pop or R&B album – it tends to meander into his surreal dreamscapes, cut with jarring samples of conversation, odd effects, drifting guitars, and beatless melodies that go on longer than expected." This album has left a mark on me that I can’t shake. Once you experience an album beyond just hearing it, it’s a world that you don’t want to leave.
It was my sophomore year of high school. I remember sitting in my study hall class (probably neglecting my homework). I had been listening to Blonde all day; digesting every song. Halfway through the album, I get to the ninth track, Nights, a two-part story about the instability in Ocean’s past relationship. At the 3:28 timestamp, you experience one of the most iconic transitions in music today. This transition was the moment I realized just how powerful music is. This beat switch has been said to be the exact turning point for the album. The buildup starts with pitched-up vocals, rising synthesizers, and a sudden drum beat creating a euphoric vibration-like feel. As the moment progresses, the sounds become more creatively chaotic with a repetitive guitar riff. The sound reminds me of a warning alarm that happens right before something is about to crash. This leads up to the moment where everything stops. The transition is finally here. The beat begins to creep back with a slower tempo as Frank dives into the final verses of the track. This was a moment in music I will never forget. The way Frank Ocean, and many other artists, can make a cluster of sounds seem so melodic will always boggle my brain!
Blonde is more than just an album to me; it’s an entire experience. The surreal production this album possesses makes it even more notable. It’s not just something you listen to, it’s something you feel. It’s something you experience. This album created an atmosphere that brought me much peace. It taught me the importance of duality and identity during high school; a time when I was constantly trying to figure myself out. Blonde was the navigational tool I needed to discover elements of myself that were hidden. Through the wisdom of his lyrics and the dreamy instrumentals, Blonde will always be one of the greatest albums of the 21st century. If you haven’t listened to this amazing body of art, I highly recommend giving it a listen. Find somewhere quiet and make sure you have at least 60 minutes of free time to fully soak in the experience. You can find this album and the rest of Ocean’s discography on any music streaming service! Happy listening and happy sixth anniversary to my favorite album of all time!