Moon River

In todays review I decided to compare Frank Oceans Moon River to the original, rather than just a review and recommendation… Every time I hear this song, it fills my soul. The instrumentals are simple, with an electric guitar and synth pads near the end. The vocals, both foreground and background, are evocative. The lead vocals carry a wistful pensiveness, while the backing vocals passionately yelp, echoing Ocean's emotions. This song feels like a parting song, resonating during times of loss or change. The 1961 original "Moon River" by Henry Mancini and John Mercer, known as a romantic wedding ballad, embodies a longing for love. It first appeared in Breakfast at Tiffany's, revealing hidden desires beneath Holly Golightly's glamorous social life. Many artists, including Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, and The Killers, have reimagined Hepburn's original recording, but none capture the pain in Frank Ocean's rendition. Hepburn’s character, seeking an easy, luxurious life, serves only her needs, rejecting the notion of a full life. Yet, the guitar performance of "Moon River" has Golightly yearning for peace and familiarity. Hepburn’s stripped-down performance whispers the quiet lyrics as she gazes over Manhattan, with the slow strum of her guitar brushing over the scene's intimacy. Ocean's synth-heavy and reverbed interpretation, released on Valentine's Day 2018, adds intensity and introspection, exploring the isolation he chases and the publicity of his life. Ocean opens with childlike autotuned vocals, creating a dialogue between his younger, naive self and his older, wiser self. His updated lyrics shift the blame for heartbreak from an external source to his own internal pain, recognizing the double-edged sword of his genius: a successful music career on one side and the loss of authentic connection on the other.

FRANK OCEAN - Moon River

RATING - 8.1/10

GENRE - Contemporary Rnb