I saw your game, Forrest I was screaming “run, forty-four!” But you kept running past the end zone Oh, where’d you go, Forrest? Forrest Gump In comparison, the song Forrest Gump uses the movie’s plot as a metaphor to describe a similar experience - how a person can wait for a lover that is not and will never be requited.
#PITCHFORK CHANNEL ORANGE REVIEW MOVIE#
Though the movie ends up with Jenny and Forrest together, the movie shows a moment where Forrest runs past Jenny because she had previously turned down a marriage proposal of his. In the movie Forrest Gump, the eponymous protagonist has a love interest named Jenny. According to Pitchfork, the whole track references the 1994 movie of the same name. The track Forrest Gump is another example. Thinkin’ ‘Bout You is a perfect example of how complex metaphors enrich both the quality of the album and the emotions Ocean intended to portray when he recorded Channel Orange. Frank Ocean uses the two references to symbolize the past trauma he developed with Hurricane Katrina, which he experienced when living in New Orleans at the time it happened. In the movie, its main character is swept to another world through a tornado. Also, Thinkin’ ‘Bout You references the 1939 movie Wizard of Oz. The song references It Never Rains In Southern California by Albert Hammond as both songs’ lyrics describe California’s rain as extremely rare, but always pouring. The track Thinkin’ ‘Bout You is an example, which lyrics begin as follows:Ī tornado flew around my room before you came Excuse the mess I made, it usually doesn’t rain in Southern California, much like Arizona My eyes don’t shed tears, but boy, they blow When I’m thinkin’ ‘bout you Īccording to the music platform Genius, Frank Ocean uses two cultural references to describe a relevant moment in his childhood in the song’s first verse. There are four aspects of the album’s lyrics that make them stand out over 2010s music: they uniquely reference cultural art pieces, they discuss social issues and inequality, they raise awareness about the LGBT+ community, and they show a strong cohesion that unites the album under a common mood, tone, and harmony.įirst, Channel Orange’s cultural references are masterfully crafted in the album’s lyrics. Furthermore, the album won a Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album in 2013, earned Grammy nominations for Album of the Year and Record of the Year, and it ended up as one of the most praised albums in 2012.Īnd yet, the question remains: what makes the album so extraordinary? On the one hand, the album’s lyrics are an element that contributes to Channel Orange’s greatness. Commercially, Channel Orange peaked #2 in the Billboard 200 chart in the summer of 2012. Metacritic gave the album a score of 92 over 100, and it received almost universal critical acclaim. Later on, Channel Orange was released on July 17th, 2012. The album was mostly recorded at EastWest Studios in Hollywood throughout 20. Moreover, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, and Sly and the Family Stone were all considered musical and lyrical influences over Channel Orange. He inspired his lyrics from his own experiences, along with references to movies, games, cultural masterpieces, and his birth state of California. Ocean claims he even wrote the album’s lyrics in two weeks. Ocean worked on Channel Orange alongside producers like Malay and Pharrell Williams. He started to work on the Channel Orange album after working on a previous mixtape (Nostalgia Ultra) and featuring in songs by well-renowned artists, such as Kanye West and Tyler the Creator. He was born as Christopher Edwin Braux on October 28th, 1987. With chill beats, an accurate LA vibe, and some bold and fresh lyrics, Channel Orange by Frank Ocean is an album that deserves to be in those historic Halls of Fame.įrank Ocean is, among other things, an American musician. Moreover, beyond its mainstream success, Channel Orange presented an innovative music composition and treated relevant topics in its lyrics that present an adequate criticism of today’s society. Rolling Stone, GQ Magazine, Billboard: they have all ranked Channel Orange as one of the best albums of the entire decade. Released in 2012 by the debut artist Frank Ocean, this album went on to achieve great commercial and critical success. I listened through the song’s catchy beats and, before I knew it, I found myself listening through the whole album: Channel Orange. I went into a 2010s playlist and I shuffled upon Super Rich Kids randomly. During these quarantine times, it is nice to revisit some good old classics in a Spotify playlist.