While working in the studio, Ocean played Marvin Gaye, Jim Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Sly & the Family Stone, and Stevie Wonder for inspiration. Ocean “sings with casually expressive vocals, free-form flow, conversational crooning, and alternating falsetto, and tenor registers.” WK The album was a mix of neo-soul, alternative R&B, electro-funk, jazz-funk, and psychedelia. While much was made before and during the album’s release about Ocean’s possible homosexuality or bisexuality, the real story was the music itself. He also attracted Tyler, the Creator André 3000, John Mayer, and Earl Sweatshirt into guesting on the album. Ocean wrote songs for the album with producer and songwriter Malay, who’d also worked on Ultra, Nostalgia, and he attracted Pharrell Williams as one of the album’s producers. It was named Album of the Year by Acclaimed Music, Spin magazine, and Dave’s Music Database. “He stepped into his own avant-soul territory with Channel Orange, his official debut.” RS’20 “Ocean became one of music’s most elusive superstars – shy about speaking in public, impossible to pin down musically.” RS’20 The album was nominated for an Album of the Year Grammy and won for Best Urban Contemporary Album. The former was a top 20 hit on the R&B chart and found its way onto the Billboard Hot 100. That never materialized, but singles for “Novacane” and “Swim Good” emerged. Despite a lack of conventional promotion, it developed a cult following and critical acclaim and there were even plans for Def Jam to officially release it. Lost (12/17/12, 46 AU, 53 UK, gold single)Ĥ.243 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)įrank Ocean established himself “writing pop tunes for the likes of Brandy and Justin Bieber” RS’20 and released the mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra in 2011.Super Rich Kids (with Earl Sweatshirt) (3/11/13, gold single).Thinkin’ ‘Bout You (4/17/12, 32 US, 7 RB, 94 UK, platinum single).Song Title (date of single release, chart peaks)
Sales (in millions): 0.69 US, 0.3 UK, 1.16 world (includes US and UK)