Solo (Frank Ocean song)

Last updated
"Solo"
Song by Frank Ocean
from the album Blonde
ReleasedAugust 20, 2016 (2016-08-20)
Genre Alternative R&B
Length4:17
Label Boys Don't Cry
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Solo" is a song by American R&B singer Frank Ocean, released as a part of his 2016 studio album Blonde . Ocean wrote the song with frequent collaborator Malay Ho [ citation needed ], and produced it with English musician James Blake. The song features additional vocals by American singer Jazmine Sullivan, who previously appeared on Ocean's visual album Endless . The track charted at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, despite not being released as a single.

Contents

Background

"Solo" features additional vocals by American singer Jazmine Sullivan, who provided vocals for four tracks on Endless : "Hublots", "Alabama", "Wither" and "Rushes".

Composition and lyrics

"Solo" is an alternative R&B song that features church organs played by James Blake. [1] The song is in the key of E♭ major. [2] [3] Ocean sings in falsetto. [4] The track addresses the pain of living a solo life through a coming of age perspective while maintaining an upbeat sound. [5] The title is a double entendre. It can be interpreted as 'solo' as in alone or 'so low' as in feeling sad. [6] Similar to Ocean's song Novacane, the title word "Solo" is sung receptively. Katharine Gardias of California Polytechnic State University interprets this as a way "to emphasize its meaning". [3]

In the lyrics "inhale, in hell, there's heaven", Ocean explores a non-traditional view of hell and heaven. Katharine Gardias of California Polytechnic State University interprets this line as Ocean getting high in order to see the good in "the worst situations". [3] Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork refers to this line as "the smoked-out emptiness". [7] In the second verse of the track Ocean shifts to the harsh reality of being alone. Donna-Claire Chesman of DJBooth interprets his lyric "I'm skipping showers and switching socks, sleeping good and long" "as an allusion to feeling depressed". [8]

Critical reception

In a positive critique of the song, Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork calls 'Solo' "a stunning piece of songwriting that ultimately finds some peace with being alone. It sounds like a friend". [7] Donna-Claire Chesman of DJBooth calls the track "the song you play, really, when you want to surrender". [8] Additionally, Rob Harvilla from the Ringer claims 'Solo' to be "the next great Frank Ocean song". [1] The track was also ranked by Billboard at number 96 on their Billboard Hot 100 chart. In a less positive online review, Chris Author was initially "confused by the randomness of the lyrics". [9]

Cover performances

New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde performed a cover of "Solo" at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC while on her Melodrama World Tour. [10] Lorde has previously mentioned that her album, Melodrama , was inspired by Frank Ocean's album Blonde . [10] Grant Rindner of Complex writes that Lorde makes the song her own by slowing "down the final chorus, wringing every drop of drama from Ocean's celestial and apocalyptic lyrics". [11]

In another cover, American singer-songwriter Halsey posted a cover of "Solo" to her Twitter account on April 24, 2019. [12] The singer mentions in her tweet that she sang the song to herself everyday while on tour, saying it fills her "with the feeling of home". [12] Jordan Darville of Fader writes that Halsey's vocals give the song a "heartwarming boost". [12]

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2016)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 [13] 96
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [14] 38

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [15] Gold45,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [16] Silver200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. 1 2 Harvilla, Rob (2016-08-21). "The Next Great Frank Ocean Song Is Finally Here". The Ringer. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
  2. ↑ Musescore. "Solo Piano Score - Frank Ocean". Musescore.com. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  3. 1 2 3 Gardias, Katharine. "A Dip Into Frank Ocean's Music and Marketing". digitalcommons.calpoly.edu.
  4. ↑ "Frank Ocean and Andre 3000 take turns flying "Solo" | Pretty Much Amazing" . Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  5. ↑ Chatani, Sydney. "Album Review: Frank Ocean's 'Blonde'". UNF Spinnaker. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  6. ↑ King, Jason; Powers, Ann (2016-08-22). "Detangling Frank Ocean's 'Blonde': What It Is And Isn't". NPR. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  7. 1 2 "Frank Ocean: Blonde / Endless". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  8. 1 2 Chesman, Donna-Claire. "A Frank Ocean Song for the Morning After a Bar Fight". DJBooth. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  9. ↑ Author, Chris (2018-08-02). "Half A Livestream of Dissect's "Solo by Frank Ocean" Episode". Medium. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  10. 1 2 "Watch Lorde Cover Frank Ocean's "Solo"". Pitchfork. 2018-03-02. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  11. ↑ "Lorde's Live Cover of Frank Ocean's "Solo" is a Mesmerizing Must-Watch". Complex. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  12. 1 2 3 "Halsey shares cover of Frank Ocean's "Solo"". The FADER. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  13. ↑ "Frank Ocean Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  14. ↑ "Frank Ocean Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  15. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Frank Ocean – Solo". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  16. ↑ "British single certifications – Frank Ocean – Solo". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved September 2, 2023.
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