For this week’s picnic track, I am going to shine the spotlight on one of Frank Ocean’s classic songs, “Sweet Life.” On “Sweet Life,” Frank Ocean and his fellow producers (Om’Mas Keith, Malay, and Pharell Williams) crafted a smooth and tropical r&b sound with an elegant, vintage touch. The Stevie Wonder-Esque electronic keyboard combined with the rhythmic bass guitar and drums are a match made in heaven. Also, the lush horn sections make the chorus sections of the song grander in comparison to the laid-back production in the verses, which was a great choice.
Of course, Frank takes advantage of the beautiful instrumental with an amazing vocal performance to match it. Not only does Frank’s singing voice sound good, but he also conveys the emotion of his lyrics effectively. Speaking of subject matter in this song, Frank Ocean is essentially challenging the wealthy people of this world to look past their bubbles and acknowledge the struggles of people who are less fortunate. I love Frank Ocean’s message here, and I love how he was able to make it mesh with his poetic lyrics and lush r&b production.
Overall, “Sweet Life” is an r&b masterpiece with smooth vocals and production that make it perfect to play during a picnic.
Photo Credit Credit: "IMG_8955" by Rorals is licensed under CC BY 2.0
You can learn more about Frank Ocean here.
About The Curator - Mussie Fitsum
I am a student at the University of Maryland, College Park where I am studying Criminal Justice and Criminology with a minor in International Development and Conflict Management. After college, I want to get my law degree and practice criminal law. I am also a big music lover that listens to r&b, hip-hop, rock, reggae, and pop. But, I am also trying to expand my taste in music as much as I can to appreciate the different amount of genres out there. I also started a music blog in August 2018; so if you like reading interesting takes on music and concert opinions, then give it a glance.
Music Blog: https://tuneexpressions.com/