Of all the movies I have seen on the subject of Racism, this hits the point more succinctly than any other in my opinion. Atticus Fitch comments that Brock Peter's character had the gall to pity a woman who is supposed to be and is regarded as superior to him. I love the way he drives that simply but true statement home.

Random Thought

I don't think gun control would be effective at this point.  The same thing has been said about drugs, prostitution, alcohol.  It's already a crime to murder people and that has not deterred people from doing it everyday.  There are laws against possession of cocaine and we all know millions of people in this country who do it everyday.  My point is, just because you make it difficult for people to get a gun doesn't mean people can't get it.  There are 300 million guns in the USA - 1  gun per person pretty much.  Even if they "control" guns with restrictions and laws it will only affect new purchases, yet guns are so readily available to get in other ways.

My heart goes out to the children,parents, and family who have been affected in the shooting at the elementary school in CT. This has not been the first of many brutal incidents whether it may be in a school, project, or home. We as a community, as a population, and as a country need to being to find the problem and begin to come up with a solution; Reflect on past events and find out how one beings to psycologically break and do such horrific actions. This is devastating!

There are plenty of pros to having family and friends that have known you since you were young. The downside, however, is that these are the people least likely to embrace or be understanding of your life change(s). When you experience a life-altering event or go through a period of personal reflection, you are bound to change in some way, mainly in perspective or behavior. Whether the changes are positive or negative, great or small, those who know you well will notice them. Sometimes, seeing these differences will make them uncomfortable, concerned or treat you differently. This response only makes difficult life-changes that much more challenging. 

I don't watch much TV but...

This has to be the best show I have ever seen. The writers truly leave you in suspense at the end of the episode so you are literally drooling yourself until the next episode. Kerry Washington was a great pick and honestly I couldn't imagine who else could play this role as well as her. The dynamic of the cast is good, the drama is awesome, through in the politics of DC and it's every person's dream come true of suspense. I hope this lasts for a while because I am definitely hooked!!!!!

Hobbies, work experience?

I’ve been thinking…why can’t honed hobbies count as work experience? If someone indulges in photography as a hobby and they have proof that they’re rather skilled at it (such as a photo album), why can’t they put it on a resume` and apply for a photographer position at Prestige Portraits? I know that might sound funny, but seriously, why not?

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." - Melody Beattie

An overwhelming sense of thankfulness flooded me as I wrote each name down. Some have been lifelong friends, some have come in and out, many support my family in some fashion and others are the people that I wake up and share my life with on a daily basis. However, this list in no way encompasses all the people in my life that deserve my gratitude. This is just a small sample of the truly amazing people whom I have gratitude for in my heart:

Sherrell Whitfield

Eddie Whitifeld III

Deshawna Whitfield

Imani Whitfield

Antoinette Lackey

Clarence Carey

Dorothy Whitfield

Eddie Jr. Whitifeld

Roylene Franklin

Alex Clemens

Kim Glanville

Cortney Willing

Tiara Lackey

Tiana Reddic

Tina Whitfield

Elizabeth Reddic

Maurice Whitfield

Taelyn Humphry

Jodeci Coleman

Shannon Lashall

Khalil Byrd

Brandon Sturgis

Brandon Bishop

Alexis Smith

Janet Lawson

Jaime 

Ms. Case

Ms. Zeigler

Pamela Lozoff

Tamia Johnson

Hannibal Johnson

Deloris Pierce

Sheri Jefferson

Passion Jefferson

Natasha Bryant

Derrick Whitfield

Samantha Hopskins

Diane Dodge

Robert Clark

Tanisha Campbell

Alanna Taylor

Sonya Spence

Deborah Spence

Dez Johnson

Shanita Akatondé

Courtney Stocking

Kayla Kelly

Sometimes we get caught up wanting things that do not serve us based on what we do not have, all the while what we need is right there within us. The problem with this is that what we don't have and what we need are two very different things and further more what we want is a convoluted perspective. If that was confusing, we are never satisfied while justly always needing more but what we actually need is not much more than what we already have. The worst thing is that in this maze ... sometimes we miss the corridor that holds on to what we are fortunate enough to have.

