Venting about his decision to drop the record his own way, he took to Twitter on March 1, 2011:
"i. did. this. not ISLAND DEF JAM. that's why you see no label logo on the artwork that I DID. guess its my fault for trusting my dumbass lawyer and signing my career over to a failing company. fuck Def Jam & any company that goes the length of signing a kid with dreams & talent w/ no intention of following through. fuck em. now back to my day. i want some oatmeal and toast. brunch swag."
As a member of the Odd Future (OFWGKTA) collective, his sound is distinctively soulful/r&b influenced, yet done in a way that could pass for something totally different. As Tyler, the Creator states, “It’s Smooth Ass Music About Bitches, Relationships And Being A Rich Young Nigga…But In A Swagged Out Way.”
Ocean was evacuated from the University of New Orleans to Los Angeles, California just as Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005, and stayed in Los Angeles to pursue a music career. Ocean joined Los Angeles based collective OFWGKTA, who he met through mutual friends, at the end of 2009. In the end of 2009, he met Tricky Stewart, who helped Ocean sign a contract with Def Jam Recordings as an artist, however, he was initially unable to build a relationship with the company. In 2010, he changed his name from Christopher "Lonny" Breaux to Christopher Francis Ocean via a legal website. In an April 2011 interview, Ocean intimated that his relationship with Def Jam has strengthened since the release of his mixtape. On April 28, 2011, Ocean was arrested on unspecified charges by the LAPD, and was released on the morning after on April 29, 2011. Ocean joined his OFWGKTA bandmates for the first time on tour from May 12 to May 19, 2011. On May 31, 2011, Def Jam released the single Novacane on iTunes soon followed by Swim Good Taken from his mixtape Nostalgia, ULTRA. His first 'proper' album, Channel Orange was released on July 17, 2012.
In 2016, He released the visual album Endless alongside his second studio album Blonde, following several years of delays. Blonde debuted at number one in the United States and United Kingdom.
In 2017, Ocean released several singles, including Chanel and Lens, through his Blonded Radio show, and made several appearances on other songs by artists like Calvin Harris, A$AP Mob, and Tyler, the Creator.
One Look
Frank Ocean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I told myself I had to have it
I looked, but I do not touch
Wondering why you walk like that (that that that)
There was something in those jeans
Locked up
It was dying to be free
And it was bound to happen, oh
Didn't have a pick up line to use
Way to cool, way too cool
And instead I'm hoping you're watching me too
Like I watched you
It took one look
Just that one look
What was I to do but look?
Oh, I couldn't stop staring
Oh, couldn't run away from you
No, didn't stop
No, no, just took on look
That's a good look baby (baby)
That's a good look, darling
That's a good look, good look
Such a good look
My eyes must have been on drugs
You calling me, check me so crazy
I couldn't see the floor beneath you
But, baby, I could see you pacing on
Thin air, mid-air, no
Long brown hair swinging, no
Red bottoms in your high heels
Like I'm watching a Blu-Ray
You in HD baby
Didn't know what to say
I'm way too cool, way too cool
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
And I, you know I'm hoping you're watching me too
Oh yeah, you know it's true
I wanna stare at you some more
When I can feel you in my soul
I'm not looking from the outside
I could feel your hands in mine
I wanna grab on your body
Touching that booty
Feeling on your booty
Say that you love it
And you said it's all mine
The song "One Look" by Frank Ocean is a sensual love song about desire, longing, and the overwhelming feeling of attraction. The lyrics convey a sense of fascination and being entranced with someone's physical appearance, and the singer is unable to look away or ignore their attraction. The line "I looked, but I do not touch" suggests restraint, but at the same time, the singer seems unable to resist the temptation to touch. The image of "something in those jeans locked up" adds to the sense of forbidden temptation, as does the line "it was bound to happen."
The second verse of the song continues with the theme of being too cool to approach the person, but hoping they are watching back. The refrain of "just one look" emphasizes the power of visual attraction and how it can lead to a desire for physical closeness. The line "my eyes must have been on drugs" suggests that this visual attraction is a kind of intoxication, that it can render the person unable to focus on anything else.
The final verse of the song is more explicitly sexual, with the images of grabbing, touching, and feeling. The repetition of "touching that booty" emphasizes the physicality of the desire, but it is framed within the context of the singer feeling a deeper connection with the person. In the final lines of the song, the singer references the other person's declaration of love, suggesting that this attraction has become a reciprocal, mutual feeling.
In summary, "One Look" is a song about the initial stages of attraction, where visual desire and physical attraction can be so overpowering that the person is unable to resist their desire to be close to the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen it and I liked it more
I have viewed and appreciated something before.
I told myself I had to have it
I convinced myself that I needed to obtain it.
I looked, but I do not touch
I gazed at it, but did not physically engage with it.
Wondering why you walk like that (that that that)
Questioning as to why you walk with that specific mannerism.
There was something in those jeans
There was a quality present in the pair of jeans you are wearing.
Locked up
Contained or restricted.
It was dying to be free
It had a strong desire to be liberated.
And it was bound to happen, oh
It was inevitable, oh.
Didn't have a pick up line to use
I did not have a pre-prepared conversational starter to use.
Way to cool, way too cool
Exhibiting an excess amount of style, swag or confidence.
