Chanel

Album: Not on an album (2017)
Charted: 72
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Frank Ocean premiered this track during the second episode of his Beats 1 Radio show, blonded RADIO, on March 10, 2017. During Ocean's stream-of-consciousness lyrics, he sings about a special man who is on his mind:

    My guy is pretty like a girl
    And he got fight stories to tell
    I see both sides like Chanel
    See on both sides like Chanel


    Ocean appears to be comparing the duality of his male lover's feminine features and masculine aggressiveness to the Chanel brand. The luxury fashion house's logo is comprised of two Cs positioned back-to-back.
  • Ocean is attracted to both men and women, and he also seems to be using the image of the Chanel logo as a symbol for bisexuality. Coco Chanel, the founder of the brand, never married and is believed to have had relationships with both sexes.
  • The themes of duality and bisexuality run through much of Ocean's work. For instance, he hints at this by naming his 2016 record Blonde on iTunes and Blond on the album's artwork. (Blonde a female's fair colored hair, blond describes a man's fair colored hair).
  • The official remix features Ocean's pal A$AP Rocky, who references his ex-fiancée Chanel Iman.

    Was such a good guy to Chanel
    'Til she caught me sleeping with Charel


    A$AP broke-up with the model n June 2014 amid rumors of him cheating on her. These lines find him confirming his infidelity.

Comments: 1

  • T from NorwayBut whats the song ABOUT?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

Def Leppard Quiz

Def Leppard QuizMusic Quiz

Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."