Quotable Quote

"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge."-Khalil Gibran, poet & author

I'm a massive control freak and anally like to plan my life. I believe than planning and well-thought out choices reduce the likelihood of dissatisfying outcomes. I hate uncertainty, because it stifles my ability to pre-plan. In trying to embrace the lessons that have and will come during this phase of my life, I try to keep in mind that "Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge." 

With a Sweep, Giants Are Champions Again

The Giants capped off a remarkable season tonight by beating Detroit 4-3 in 10 innings to capture their second World Series title in three years.

And the city is surely celebrating.

Pictures credited to: SFGATE

Beyoncé headlining Super Bowl XLVI halftime show

The Super Bowl halftime show is an event within an event, a spectacle in itself. And 16 time Grammy winner, Beyoncé will be the headliner at XLVI. Recent halftime performances featured older artists like Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Prince, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen and The Who. I have always viewed the halftime show as a time to get appetizers, and although I respect these artists I haven't really vibed with their performances. 

Last year, Madonna performed and in my opinion she was the least entertaining part of her show. The dancers, special guest, and high budget production overshadowed her mediocre performance. The year before her the Black Eyed Peas performed and well... yeah, they sucked.

Beyoncé is my favorite performer in the world so her headlining next really excites me. I’ve found that anyone who’s skeptical about Beyonce` as an artist often becomes a believer after seeing a performance. She has many fantastic live appearances, but here are 10 that I find to be representative of her vocal ability, versatility and talent.

10.) Halo- 2009.
Beyonce` live and unplugged. Excellent showcase of her raw vocals.

09.) The Beautiful Ones/Sex on Fire-Glastonbury 2011
Her powerful and emotive rendition of a Prince classic and a Kings of Leon hit is a great testament to Beyonce’s versatility genre-wise. It stirs me every time. I go to another place when I hear this. NOT ONE Beyoncé performance has she given this much passion. She was making LOVE to the song.

08.) Star Spangled Banner-2004 Superbowl

This performance is great, not because it’s the coveted Superbowl national anthem spot, but because she didn’t ruin it by over-singing as anticipated. Upon watchinf it for the first time about 2 years ago, I thought Bey was going to do a lot of vocal acrobatics because she has a tendency for it and every Superbowl singer does so in an attempt to match the greatness of Whitney Houston’s appearance, but Bey was smart enough to realize the best way to remotely reach Whitney was to scale back and keep it classy. This moment was especially memorable for her as she won her first round of record breaking Grammys that same week. 

07.) Why Don’t You Love Me?-Glastonbury 2011

“Why Don’t You Love Me?” is one of Beyonce’s most underrated songs. The harmonies are terrific on the studio version, and the lyrics are great and relatable to many. In her 1st performance of this song, Bey is soulful, vivacious and "takes us to church". I love the unfiltered energy and love the band even more. Her all-female band shows up and shows out.

06.) Love On Top-MTV Video Music Awards 2011

 This performance got a lot of attention because she revealed her baby bump for the 1st time publicly, but the bump wasn’t the only star in this show. Her vocals are INSANE here. Towards the end of the song, the chorus is repeated with quick, modulating key changes, which is very difficult to sing as the notes are high and maintaining breath and correct pitch is tasking. With not as much as a neck vein showing, Bey effortlessly delivers.

05.) Crazy in Love - I Am... World Tour 2009

This performance Beyoncé performs her 2003 hit and shows why she is an international superstar and considered the premier performer of her generation.

04.) Proud Mary-Kennedy Center Honors 2005 

Bey makes a potent attempt to fill the shoes of the almighty Tina Turner for her Kennedy Center induction without losing a single breath or missing a beat.

03.) Sweet Dreams/Dangerously in Love/Sweet Love-I Am…Yours Las Vegas 2009

 Turning one of her dance hits into an elegant ballad and covering an Anita Baker classic, Beyoncé again displays her versatility and includes one of her best written songs.

02.) Deja - Vu Jazz Medley- I Am.... Yours Las Vegas 2009

This is why she leaves the pop tarts such as Britney Spears and Rihanna's whom she is often compared to in the dust. It's amazing how she can step out of her element and do jazz while making it appealing to a younger audience. Truly, not one of her peers could do this.

