Blonde features an abstract and experimental sound in comparison to Ocean's previous releases, encompassing styles such as R&B, pop, soul, avant-garde, indie rock, electronica, psychedelia, and hip-hop. Ocean also notably makes use of pitch shifted vocals. The Beach Boys' de facto leader Brian Wilson is recognized as a strong influence on the album's lush arrangements and layered vocal harmonies, while the guitar and keyboard rhythms on the album are considered as languid and minimal. The album's themes surrounds Ocean dealing with his masculinity and emotions, inspired by sexual experiences, heartbreak, loss and trauma. The album also features guest vocals from André 3000, Beyoncé, and Kim Burrell, among others. Production was handled by Ocean himself, alongside a variety of high-profile record producers, including Malay and Om'Mas Keith, who collaborated with Ocean on Channel Orange, as well as James Blake, Jon Brion, Buddy Ross, Pharrell Williams, and Rostam Batmanglij, among others.
In 2013, Ocean confirmed that his follow up to Channel Orange would be another concept album. In April 2014, Ocean stated that his second album was nearly finished. In June 2014, Billboard reported that the singer was working with a string of artists such as Happy Perez (whom he worked with on nostalgia, ULTRA., Charlie Gambetta and Kevin Ristro, while producers Hit-Boy, Rodney Jerkins and Danger Mouse were also said to be on board. Initially known as Boys Don't Cry and teased for a July 2015 release, the album suffered several delays and was the subject of widespread media anticipation leading up to its release. Beginning in 2013 and ending in 2016, recording for the album took place at New York's Electric Lady Studios and, after a period of writer's block, in London at Abbey Road Studios and in Los Angeles' Henson Recording Studios. Its physical release was accompanied by a magazine entitled Boys Don't Cry.
Rather than going on a typical promotional tour playing radio festivals and appearing on television shows, Ocean spent a month after the release of Blonde, traveling to countries such as China, Japan and France. He also chose not to submit Blonde for consideration at the Grammy Awards, stating: "That institution certainly has nostalgic importance... It just doesn't seem to be representing very well for people who come from where I come from, and hold down what I hold down."
Blonde received widespread acclaim, with critics praising Ocean's introspective lyrics and the album's unconventional and progressive sounds. Critics also complimented the album for challenging the conventions of R&B and pop music. Supported by its lead single Nikes, the album debuted at number one in several countries, including the United States. It earned first week sales of 275,000 with album-equivalent units in the US, with 232,000 being pure sales, and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Among other publications, Time named it the best album of 2016. Metacritic named it one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year by music publications. In 2020, Pitchfork named it the best album of the 2010s and Rolling Stone ranked it at number #79 on their updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
The songs on the album were collectively streamed more than 65.4 million times, second behind only the streams for Views by Drake during that week. Forbes estimated that Blonde earned Ocean nearly one million in profits after one week of availability, attributing this to him releasing the album independently and as a limited exclusive release on iTunes and Apple Music. Blonde has generated 404 million on-demand audio streams for its songs in the US through February 9, 2017, according to Nielsen Music. The album has earned 620,000 album-equivalent units, 348,000 of which were copies sold. On July 9, 2018, Blonde was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
– Frank Ocean, 2016
"Boys do cry, but I don't think I shed a tear for a good chunk of my teenage years. It's surprisingly my favorite part of life so far. Surprising, to me, because the current phase is what I was asking the cosmos for when I was a kid."
Nikes
Frank Ocean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They looking for a check
Tell 'em it ain't likely
Said she need a ring like Carmelo
Must be on that white like Othello
All you want is Nikes
But the real ones just like you
Just like me
I don't play, I don't make time
But if you need dick I got you and I yam from the line
Pour up for A$AP
RIP Pimp C
RIP Trayvon, that nigga look just like me
Woo, fuckin' buzzin', woo!
That my lil cousin, he got a lil trade
His girl keep the scales, a lil mermaid
We out by the pool, some lil mermaids
Me and them gel
Like twigs with them bangs
Now that's a real mermaid
You been holding your breath
Weighted down
Punk madre, punk papa
He don't care for me
But he cares for me
And that's good enough
We don't talk much or nothin'
But when we talkin' about somethin'
We have good discussion
I met his friends last week, feels like they're up to somethin'
That's good for us
We'll let you guys prophesy
We'll let you guys prophesy
We gon' see the future first
We'll let you guys prophesy
We gon' see the future first
Living so the last night feels like a past life
Speakin' of the, don't know what got into people
Devil be possessin homies
Demons try to body jump
Why you think I'm in this bitch wearing a fucking Yarmulke?
