Image via Complex Original
Last night, Frank Ocean hit NYC for the second time this year, but the first since releasing his critically acclaimed album, channel ORANGE. Long story short: The Odd Future-affiliated singer brought top-tier vocals to Terminal 5 and his band was just as crispy.
Those looking for a bone to pick may hold tight to the fact that his set list was a bit disjointed. It felt like he picked songs out of a hat. Each song he performed was amazing on its own, but records didn’t always seamlessly sequence into the next. He didn’t play his new fan favorite, “Pink Matter,” either.
Still, it was a wonderful and completely sold-out performance, filled with squeals from lady fans and an almost shockingly diverse reciting lyrics word-for-word. If you weren't there, or just want to relive the scene, here are five of the evening's best moments.
Written by Brad Wete (@BradWete)
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Frank Showed Up On Time
The show was scheduled to start at 9 p.m. and, damn it, he was on stage at 9 p.m. Wild, right? What kind of star arrives on time? Frank Ocean does, apparently. It was odd, considering even the truest of fans, who were still piling in to fill the venue to capacity, assumed he’d be tardy to the party. And they paid for their mistake. His opening song was awesome.
Frank’s Sade Cover
That opening song was a cover of Sade's 2000 hit, "By Your Side." Frank humbly took the stage, hopped on his stool, and got to business. It was an unlikely cut to kick things off with, but he sang it masterfully.
The "Bad Religion" Performance
Before beginning this somber song, Frank ranted a bit, which he didn't do much of all night. He touched on the Tumblr note that he posted earlier this month about the time he fell in love with a man when he was 19. He said “Bad Religion,” a poignant record about the pain that comes with unrequited love, was inspired by that relationship. Then he sang his heart out.
Odd Future Going Crazy to “Pyramids”
When Frank dropped the beat to his lengthy first single, the crowd went nuts, including his Odd Future brothers, who were lounging in V.I.P. They mostly talked amongst themselves during the show, but when Ocean cranked up the second half of "Pyramids," they—especially Earl Sweatshirt—went crazy, jumping around and doing variations of Lil B’s cooking dance.
The Encore
After a brief break, Frank’s return to the stage was short, but welcomed. He performed the song he wrote for Beyoncé's 4, “I Miss You.” Though she made it her own, it’s been a staple for him at concerts, which is clearly okay with his fans. The die-hards sang along to every word before blowing him kisses and heading home for the evening. You could say it was a successful night.