01.) Run the World-Billboard Awards 2011

I include this performance more so for the tribute paid to her by Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, and Barbara Striesand, among others. It’s a telling example of her impact.

You know there were always certain quotes I didn’t agree with even as a child, like elementary school, but the one quote that bothered me the most was “money can’t buy you happiness” because If I can’t buy food to eat, clothes to put on my back, and basically pay for all the other necessity then I assure you I won't be happy. That quote will forever be BS and I hate seeing pictures of what is supposed to be some poor person smiling or dancing. Just because I have an enjoyable moment doesn’t mean that I'm happy, it just means I found something to avert me from my reality for a few minutes.

Midterm Week.

I will be unable to post this week.

The song alone pleased my eardrums, but the accompanying visual proves to be just as captivating.

....

humor is great.

.

Emotion motivates human behavior but logic regulates it. You can't really choose one over the other, because both are vital components in the fight for survival. We evolved and been conditioned into having certain emotional responses to certain situations, in order to help us survive and consequently thrive, and that in itself is logic. A primary example of this is in parenting. Baby features for eg elicit caregiving, and provoke emotional reactions caregivers. Bio(logic)ally they look the way they do, so people will look after then. (They don't come out looking like grown men/women for a reason.) Also their social releasers (crying, smiling etc) are logical as it allows for them to communicate their needs. Logic and emotion work in conjunction within one another, so you can't unequivocally give one precedence over the other. Both characteristics don't serve a particularly useful function on their own. 

Psychology Today: Dare to be Yourself

Source: Psychology Today

It starts innocently enough, perhaps the first time you recognize your own reflection. You're not yet 2 years old, brushing your teeth, standing on your steppy stool by the bathroom sink, when suddenly it dawns on you: That foam-flecked face beaming back from the mirror is you.
You. Yourself. Your very own self.
It's a revelation—and an affliction. Human infants have no capacity for self-awareness. Then, between 18 and 24 months of age, they become conscious of their own thoughts, feelings, and sensations—thereby embarking on a quest that will consume much of their lives. For many modern selves, the first shock of self-recognition marks the beginning of a lifelong search for the one "true" self and for a feeling of behaving in accordance with that self that can be called authenticity.
A hunger for authenticity guides us in every age and aspect of life. It drives our explorations of work, relationships, play, and prayer. Teens and twentysomethings try out friends, fashions, hobbies, jobs, lovers, locations, and living arrangements to see what fits and what's "just not me." Midlifers deepen commitments to career, community, faith, and family that match their self-images, or feel trapped in existences that seem not their own. Elders regard life choices with regret or satisfaction based largely on whether they were "true" to themselves.
Questions of authenticity determine our regard for others, as well. They dominated the presidential primaries: Was Hillary authentic when she shed a tear in New Hampshire? Was Obama earnest when his speechwriters cribbed lines from a friend's oration?
"Americans remain deeply invested in the notion of the authentic self," says ethicist John Portmann of the University of Virginia. "It's part of the national consciousness."
It's also a cornerstone of mental health. Authenticity is correlated with many aspects of psychological well-being, including vitality, self-esteem, and coping skills. Acting in accordance with one's core self—a trait called self-determination—is ranked by some experts as one of three basic psychological needs, along with competence and a sense of relatedness.
Yet, increasingly, contemporary culture seems to mock the very idea that there is anything solid and true about the self. Cosmetic surgery, psychopharmaceuticals, and perpetual makeovers favor a mutable ideal over the genuine article. MySpace profiles and tell-all blogs carry the whiff of wishful identity. Steroids, stimulants, and doping transform athletic and academic performance. Fabricated memoirs become best-sellers. Speed-dating discounts sincerity. Amid a clutter of counterfeits, the core self is struggling to assert itself.
"It's some kind of epidemic right now," says Stephen Cope, author ofYoga and the Quest for the True Self. "People feel profoundly like they're not living from who they really are, their authentic self, their deepest possibility in the world. The result is a sense of near-desperation."
Just What Is Authenticity, Anyway?
Psychologists long assumed authenticity was something too intangible to measure objectively. Certainly Michael Kernis did when, around 2000, graduate student Brian Goldman approached him about making a study of individual differences in authenticity.
"I said, 'Well, you can't do that,'" recalls Kernis, a social psychologist at the University of Georgia in Athens, "because nobody thought you could." But the two plunged ahead, reviewing several centuries' worth of philosophical and psychological literature. They came up with a technical description of authenticity as "the unimpeded operation of one's true or core self in one's daily enterprise."
Kernis and Goldman (now at Clayton State University) identified four separate and somewhat concrete components of authenticity that they could measure in a written test. The first, and most fundamental, is self-awareness: knowledge of and trust in one's own motives, emotions, preferences, and abilities. Self-awareness encompasses an inventory of issues from the sublime to the profane, from knowing what food you like to how likely you are to quit smoking to whether you're feeling anxious or sad.
Self-awareness is an element of the other three components as well. It's necessary for clarity in evaluating your strengths and (more to the point) your weaknesses: acknowledging when you've flubbed a presentation or when your golf game is off, without resorting to denial or blame. Authenticity also turns up in behavior: It requires acting in ways congruent with your own values and needs, even at the risk of criticism or rejection. And it's necessary for close relationships, because intimacy cannot develop without openness and honesty.
Kernis and Goldman have found that a sense of authenticity is accompanied by a multitude of benefits. People who score high on the authenticity profile are also more likely to respond to difficulties with effective coping strategies, rather than resorting to drugs, alcohol, or self-destructive habits. They often report having satisfying relationships. They enjoy a strong sense of self-worth and purpose, confidence in mastering challenges, and the ability to follow through in pursuing goals.
Whether authenticity causes such psychological boons or results from them isn't yet clear. But they suggest why people crave authenticity, as those low in authenticity are likely to be defensive, suspicious, confused, and easily overwhelmed.
Considering the psychological payoffs, Kernis and Goldman ask, "Why, then, is not everybody authentic?"

