The last song on Endless, the visual album he released 48 hours before Blond(e), is called “Higgs,” which may or may not be a reference to the subatomic particle of the Higgs Boson. That Ocean’s new album could be spelled either way might be a reflection of his own sexuality-lyrics on the album refer to relationships with both men and women.īut I’ve actually taken to thinking about the “e” in Blond(e) in even more high-concept terms-a symbol of all the ambiguity that fascinates Ocean. The most common theory for the meaning of the spelling duality is that the word “blonde” is a gendered adjective, referring to fair-haired women, while “blond” can apply to anyone.
“I got two versions” are his first words on the first piece of Blond(e) music released to the public, the music video for “Nikes.” Incidentally, the version of that song that’s actually on the album does not have Ocean saying that.
So it seems pretty clear by now the ambiguity is intentional-and of a piece with Ocean’s larger M.O. In fact, he is attractively lost.Silicon Valley Abandons the Culture That Made It the Envy of the World Alexis C. Seigfried captures a feeling of cosmic detachment: “I can’t relate to my peers/ I’d rather live outside/ I’d rather chip my pride than lose my mind out here.” Blonde is a collection of quiet moments from the man who’s worked hard to make himself the most talked about thing on the internet. Solo is the sweet, homoerotically charged account of the space left behind by a toking buddy who is gone (“Now your baby momma ain’t so vicious, all she wants is her picket fence”). You find yourself caring anew about the “I” of these songs, who is reflected in snatches of impressionistic poetry, in sunlight, summer smoke and boxer shorts. There is still the powerful sense of a veiled introvert, and of the unlikely intimacy he achieves within this pose.
Unofficial import on yellow vinyl - Ocean has managed to preserve the musical personality that marked him out as special on 2012’s immersive, psychedelic R&B game-changer, Channel Orange.
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