Acid on me like the rain
Weed crumbles in the glitter
Rain, glitter
We laid out on this wet floor
Away turf, no Astro
Mesmerized how the strobes glow
Look at all the people feet dance
I know that your nigga came with you
But he ain't with you
We only human and it's humid in these Balmains
I mean my balls stickin' in my jeans
We breathin' pheromones, Amber Rose
Sippin' pink-gold lemonades
Feelin'
I may be younger but I'll look after you
We're not in love, but I'll make love to you
When you're not here I'll save some for you
I'm not him but I'll mean somethin' to you
I'll mean somethin' too
I'll mean somethin' too
You got a roommate he'll hear what we do
It's only awkward if you're fuckin' him too
Frank Ocean's song Nikes is a complicated track that touches upon themes of decadence, materialism, and cliched desires. In the opening lines, Frank speaks to a group of women looking for something out of reach, specifically, shoes. Here, the shoes are a symbol of aspiration, materialism, and status, which is highlighted by the line "They looking for a check/Tell 'em it ain't likely." The song's chorus then commences, where Frank speaks to the listeners themselves, commenting on the reality that they are no different from these women who are looking for Nikes. He says, "All you want is Nikes/But the real ones just like you/Just like me," reminding us how we all have our materialistic desires.
The song's verses are more dense and cryptic. Frank briefly touches upon sex and relationships, with lines like "I don't play, I don't make time/But if you need a dick, I got you." The song shifts in tone in the second verse, where Frank mentions important figures like A$AP Rocky, Pimp C, and Trayvon Martin. The latter is particularly significant as Trayvon Martin was a black teenager who was fatally shot by George Zimmerman, a neighbourhood watchman. The line "RIP Trayvon, that nigga look just like me" underscores the ideological gulf between Frank and the sort of superficial women he had criticised earlier in the song as it is clear that Frank is not interested in material items but social justice and racial equality. Nikes is a groundbreaking song that deconstructs and examines what it means to be a consumer and an individual in the modern world.
Line by Line Meaning
These bitches want Nikes
These women desire expensive shoes as a symbol of status
They looking for a check
They want to use the shoes to impress someone or to gain money
Tell 'em it ain't likely
They are unlikely to obtain the shoes or find what they're looking for
Said she need a ring like Carmelo
The woman wants an engagement ring similar to the basketball player Carmelo Anthony's ring as a symbol of commitment
Must be on that white like Othello
She might be under the influence of a drug or medication that changes her perception of reality, similar to what happened to Othello in Shakespeare's play of the same name
All you want is Nikes
The desire for material possessions is the main concern for many people, including the singer
But the real ones just like you
The singer implies that the true self-worth is not determined by material possessions or social status, and that we are all the same
Just like me
The artist includes himself in the group of individuals whose worth is not determined by material possessions
I don't play, I don't make time
The artist does not have time for meaningless games and relationships
But if you need dick I got you and I yam from the line
The artist is willing to provide sexual pleasure but nothing more than that, hinting at his African-American roots
Pour up for A$AP
The singer raises a drink to pay tribute to the late rapper A$AP Yams
RIP Pimp C
The artist pays tribute to the deceased rapper Pimp C
RIP Trayvon, that nigga look just like me
The singer acknowledges the tragedy of Trayvon Martin's death and reveals his personal connection to the case due to his similarity in appearance with Trayvon
Woo, fuckin' buzzin', woo!
The singer is excited and possibly high or drunk
That my lil cousin, he got a lil trade
The singer is talking about his younger relative who has a specialty or a job
His girl keep the scales, a lil mermaid
The younger relative's girlfriend is responsible for weighing or measuring a substance, and is compared to the character Ariel in a playful way
We out by the pool, some lil mermaids
The artist and his group are enjoying a relaxing time by the pool with the girlfriends present
Me and them gel
The singer gets along well with the girlfriends
Like twigs with them bangs
The girlfriends' hairstyles are compared to twigs with bangs
Now that's a real mermaid
The girlfriends are playfully compared to mermaids
You been holding your breath
The artist implies that the listener has been waiting for something to happen
Weighted down
The listener might have felt burdened or overwhelmed
Punk madre, punk papa
The singer is calling the listener's parents weak
He don't care for me
The listener's father does not care for the artist
But he cares for me
Despite the previous statement, the singer thinks that the listener's father actually does care for him
And that's good enough
The singer is satisfied with the current situation, as he feels that he has obtained some level of approval from the listener's father
We don't talk much or nothin'
The singer and the listener might not have a close relationship, as they do not communicate frequently
But when we talkin' about somethin'
When they do talk, it is about meaningful or significant things
We have good discussion
The artist and the listener have productive and engaging conversations
I met his friends last week, feels like they're up to somethin'
The singer has recently met the listener's father's friends and suspects that something is going on, perhaps regarding himself and the listener
That's good for us
The singer thinks that whatever the father's friends are planning, it will be beneficial for him and the listener
We'll let you guys prophesy
The artist will allow people to make predictions or see into the future
We gon' see the future first
The artist believes that he and his group will experience something before others do
Living so the last night feels like a past life
The artist and his group live their lives intensely, making everyday experiences memorable
Speakin' of the, don't know what got into people
The singer is discussing how people are acting strangely, and doesn't know what is causing it
Devil be possessin homies
The artist suggests that some people might be under the influence of evil forces
Demons try to body jump
The singer believes that supernatural forces are trying to take over people's physical bodies
Why you think I'm in this bitch wearing a fucking Yarmulke?