Romney: "47% of Americans are Lazy Moochers."

SECRET VIDEO: Romney Tells Millionaire Donors What He REALLY Thinks of Obama Voters

The way he continues to spew ignorance and still have supporters is honestly disgusting to me. He generalized A LOT which is the problem in itself. The 47% of Americans that support Obama aren't all looking for government assistance. Some are seeking gender equality, others socioeconomic equality. Some are seeking marriage equality, others don't want the sole opportunity they have to receive higher education seize. It's highly ignorant of him to say we're all lazy. 

Quick Fix

When Clinton walked into office he had a weak economy...not as bad as this one but it was pretty bad and did not get better until AFTER he was reelected. Americans keep holding on to the dreams of how when Bill Clinton was in office the economy was thriving and great, nobody really knows what type of economy he walked into when Sr Bush left and how long it took for him to turn it around. What gets me about Americans is that we live in a world were people don't want to work their way up slowly and carefully, they want a short cut and a quick fix. Rather than take the time and work carefully, they want things to happen over night.....it can't work that way because if the President finds a short cut to fix the mess that we're in, WE WILL end up in the same position that we are in now....but a whole lot worse....then what?

And as far as the media coverage of the election goes, I hate these pundits...talking news heads more than I did in 2008. They knew better when they were slobbering over Obama when he was a candidate, they knew better when they were ogling over Sarah Palin (Which was UTTERLY disgusting) and now they want to attack him all because he can't get the job done quick enough. These "experts" who go on TV saying what the President should of done or what he shouldn't be doing....it's utterly laughable.

Just a Rant...

WHY in the world are there Romney supporters out there? I really don't get it. I really don't see his appeal at all.

It really baffles me how some of these Romney supporters out here will make some of the dumbest remarks about everything Barack, his wife or children do. First of all ,we have those ridiculous birth certificate claims that have been dragged through the mud, yet these Mitt supporters don't have a defense for him NOT EVEN RELEASING HIS TAX RETURNS. Hypocrisy at it's finest.

