channel, ORANGE
Channel Orange was a breaking point for R&B and Hip-Hop as it was introduced by a letter from Frank Ocean's tumblr describing his love for another man. A love story that was portrayed throughout Channel Orange and was an inspiration to the whole album. Back in 2012, many thought this as something revolutionary, as coming out as a black R&B/Hip-Hop artist was very uncommon - especially just as your career is about to take off. Frank has never directly said what his sexual orientation is (neither should he), but this letter did so much for many artists. 10 years later, we still how queer artists are more common in hip-hop; Lil Nas X, Kevin Abstract, Syd, Young M.A etc.
Channel Orange is the debut studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Frank Ocean. It was released on July 10, 2012, by Def Jam Recordings.
Thinkin' Bout You
“Thinkin Bout You” is the first single on channel ORANGE. Frank originally wrote it for Bridget Kelly but after his reference track leaked he recorded a higher-quality version and put it out. Frank tries to act tough when reflecting back on a past relationship, but ultimately reveals he still has strong feelings for his ex-lover, and wonders if they have been able to move on or feel the same way he does. The track was performed on Saturday Night Live, and was also nominated for record of the year in the 2012 Grammys.
Fertilizer
A short interlude that opens up the darker themes on the album. Over what sounds like a 1950s radio program and matching static, Ocean begs his love not to treat him like the titular bullshit. But the sorrow in his voice and the painful laugh track tell us he’s not having much luck.
Sierra Leone
In “Sierra Leone,” Frank talks to a (fictional) younger version of himself who fooled around and got a girl pregnant.
He uses the extended metaphor of Sierra Leone’s “pink skies” to refer to his the girl’s vagina and womb, all the while discussing maturing in the face of impending parenthood. Whilst he’s an aloof and irresponsible “teenager” at the start of the track, he’s a seemingly responsible father figure by the close. Though the story is fictional, this kind of emotional maturity holds special weight for Frank – his own father left his family when he was five years old, leaving him without this kind of upbringing.
Sweet Life
The fifth track off of Frank Ocean’s full length debut, channel ORANGE, “Sweet Life” provides a reflective look into the effects of wealth.
In the song, Frank explores the idea of how money and wealth “numbs” people to the problems of the outside world. Frank ironically asks, “why see the world when you got the beach?” to challenge those who live in excess to escape their bubble and acknowledge the struggles of people less fortunate than them.
Not Just Money
This is actually just one of Frank’s friend’s mom, Rosie Watson, scolding him. The homie recorded it (cuz it’s just too damn funny) and gave it to Frank to use on the album.
Apparently the people at Def Jam thought it was a serious paid actress. Rosie Watson would reprise her role as a scolding mother on Ocean’s second album, Blonde, appearing on the track “Be Yourself.” This skit is fittingly followed by “Super Rich Kids” – a song about wasting money, partying, etc.
Super Rich Kids
The song elaborates on how a life full of material worth can never fulfill someone like love and happiness can. In the final verse, the character Frank is embodying falls (or jumps) from the roof he started his day on.
Only “Super Rich Kids” is a bit more harrowing—there’s something sad, something hopeless about how Frank sings “It’s good times”.
Pilot Jones
In track 8 of Frank Ocean’s 2012 Channel Orange album, he discusses the topic of first love and compares it with a drug by using the double entendre Pilot Jones.
This is because a pilot is one who drives or steers, likening how lovers are “jonesing” or craving each other to a pilot that is driving them toward each other. Alternatively, a pilot episode is the first in any line of a TV series, hinting at this being a first love. Further adding to this extended metaphor is that the first love he discusses in the song may or may not smoke frequently, so he could be using drugs as an easy comparison to the love that they share.
Crack Rock
On the 9th track off channel ORANGE, Ocean speaks about a man overcome by an addiction to crack cocaine, and comments on the issues of the so-called “War on Drugs” in America.
“Crack Rock” of course can literally mean what the man is a user of, but also the word “crack” can be like a cracked rock, which can be interpreted into the split of this man with his life. He has lost everything, and is now alone. The “crack” has come between him and his family, and just his life in general.
Pyramids
This is Frank Ocean’s near 10 minute long tale of the ancient history of the Black woman, and her gradual decline from a Queen in her homeland to her now degrading role in the Western Hemisphere. She is no longer revered but used and abused by men who would have died to protect her honor many centuries ago.
In Ocean’s song, he narrates a similar happening with him and his woman. Now that she became a traitor and left him for the enemy, her decision has backfired on her—because she is not an entity of glory and honor anymore, but of dishonor. She is reduced to a common stripper who is now taking care of her man who has no job. It’s almost as if “the king” is paying her back for what she did, because the narrator speaks of his woman stripping to “keep a nigga bills paid.”
Lost
The protagonist in the song is a drug supplier who uses his girlfriend as a drug mule. His lover gets lost in the intensity of the jet-setting lifestyle of drug trafficking and subsequent money and lavish gifts that come along with it. He believes that one day she will live a normal life away from this criminal lifestyle, but it must come after one last smuggle, which leads to another one last smuggle.
White
This cut from Channel Orange is a relaxed instrumental version of Frank’s song “White” from The Odd Future Tape Vol. 2
The song features a guitar solo from John Mayer, who also solos on “Pyramids” and went on to collaborate with Ocean on “Wildfire”.
Monks
Frank discusses the relationship he had with a female groupie he had met on a tour. He continuously compares the audience at his tours to Buddhist monks and their spiritual idol (Dalai Lama).
Bad Religion
Frank Ocean initiates a makeshift therapy session in the backseat of a cab on this sorrowful track.
Pink Matter
A play on the term “gray matter,” the substance that makes up the brain, “Pink Matter” is a meditation on the female anatomy, desire, and fantasy.
The song features OutKast member André 3000, who also plays guitar on the track. The song almost featured Big Boi grabbing a verse, but after discussion Big Boi and André decided they couldn’t do an OutKast reunion on somebody else’s record.
Forrest Gump
“Forrest Gump” is the sixteenth and penultimate track on Frank Ocean’s debut album, Channel ORANGE.
The song makes considerable reference to the 1994 comedy-drama film Forrest Gump. Frank wrote this song from the perspective of Forrest Gump’s love interest, Jenny. This song serves as a metaphor for the feelings Frank still harbors for his first love, the man he wrote about in his Tumblr post.
End
“End” serves as the closer to channel ORANGE on streaming services. The physical releases of the album would have Golden Girl featuring Tyler, The Creator instead.
Although not confirmed by Frank himself, the piece is popularly theorized to be inspired by a scene from the 2006 film, ATL, which features characters New-New and Rashad exchanging conversation in a similar setting.
channel, ORANGE
Frank Ocean
2012
17 songs
55 min 47 sec