In Frank Ocean's "Ivy", he explores the pain of heartbreak but admits that "the feeling still deep down is good" and he's learned from the experience. The song starts out with a dreamy but very present guitar that mirrors the lyrics' introspective tone. Frank Ocean comes in with his signature voice and already, listeners feel like they're floating.
Soon after, however, Frank Ocean reaches higher into his range and his voice sways and pulls at listener's heartstrings. Despite not being very far along in the song, listeners are attached to his words, waiting in suspense for the next thing.
Throughout the song, the guitar seems to sing its own melody though always complementing Frank Ocean's voice. It reflects his past relationship; independent but still in perfect harmony. Similarly, his drastic changes in where in his range his voice sits might reflect the hate and love he feels towards his lover. Every choice in "Ivy" seems intentional and perfectly sculpted to the lyrics and I can't help but indulge.
Once you've relaxed into the mellow bridge though, no one can say that they expected what came next. Frank Ocean is constantly doing the unexpected and follows with a chorus whose voices startle listeners, yet still appear beautiful. The chorus soon morphs into a single scream at the end, a complete 180 from the beginning of the track, and leaves listeners with a burst of energy rather than being haunted. Though you might think the song is over then, Frank Ocean leaves another 20 seconds of just silence with some knocks and random sounds, drawing us back to reality.
"Ivy" is an absolutely beautiful and versatile song that truly reaches into the soul with its lyrics and melody and from THE Frank Ocean, I would expect nothing less.
You can learn more about will Frank Ocean here:
About the Curator: Rhea Patil
As an 18 year old who just moved to New York City to study Music Business at NYU, I’m constantly finding myself in unfamiliar territory and have come to realize I’m not going to settle in anytime soon. So, while I’ve been exploring the city and growing from each experience, I’ve racked up a pretty extensive list of the best music I’ve come across and want to keep sharing this art with you. When I'm not discovering and sharing new music though, I'm writing and creating my own music to share with the world. In fact, I’m working on releasing my debut EP right now! If you want to know more about me or this project, connect with me on instagram!