Secondly, some of the worst Romney supporters out of the bunch ARE racist. I don't care what anybody says. I'm not going to say everything negative thrown at Obama is racist, but when you liken the first family to MONKEYS, and use terms like "N____r" as a detriment to the president on your online commentaries, then that constitutes as racism. Also, what's with these dumb comments about the cost of Michelle's dress at the DNC? Can't a woman wear something nice without all that backlash? If Ann Romney can wear a dress that costs more than FOUR TIMES Michelle's, then surely the 1st lady can wear a dress significantly cheaper without problems, no?

I thought so.

Back to Romney, though.

How can any person support someone who wants to raise loan costs AND reduce pell grants, takeaway a woman's right to choose, and is the finest example of a bigot?

He can tout economics all he wants but social issues are just as important to the presidential race.

It's pathetic that Republicans are doing everything to suppress people's votes so they can sit their and shove those fraudulent "morals" and "values" down MY throat. There's only so much stupidity one can deal with and I've seen enough. The fact that people will vote for this man just because they hate Obama is ridiculous and really makes me wonder about America

A Quotable Quote

There are two kinds of evil people in the world... those who do evil stuff, and those who see evil stuff being done and don't do anything about it.-Tina Fey

In my opinion, a selfish “not in my backyard” attitude is part of the reason why our society is so jacked up and social injustice continues to exist. When we advocate for someone else, we advocate for yourself because it could easily be you that’s getting the short end of the stick. Furthermore, if you ever do hit an obstacle, you’re going to wish someone gave a darn to stand up for or help you. Anytime we turn a blind-eye to injustice or inequality, we are potentially responsible for human suffering. It is our problem. 

We are all humans. What goes around comes around. We need to realize and embrace the power of the energy we put out (or don’t put out) into the world. It’s the ripple effect at its best. 

The single greatest “oblivious Romney” moment of the entire campaign.

I'm going to make this short and sweet. So with the nearing of the 2012 election, results show that Obama & Romney are close in the polls. Obama may or may not have a 2nd term. Many have complained that Obama just isn't getting the job done and a new president is the answer. None of the problems Obama has to tackle happened overnight, so they're not going to get fixed overnight. If we get a new president, he or she isn't going to magically fix everything in one term either.

On that note, a quick fact check never hurt anyone.

It used to upset me when politicians say bigoted or hateful things about a certain groups of people, but now I can appreciate blatantly prejudice remarks, because at least I know where that specific politician stands. When politicians try to disguise or sugarcoat their biased views, I think it’s that much more insulting because now you’re lying, trying to deceive people and cowardly hiding your opinion. 

Frank Ocean: channel Orange- Review

"channel Orange is the debut studio album of American singer-songwriter Frank Ocean, released July 10, 2012, on Def Jam Recordings. After releasing his 2011 debut mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra, Ocean began writing the album with creative partner Malay, who then assisted him with its recording. Eschewing the mixtape's reliance on samples, Ocean wanted to approach sound and song structure differently on Channel Orange. He recorded most of the album at East West Studio in Hollywood and worked with other musicians, including Pharrell, Om'mas Keith, John Mayer, and André 3000. Ocean titled the album as a reference to the neurological phenomenon grapheme–color synesthesia and the color he perceived during the summer he first fell in love. To prevent the album from leaking onto the Internet, Ocean released Channel Orange digitally one week earlier than its publically announced date. It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, selling 131,000 copies in its first week, and charted in several other countries, including Norway, where it reached number one. The album was promoted with three singles, including Ocean's highest charting single "Thinkin Bout You". Upon its release, Channel Orange received rave reviews from music critics, who praised its idiosyncratic style, musical scope, and Ocean's songwriting. Ocean toured in promotion of the album in the United States and abroad during July to September 2012. As of August 5, the album has sold 238,000 copies in the US, according to Nielsen SoundScan"

Track 1: Start

45 seconds of unintelligible words, laughs, and the sounds of someone turning on a PlayStation. Unnecessary. 

Track 2: Thinkin' About You:

“Thinkin Bout You” creates a gloomy, forlorn atmosphere that will either bore or touch the listener. Frank bemoans a past relationship over a dreary backdrop composed of a slow, throbbing beat, woozy synthesizers and woeful strings. After rambling disingenuously about surviving a hurricane and owning expensive beach properties among other things, Frank ponders if his past lover he thinks about so much ever thinks about him. During the bridge, an acoustic guitar plays as he proclaims that he’ll never forget this person, despite the fact that he has probably forgotten. This track has an air of hopelessness to it that doesn’t fail to depress the listener; it can really make one feel sorry for Frank. 

