Released March 10, 2017
9 / 10
Frank's 2017 surprise release brings back the pensive piano of "channel ORANGE" to the delight of our brooding ears. By no means a new sound for him at this point but more of a re-iteration of a formula he's shown to be great at. What really sets it apart from most of the R'n'B mogul's discography at the time is how straightforward the lyrical content is, going far and beyond elusive references to his sexuality. "Chanel" is a monumental song, deconstructing stereotypes of masculinity while standing its ground as a piece of a male-dominated industry that still struggles with leaning into re-modeling society's fabric towards a more equal and accepting world. Frank commands the listener's attention as his voice fills the vacuum the instrumental purposefully created. The production of the track doesn't stand out as a defining feature of the single but after a couple listens, it undeniably is the key to holding the track together without falling into the pitfalls of repetitiveness and musical platitude. "Chanel" will surely be remembered as part of music history in its undergoing cultural shift.
Favorite lyrics
"My guy pretty like a girl And he got fight stories to tell"
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