In just five years since his official debut album, Frank Ocean has transcended the conventional notion of a “proper debut album,” showcasing the fluidity and evolution inherent in music creation. His groundbreaking understanding of music consumption empowered him to navigate away from a restrictive record deal towards a lucrative independent career. Before Blonde solidified his position as a cultural and critical force, and significantly boosted his financial success, Frank Ocean was an emerging artist, primarily known for his mixtape Channel Orange released five years prior on July 10th, and a collection of features. It may seem almost unbelievable now, but there was a time when he was simply described as “Odd Future crooner Frank Ocean.” Over the ensuing years, he has graciously invited listeners into the depths of his sensitive and complex artistic psyche, fulfilling the early promise of an artist who, even in his feature appearances, could outshine both Beyoncé and Otis Redding on Kanye West and JAY-Z’s collaborative powerhouse, Watch the Throne.
Ultimately, while acknowledging its intensity, we determined that “No Church in the Wild” doesn’t quite qualify as a quintessential Frank Ocean track to make our top 10 list. The challenge of selecting just ten Best Frank Ocean Songs from his rich body of work spanning less than a decade was indeed a formidable task.
10. Nature Feels (from Nostalgia, Ultra, 2011)
Echoing the sentiment regarding “No Church,” it’s evident that Frank Ocean draws significant inspiration here, building this mixtape gem upon the slithering disco bassline of “Electric Feel.” However, MGMT has rarely achieved such sonic brilliance since their 2007 breakthrough Oracular Spectacular, and certainly never with such provocative lyrical content. Ocean delves deep into the essence of desire, ingeniously sexualizing photosynthesis with lines like, “I’ve been meaning to f— you in the garden / Been breathing so hard we both could use the oxygen,” and connecting it to humanity’s most primal, garden-related instincts (“Feeling like Adam when he first found out this existed.”). “Nature Feels” stands out as one of the best Frank Ocean songs from his early mixtape era, showcasing his ability to transform influences into something uniquely his own.
9. Ivy (from Blonde, 2016)
Frank Ocean’s affinity for indie rock is unmistakable. From the Nostalgia, Ultra’s whimsical “What’s a Radiohead?” interlude to the name of his label, Boys Don’t Cry, he clearly appreciates intricate guitar work, which he masterfully incorporates into Blonde’s second track, “Ivy.” The shimmering, palm-muted guitar riff, co-written by former Vampire Weekend member Rostam Batmanglij, creates a pristine, percussion-less soundscape, perfectly setting the stage for Ocean’s poignant confession about lost love, this time from the perspective of the heartbreaker. “Ivy” is a testament to Frank Ocean’s versatility and his ability to blend genres to create some of the best Frank Ocean songs within his diverse catalog.
8. Bad Religion (from Channel Orange, 2013)
This profound track from Channel Orange is deeply intertwined with Frank Ocean’s public acknowledgment of his bisexuality just before the album’s release, thematically linking it to another intimate confession found earlier on the double album. In “Bad Religion,” a lovelorn Ocean confides in a taxi driver, only to be met with religious clichés. This experience leads him to the realization that pleading, whether to a higher power or a potential partner, can be a futile act. “If it brings me to my knees, it’s a bad religion,” he concludes. After oscillating between falsetto and straightforward pleas throughout much of the song, the Prince-esque scream he unleashes in the song’s climax becomes one of Channel Orange’s most defining and emotionally charged moments, making “Bad Religion” one of the best Frank Ocean songs for its raw vulnerability.
Frank Ocean's Channel Orange era, capturing the album's raw emotion
7. Nikes (from Blonde, 2016)
Ocean released Blonde just a day after Endless, his enigmatic visual album that fulfilled his contractual obligations with Def Jam, liberating him to operate entirely on his own terms. Fittingly, his first single as an independent artist was anything but a commercially driven, capitalistic venture. “Nikes” is a deeply layered, introspective dirge, rendered beautiful by its poignant subject matter. While Frank Ocean appreciates life’s simple pleasures, “Nikes” sees him transcend the superficialities of stardom to deliver one of his most profoundly moving moments: “Pour up for A$AP [Yams]/RIP Pimp C/RIP Trayvon, that n—- look just like me.” This track solidifies its place among the best Frank Ocean songs, showcasing his ability to intertwine personal grief with broader social commentary.
