These views don’t show up on everybody’s radars because most publications maintain some level of responsibility, and to be homophobic in 2012 is to be ignorant. One comment on a post about his coming out directed Ocean to “die of AIDS.” People on social networking sites have called him a faggot, expressed disgust, and vowed to never listen to his music again. Since coming out, Frank Ocean has received death threats. These views may seem universal, but they are not. When you read about Frank Ocean’s coming out in the media now, you’ll probably notice a very supportive stance being taken, even by the mostly neutral media outlets. Think “The Times They Are a-Changin'” and “Give Peace A Chance,” or “What’s Going On.” And not to say that Frank Ocean’s subtle allusions to homosexuality in his lyrics carry that kind of weight, but it’s hard to think of a better reflection of cultural shift in music than the one emerging now. Some of the best songs in the history of music are ones that meant something not only because of a good melody or effective lyrics, but because they spoke to a certain time, a hard-to-capture feeling, and the very specific climate that shaped them. These factors not only affect the music, but they sometimes give a weight to a release that’s about more than just the sounds we end up hearing. Yes, maybe these things shouldn’t change how we judge the music, but they do matter.
Just like we shouldn’t ignore that Eminem is white or that A$AP Rocky is from New York or that Nicki Minaj is a woman. We shouldn’t ignore that Frank Ocean came out. It’s impossible to ignore, and it’s wrong to dismiss as a non-factor.
If you’re on the Internet, you’ve seen this. “Okay, that was unexpected, but whatever.”Įxtra nipples are whatever, but it’s 2012, and homosexuality is still a hot button issue. There are people who are hateful and angry, people who are proud and supportive, and people who are completely neutral about the issue, as if they’ve just been told that their dog has a hidden extra nipple hidden under its hair. Even if you still haven’t listened to Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange in full, you probably already have some feelings about it.įrank Ocean’s coming out has sparked a bubbling pool of very different reactions. I came really close to listening to Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange and writing a proper review, but the more I thought about this album, the less sense that made.
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