The singer reveals that he is wearing a Jewish skullcap as a form of protection from evil spirits
Acid on me like the rain
The singer compares the sensation of acid on his skin to falling rain
Weed crumbles in the glitter
The artist notes that weed is present in the glitter around him
Rain, glitter
The artist describes the setting, where rain and glitter are falling around him
We laid out on this wet floor
The singer is relaxing on a wet surface, possibly due to the rain
Away turf, no Astro
The singer is not on familiar ground, and there is no artificial grass like there would be on a sports field
Mesmerized how the strobes glow
The artist is captivated by the flashing lights of a strobe
Look at all the people feet dance
The artist is observing the crowd's reaction to the music
I know that your nigga came with you
The artist has noticed that the listener's significant other is present
But he ain't with you
Despite being physically present, the listener's significant other is emotionally distant or not involved in the same activities as the listener
We only human and it's humid in these Balmains
The artist acknowledges that everyone is human, and it is hot and uncomfortable in their designer clothes
I mean my balls stickin' in my jeans
The singer is expressing how uncomfortable he is due to the heat and his clothing
We breathin' pheromones, Amber Rose
The singer implies that everyone around him is aroused, and references the model and sex-positive advocate Amber Rose
Sippin' pink-gold lemonades
The singer and his group are drinking expensive and fancy cocktails
Feelin'
The artist simply indicates his current state of being
I may be younger but I'll look after you
The artist is willing to provide care and support to the listener despite their age difference
We're not in love, but I'll make love to you
The singer is willing to have sex with the listener despite not being in love with them
When you're not here I'll save some for you
The singer promises to save some of their sexual energy for the next time they are together
I'm not him but I'll mean somethin' to you
The artist acknowledges that he is not the perfect partner but believes he can still provide the listener with something meaningful
I'll mean somethin' too
The artist emphasizes that he can also be a significant presence in the listener's life
You got a roommate he'll hear what we do
The artist reminds the listener that their activities might be overheard by a roommate who is present
It's only awkward if you're fuckin' him too
The singer jokingly implies that the situation will only be awkward if the roommate is also involved in their sexual activities
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Christopher Edwin Breaux, James Blake Litherland, James Ryan Ho, Ommas Keith-Graham, Carl Palmer, Jeff Palmer, Harry Palmer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Introductory line, no real meaning behind it.
Every day is unpredictable, and we have no control over it.
No matter how hard we try, the future is always uncertain and out of our control.
The environment is always changing, and we can only adapt to the changes.
No matter the circumstances, life will always be what it is.
Our experiences in life shape us and influence how we react to certain situations.
Stay alert, be aware of your surroundings, and face your adversity head-on.
Life can be slow and monotonous, but it's important to keep moving forward.
Sometimes we wish things were different, but we have to work with what we have.
Change is constant and inevitable, and we must adapt accordingly.
We are confined to our natural surroundings and must find ways to thrive within them.
I will be there for you and remain reliable through thick and thin.
Stay calm and composed when things are going well.
I will not abandon you when things fall apart.
I learned how to remain dependable and support others from your example.
My upbringing and past taught me how to love and connect with others.
There is a power or higher force that we cannot control but can find solace in.
I have respect and admiration for the person who has influenced me so deeply.
Things will become easier once we've overcome certain obstacles.
In the aftermath of a disaster or tragedy.
Referring to the black community and the beauty of darker skin tones.
Going underwater.
Represents makeshift arrangements that still offer a sense of stability.
Taking risks and enjoying life, despite the danger.
The inspiration and influence of those older and more experienced than us.
An allusion to reincarnation, a second chance starting over.
Coming back to the surface after experiencing hardship.
Showing gratitude for the world that has allowed us to survive and thrive.
Being thankful for everything that we have and acknowledging our place in the universe.
Our environment and experiences offer an opportunity to learn and grow in order to survive.
We must persevere even when things get tough.
Reflecting on our lives and past experiences.
Referring to the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood.
Giving a shout-out to friends or individuals who have impacted their life.
Acknowledging people they love or admire.
Showing appreciation for the promise of eternal life or a legacy that will live on after death.
Preparing to take action, possibly to run or escape.
Trying to escape the pain and hardship of life through various vices or addictions.
Engaging in reckless behavior or coping through unhealthy means.
Looking for comfort or pleasure in the face of adversity.
Jokingly considering the benefits of eternal life or a lasting legacy.
Accepting that life, with all its joys and hardships, is finite and will eventually end.