Meaning of “Solo” by Frank Ocean
To begin with, the title of this Frank Ocean track carries a dual meaning. On one hand, “solo” represents the state of being by oneself. On the other, it can be interpreted as “so low,” alluding to the deep emotional troughs experienced in Frank’s solitary and love-deprived existence.
The Lyrics of “Solo”
In the first verse and chorus, Frank paints a picture of feeling isolated and navigating personal experiences solo, a term repeatedly emphasized. Frank describes intense and perhaps reckless moments, like “dirty dancing” by himself under the influence of acid, a kind of drug.
He switches between feeling connected, sharing a vibe with someone, to wanting to be solo again, illustrating a conflict of emotions. The words “inhale, in hell, there’s heaven” suggest finding moments of peace amidst chaos.
The imagery of “a bull and a matador dueling in the sky” possibly represents the inner battle he’s experiencing. Throughout, the chorus emphasizes a sense of personal turmoil, a world “on fire,” hinting at a broader societal unrest, yet indicating there are glimpses of heaven in hellish scenarios.
“It’s hell on Earth and the city’s on fire
Inhale, in hell, there’s heaven
There’s a bull and a matador dueling in the sky
Inhale, in hell, there’s heaven
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Solo
Solo”
In the second verse, Frank digs deeper into the theme of loneliness and touches upon more personal and vulnerable topics such as sexual relations and the ramifications they can have, including a mention of a visit to a clinic that “killed” his soul.
Frank’s line about switching socks and skipping showers gives a raw look into his state of mind, perhaps indicating depression or a lack of self-care. The verse gives a peek into a complicated relationship scenario where there is a child involved, and he cannot “fly solo” due to his responsibilities.
Towards the end, he alludes to feeling regret over a lost relationship, with the line “it’s just me and no you”. The repetition of the word “solo” throughout the song works to underline the loneliness and inner turmoil that is echoed throughout the lyrics.
Credits for “Solo”
This was composed by Frank Ocean alongside Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer Malay Ho. In producing “Solo”, Frank sought the assistance of English singer-songwriter and producer James Blake. In addition to his production duties, James also played the keyboards on this track.
When was “Solo” released?
It was released on 20th August, 2016. It came out together with its album “Blonde”. The album in question is Frank’s second studio album. It should be noted that “Blonde” is widely recognized as one of the greatest albums in the entire history of recorded music.
Did this song chart?
Yes. “Solo” charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Here, it managed to reach a peak position of 96. It achieved this despite being a non-single release. It also charted on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. On this listing, it enjoyed a top-40 hit status.
Who is the female vocalist on the song?
That voice you hear belongs to one Jazmine Sullivan. Jazmine is a soul and R&B singer from the United States. This wasn’t the first time she had worked with Frank Ocean. The pair had earlier worked on multiple other Frank Ocean tracks, including “Alabama”.