Track 3: Fertilizer

“Fertilizer” is little more than a corny jingle that would sound right at home in a commercial. The sounds of a television changing channels probably indicate that this track was meant to be something of a commercial break. ‘Fertilizer’ is synonymous with ‘manure’, which is cow feces, hence “Fertilizer, I’ll take bull**** if that’s all you got!”

Track 4: Sierra Leone

This track begins as Frank reminisces on a past relationship that perhaps occurred when he was a teenager. He sings about growing up in Sierra Leone and staying warm under its pink skies. The African nation of Sierra Leone, I’d say, is quite obviously used as a metaphor for a woman whom he loves(d) and the piece about keeping warm under its pink skies is clearly symbolizes having sex with this woman. He goes on to fantasizing about raising a baby girl with her. Complete with a sweet 70s Soul-style instrumental, the track is short, but incredibly sweet.

Track 5: Sweet Life

“Sweet Life” is about as jovial as this often dismal album gets. The instrumental oozes of 70s Funk and Jazz with its live drumming, electronic keyboard, synths, blaring brass horns and funk-filled bass line. It is elegant and fits the cleverly written lyrics, which detail a decadent, luxurious lifestyle, like a glove.

Track 6: Not Just Money

The sixth track on the album is a skit which features an older woman, perhaps a motherly figure, educating Frank on the importance of money.

Track 7: Super Rich Kids

“Super Rich Kids” describes the social, mental and emotional poverty experienced by the children of the wealthy. These children have plenty of money, cars, clothes, food and drugs, but lack devoted friends, parental guidance and love. This brings the main character of the story to attempt suicide. Somehow, Frank succeeds in making the listener feel sorry for bratty, misbehaved, privileged children with all the resources in the world at their finger tips. Bravo!

Track 8: Pilot Jones

“Pilot Jones” serves the most boring instrumental on the album. The lyrics detail a rocky relationship with a woman who both uses and sells drugs. Despite the danger she puts herself and Frank in my continuing such a career/lifestyle, Frank can’t seem to let her go. This woman is more addictive than any drug.

Track 9: Crack Rock

The eight track on the album offers a useful message about the abuse of narcotics. The lyrics discuss the lives of many struggling drug addicts. They are suffering from a disease that takes unfathomable amounts of effort to cure. No understands that and no one understands them; not even their families who have shunned them; not even prostitutes. Addiction is no laughing matter. I applaud Frank for tackling such an important topic.

Track 10: Pyramids

The focal point of “channel ORANGE” is a two-part, ten minute-long epic which depicts the fall of a legendary, African queen. The first segment of the track features futuristic production comprised of a funked-up bass line, pounding club beats and house synths that marry Funk and Electronica. Frank puts the listener in ancient Egypt and portrays himself as a distraught King panicking after the disappearance of Pharaoh Cleopatra. He fantasizes about a future with Cleopatra and laments over her infidelity before discovering that she has committed suicide. After a simply delightful dance breakdown, the track transitions into the next segment which takes place in modern times. The instrumental become a smooth R&B slow jam complete with a thumping beat, a heavy bass line, synths and muted saxophones. Frank is now a poor pimp who lives off the income of his prostitute, whom he calls Cleopatra. He croons about making love to this gorgeous woman before the track ends in a guitar solo by John Mayer. I have read a few articles/blurbs about the meaning of this complex track. Some say the transition between the two segments indicates that the first was a dream sequence and the second was real life. One said that the death of Cleopatra and the prostituting of her counterpart 2000 years later is a play on the decline of Black people around the world. I, myself, am not too sure what exactly Frank was trying to say with these lyrics. One thing I do know is that this song is absolutely brilliant and probably will not be matched by another this year. Mr. Ocean is today’s premier lyricist. 