6. Chanel (Single, 2017)
Much attention was given to Ocean’s understated coming out, especially after many first encountered him through tracks where he expressed attraction to “a stripper booty and a rack like wowwwwwww.” “Chanel” masterfully merges these seemingly disparate facets of his persona into a captivating ode to bisexuality. The song is rich with quotable lines deserving of their own Tumblr fame, but the standout is undoubtedly, “I see both sides like Chanel.” Frank’s clever analogy between his romantic inclinations and the iconic dual-facing Chanel logo is the lyrical highlight, making “Chanel” one of the best Frank Ocean songs for its clever wordplay and bold exploration of identity.
5. Pink + White (from Blonde, 2016)
“Pink + White” boasts co-writing and co-production credits from Pharrell Williams and features backing vocals from Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, yet these impressive collaborations are almost secondary to the sheer beauty of this Frank Ocean track. Blonde’s liner notes are filled with high-profile names, which can sometimes overshadow the music itself, but in this case, they only enhance what was already one of the most sublime musical works of the year. “Pink + White” seamlessly blends ethereal melodies, delicate keystrokes, and subtle bass plucks, creating an aural equivalent to the pink and white sky Ocean describes. It perfectly captures the bittersweet essence of youthful joy amidst the pain of loss, culminating in the realization of the enduring power of memory: “This is life, life is immortality.” This track is undeniably one of the best Frank Ocean songs, showcasing his ability to evoke profound emotion through sound.
Beyonce and Pharrell Williams, collaborators on Pink + White
4. Pyramids (from Channel Orange, 2013)
This ambitious 10-minute epic stands as a centerpiece of Channel Orange for good reason. “Pyramids” is essentially an album within an album, both thematically and musically. It begins as a high-energy banger, transitioning from club-ready grandeur to a druggy, downtempo vibe, soundtracking Ocean’s multi-era Black narrative. His Cleopatra figure reigns supreme in ancient Egypt, only to become a disillusioned stripper in the song’s present-day segment, mirroring the despair of her clientele.
Adding a lighter note, Ocean’s SNL performance of “Pyramids” remains iconic. After his vocal performance, he casually moves across the stage to play video games while his friend and album collaborator, John Mayer, continues to deliver a guitar solo. “Pyramids” is considered among the best Frank Ocean songs for its sheer scope and narrative ambition.
3. Slide (from Calvin Harris’ Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, 2017)
While technically credited to Calvin Harris, can anyone genuinely think of “Slide” as primarily a Calvin Harris song? The DJ-producer’s breezy, sun-drenched disco grooves provide Frank Ocean with his closest brush with a summer anthem, and remarkably, his most significant Top 40 hit to date, reaching No. 9 on Billboard’s Pop Songs chart. The track also showcases incredible chemistry among its collaborators. Ocean playfully muses about emptying his bank account for a Picasso in the intro, a painter he doesn’t explicitly name, but Offset name-drops Picasso in his guest verse. “Slide” is one of the best Frank Ocean songs, demonstrating his versatility in collaborative projects and his reach into mainstream pop.
2. Thinkin Bout You (from Channel Orange, 2013)
Anyone still dwelling on Ocean’s debated Grammy performance needs to revisit his truly defining TV moment: the captivating rendition of “Thinkin Bout You.” It’s a masterclass in vocal control, effortlessly shifting from spoken-word pain to soaring falsetto. Moments like these in this demo-turned-single deliver a genuine emotional punch – the result of a heartbreak song utilizing sonic emptiness to amplify its impact. Minimalist and tender, Ocean used “Thinkin Bout You” to openly address an unrequited love, which he later revealed, upon Channel Orange’s release, was directed towards a man. “Thinkin Bout You” is undoubtedly one of the best Frank Ocean songs, renowned for its emotional depth and vocal performance.
1. Novacane (from Nostalgia, Ultra, 2011)
Frank Ocean has undoubtedly evolved as a lyricist, but it’s no slight to name a debut mixtape track as his best to date, because from the start, his talent was undeniable. He attended Coachella 2010 not as a performer, but as a fan – just like many of his listeners! – and perfectly captured the affluent ennui of millennial festival-goers with this hazy, wobbling, instantly quotable hit. The descent from flirting with a captivating woman about JAY-Z and Z-Trip to a cocaine-fueled haze amidst domestic disarray is intentionally unsettling, but Frank Ocean has never aimed to simply please.
Years later, The Weeknd would achieve greater mainstream success with a song about numbness, but “Novacane” remains the track that can make you abandon the VIP section in favor of a genuine, natural high. “Novacane” earns its place as the best Frank Ocean song, encapsulating his early genius and his knack for capturing the zeitgeist with raw honesty.
