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Goku is the protagonist of the Dragon Ball manga and television series. He usually has black hair, but when he changes into his natural Super Saiyan form, it turns blonde.
Blonde hair has been a major motif in Ocean’s lyrics since he named an album after it. On “Slide,” Frank presents dyeing hair blonde as an act of youthful carelessness. By asking his lover if they are a natural blonde, Frank is wondering whether or not they are as free spirited as he is.
The fact that Goku’s natural hair is black implies some irony in Frank’s question. As if he’s suggesting the person referenced is pretending to be something they’re not.
However, one could argue that Goku’s Super Saiyan transformation was representative of his true self coming out. This would also tie in with the recurring theme of blonde hair mentioned before.
Frank also referenced Dragon Ball on his 2012 song “Pink Matter” by mentioning the character Majin Buu.
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Shoegaze is a music genre that emerged in the U.K. indie rock scene in the 1980s. It got its name from the artists that focused on their instruments and effects pedals to create a textured sound—they looked at their shoes rather than at the audience.
Frank compares himself to shoegaze artists because he can’t look the person he’s addressing in the eyes. Being hesitant to face them he turns to his shoes instead.
Shoegaze band My Bloody Valentine in concert, 1992.
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Aphex Twin is a British electronic musician who often displays stiff, sinister smiles on his cover art.
The art for his 1997 EP Come to Daddy, his 1995 album …I Care Because You Do, and his 1996 album Richard D. James Album all prominently feature his smiling face. Frank has been spotted wearing an Aphex Twin Come to Daddy shirt before.
To put out this fire
Burning in my soul Frank Ocean – Only You (Live at FYF 2017)
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I could see him through the window, he was flying through the sky
Looking down on you, proud of you
This is for Mr. Washington, I told you we was finna show out for you VIC MENSA – Didn't I (Say I Didn't)
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Tell you Joey Purp was finna get the whole city high? (purple!) VIC MENSA – Didn't I (Say I Didn't)
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Check in on me sometime (Okay) Tyler, The Creator (Ft. Frank Ocean & Steve Lacy) – 911 / Mr. Lonely
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What is this?
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What is this?
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Evander Holyfield is a boxer whose ear was infamously bitten off by Mike Tyson during their June 28, 1997 Heavyweight Championship match. Frank is asking his lover to keep their ears open for him in case he tries to contact them.
“Keep your ears split for me” is a sort of gruesome way of saying “make sure it’s easy for me to contact you if I choose to do so. Tyson bit Holyfields ear off, but if it were to have been split before the bite, Tyson would have hardly even needed to try and the ear chunk would have sloughed off with ease thanks to the split that was already in place. “Make it easy enough for me to reach out that I don’t even need to try”.