And instead I'm hoping you're watching me too
Preferring to attract attention from the individual in question as opposed to initiating conversation.
It took one look
It only required a singular instance of observing.
Just that one look
Merely that singular glance.
What was I to do but look?
What other option did I have besides viewing?
Oh, I couldn't stop staring
Oh, it was impossible to not continually gaze.
Oh, couldn't run away from you
Oh, I lacked the capacity to escape from you.
No, didn't stop
No, it did not cease.
No, no, just took one look
No, no, I only viewed on a single occasion.
That's a good look baby (baby)
That is a pleasant or enjoyable appearance you have, my dear.
My eyes must have been on drugs
My gaze was potentially under the influence of a substance.
You calling me, check me so crazy
You're phoning and disturbing me to the point of potential insanity.
I couldn't see the floor beneath you
I was too fixated on you, to notice the ground you stood on.
But, baby, I could see you pacing on
But, my dear, I was still able to observe you pacing around.
Thin air, mid-air, no
In an imaginary or suspended space, no.
Long brown hair swinging, no
Long hair of a brown hue swaying, no.
Red bottoms in your high heels
Displaying the soles of your high heeled shoes which exhibit a red colour.
Like I'm watching a Blu-Ray
Similar to the clarity and detail of viewing a high definition Blu-Ray video.
You in HD baby
You are observed with an exceptional amount of clarity or detail, my dear.
Didn't know what to say
Unsure of what verbalisation to produce.
I'm way too cool, way too cool, yeah yeah yeah yeah
I am too excessively stylish or confident to produce a reaction or attractive display, yes, yes, yes, yes.
And I, you know I'm hoping you're watching me too
And I, you are aware that I am hopeful that you are simultaneously observing me.
Oh yeah, you know it's true
Oh yes, you acknowledge the validity of my previous sentence.
I wanna stare at you some more
I have a strong desire to gaze at you for a prolonged amount of time.
When I can feel you in my soul
When I can sense your essence within me in a profound manner.
I'm not looking from the outside
I am not observing in an exterior, surface-level manner.
I could feel your hands in mine
I am able to perceive the sensation of holding your hands interlocked with mine.
I wanna grab on your body
I have a strong desire to physically touch your body.
Touching that booty
Physically touching your buttocks.
Feeling on your booty
Experiencing a tactile sensation of clutching at your buttocks.
Say that you love it
Verbalise an affirmation of appreciating the aforementioned stimuli.
And you said it's all mine
And you proclaimed that the aforementioned stimuli pertains to my own personal possession.
Contributed by Aiden F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@spiritualcalmingnature
I've seen it and I liked it much
I told myself I had to have it
I looked, but I do not touch
Wondering why does she walk like that
(that, that)
There was something in those jeans locked up
It was dying to be free
And it was bound to happen, oh
Didn't have a pick up line to use
I was way too cool, way too cool
And instead I hoped you're watching me too
Like I watched you
It took one look, oh, oh, oh
Just that one look, oh, oh
What was I to do but look?
Oh, I couldn't stop staring
Oh, I couldn't run away from you
No, I couldn't stop
No, no, just took one look
That's a good look baby, baby
That's a good look, darling
That's a good look, good look
Such a good look
My eyes must have been on drugs
Your color and your shape looked so crazy
I couldn't see the floor beneath you
But, baby, I could see you pacing on
Thin air, mid-air, no
Long brown hair swinging, no
Red bottoms in your high heels
Like I'm watching a Blu-Ray
You in HD baby i didn't know what to say
I was way too cool, I’m way too cool
Yeah yeah yeah yeah and I
You know I'm hoping you're watching me too
Oh yeah, you know it's true
It took one look, oh, oh, oh
Just that one look, oh, oh
What was I to do but look?
Oh, I couldn't stop staring
Oh, I couldn't run away from you
No, I couldn't stop
No, no, just took one look
I wanna stare at you some more
When I can feel you in my soul
I'm not looking from the outside
I could feel your hands in mine
I wanna grab on your body
Touching that booty feeling on your booty
Say that you love it
And you said it's all mine
It took one look, oh, oh, oh
Just that one look, oh, oh
What was I to do but look?
Oh, I couldn't stop staring
Oh, I couldn't run away from you
No, I couldn't stop
No, no, just took one look
It took one look, oh, oh, oh
Just that one look, oh, oh
What was I to do but look?
Oh, I couldn't stop staring
Oh, couldn't run away from you
No, couldn't stop no, no, just took one look
That's a good look baby (baby)
That's a good look, darling
That's a good look, good look
Such a good look
That's a good look baby (baby)
That's a good look, darling
That's a good look, good look
Such a good look
@imambvr
Frankie's straight era
@JumpScaredYa
Shhhh 🤫
@ScottSilver1
Lol
@blueazure9658
August Alsina pre 2022
@aronistak8156
I mean he 50 50 now
@tinyissmall
Naa listen to thinkin bout you “a new feel” what else he talking about 🤣🤣🤣
@tinagrig4499
I cant explain how his songs make me feel. Been one of the firsts to hear his songs, and im still here. Way to go Christopher!
@beatsbykobra
He captured an era in one track. From the lyrics to the instrumental
@user-ve3jk1px5q
At first I thought you got H itler as your profile picture
@nhatanhnguyen8918
2024 still rocking this everyday !