The Best of Frank Ocean's 2017 Blonded Radio Mixes

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By m_x_ 18 Oct 2017, 11:22am

With seven episodes featuring nearly 200 songs, the music Frank Ocean selects for his Blonded Radio show is a treasure trove of delights for anyone who appreciates the reclusive artist and is in need of new music recommendations.

The last twelve months have been one of Frank Ocean's most prolific years. The release of not one but two new albums in August 2016, Endless and Blonde, was followed by the launch of Blonded Radio. The Beats 1 radio show features Frank Ocean's eclectic blend of favorite tunes as well as his own new music.

Each episode of Blonded Radio includes some unexpected highlights and a diverse selection that will expand your musical horizons. We've picked a standout song for each episode and you can find a nearly complete Spotify playlist containing most of Frank's selections below.

Episode 001: Sade - "Love is Stronger Than Pride"

One of Sade's lesser known songs, "Love is Stronger Than Pride" features a moving instrumental flow that blends with Sade's soul-stirring voice to perfection. Listen as she recalls a heartbreak and shares a message of everlasting love and forgiveness despite her loss.

Episode 002: Mary Lou Williams - "St. Martin de Porres"

The jazz and soul pianist was described by Duke Ellington as "perpetually contemporary (...) her music maintains a quality that is timeless. She is like soul on soul." The haunting vocal composition tells the story of St. Martin de Porres who spent most of his life tending to the poor and sick and who is today regarded as the patron saint of interracial people and all those who seek racial harmony. Mary Lou Williams dedicated a substantial part of her life supporting musicians in need, much in the spirit of the saint.

Episode 003: Isaiah Rashad - "Don't Matter"

Frank Ocean is a big OutKast fan (André 3000 also appears both on Channel Orange and Blonde.) So it's no wonder why Ocean would select "Don't Matter" from the debut album of rising star Isaiah Rashad. The song is reminiscent of OutKast's "B.O.B.", which is no surprise since Rashad is a big OutKast admirer himself. The result is a fast-paced, addictive beat delivering a flow that's full of energy.

Episode 004: Jazmine Sullivan - "Mascara"

In "Mascara," R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan sings about the impact of social constructs on women and dealing with the pressures of trying to keep up with appearances while hiding their own flaws. It must have struck a cord with Frank Ocean whose music also tenderly deals with the emotional complexity of gender and sexuality.

Episode 005: Sébastien Tellier - "La Ritournelle"

For the fifth installment of Blonded Radio, Frank Ocean played a song that was the perfect way to end the episode. "La Ritournelle" by French artist Sébastien Tellier is likely to give you goosebumps every time you listen to it, leaving you pondering about existentialism and feeling a mild sense of desolation or confusion. The spellbinding drums played by Nigerian Tony Allen (Fela Kuti's drummer) and orchestral arrangements by French pianist and composer Emmanuel d'Orlando really elevate the song to a transcendental level that will make you see your life flash before your eyes.

Episode 006: Ryuichi Sakamoto - "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence"

"Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" by Ryuichi Sakamoto is an international timeless classic. It was released in 1983 as part of the musical score for the British-Japanese movie of the same name, which starred David Bowie and Ryuichi Sakamoto himself. Sakamoto won the 1983 BAFTA Award for Best Film Music for the soundtrack and the emotional piano composition remains his most famous work.

Episode 007: La Lupe - "Que Te Pedí"

La Lupe is one of the most colorful, charismatic and tragic characters among Frank Ocean's selected artists. With "Que Te Pedí," the Queen of Latin soul gives a dramatic performance which could be the soundtrack of a Pedro Almodóvar film. We could easily imagine Frank Ocean in his living room lip-syncing the song to his lover, using a TV remote as a microphone. La Lupe's favorite audio engineer and producer, Fred Weinberg, described her as a "hurricane coming in" due to her intense presence during their recording sessions.