Track 11: Lost

“Lost”, which features an Indie Rock-heavy instrumental, is about a weak-minded woman under the control of a manipulative man. She is under the impression that she is being taken care of by a good, loving, faithful man who only seeks to benefit her and improve her situation when in reality, she is little more than mailcarrier for a drug trafficker. This girl cannot think for herself. Whenever she has doubts about their relationship and the lifestyle she is being forced to live, this man effectively reassures her with feeble, yet convincing arguments. The sad thing is there are many girls just like her.

Track 12: White Feating John Mayer

A guitar solo by John Mayer. What a waste of an instrumental! Oh well.

Track 13: Monks

Frank tells a story about female groupies whom he encounters in several parts of the world. In order to escape their mundane lives, they travel around the world, following popular musicians, in pursuit of the high life. Eventually, these girls catch up to the rich, famous men they pursue, but get caught up in drugs and never find inner peace.

Track 14: Bad Religion

“Bad Religion” begins with sounds of blaring church organs that are only fitting for a religion-themed track. Frank addresses the daunting topic of unrequited or unreturned affection. He has fallen in love with a “heterosexual” male friend of his whom, of course, does not feel the same way that he does. In the company of a Muslim taxi driver, he discusses the pain of his ordeal, likening it to joining a suicidal cult. He also laments about not being able to speak freely and openly about his bisexuality. Frank delivers a marvelous vocal performance, showcasing his soft falsetto in the chorus of the song. Deep. Personal. Emotive.

Track 15: Pink Matter Featuring. André 3000

“Pink Matter” is Frank’s meditations on a woman’s worth in song form. His discussion with a sensei, which probably represents his inner conscious, begins peacefully, but grows turbulent. His sensei or his conscious, tells him that a woman is meant for much more than sexual intercourse and reproduction, the same way the human brain is much more than storage room for the mind. He tells Frank that a woman is there to love, aid and improve a man, not just please him sexually and bear his children. Frank’s only problem is that his current woman satisfies him sexually, but does not satisfy him mentally or emotionally. The instrumental is essentially a slow beat with an electronic keyboard and a faint bass guitar riff. André 3000 makes his presence known with a decent guest rap verse and his trademark bluesy, Idlewild-ish vocals. This track sounds right at home on an Outkast album.

Track 16:  Forrest Gump

The sixteenth track on “channel ORANGE” is little more than a slightly happier rehash of the second and fourteenth tracks that happens to use characters from a somewhat iconic 1994 Tom Hanks film as metaphors. Forrest Gump, the main character of said film, played on a college football team for a while; he always managed to get the ball to the end zone, but he continued running even after the goal was won. Similarly, Frank’s love interest indulged their romance shortly (he ran to him), but then broke things off, in denial of his sexuality (he ran off).

Track 17: End

The final track is light and airy. Complete with lush, tropical (yet slightly messy) production and smooth vocals, the song is perfect for a visit to the beach.

Overall:

“channel ORANGE” is a brilliant triumph on the male R&B front. Frank Ocean has succeeded in doing what many, if not all, of his peers have failed to do in the past year. He has put together an exemplary piece of work that features clever, thoughtful lyricism and uncommon, un-generic, innovative instrumentals. More importantly, he has created something that matches or maybe even surpasses his earlier work. The classic Soul, infectious Funk and revolutionary Indie Rock that permeated the American music scene in the 1970s make a dazzling reappearance in many songs on the album. Frank gives new life to these long-dead genres by fusing them with Electronica, House and Contemporary R&B. Ocean also does a particularly great job of demonstrating his talent for songwriting. In almost every song, Frank tells a fantastic story that hooks the listener in and provokes emotion and deep thought, often leaving them with a difficult puzzle to solve (concerning the meaning of the song) and a subtle, but useful and relatable message. The lyrics generally address the ups and downs of romance as well as the thrills and dangers of a decadent, luxurious lifestyle. Frank’s vocals are nearly perfect; he interprets his lyrics with feeling and delivers them smoothly. He never yells or strains himself. The album does have its faults, however. Depending on one’s mood, some tracks can be a bit bland and boring. “Pilot Jones”, for example, is an absolute snooze. But masterpieces like “Pyramids” and “Bad Religion” make up for any and all of the album’s flaws.