how champagne coast by blood orange manages to perfectly encapsulate girlhood
“young as i want to know
i’ll never let you go"
the tenth track on his debut 2011 album, ‘Champagne Coast’ is an underrated beauty within the flawless discography of Blood Orange: also known as Dev Hynes. the song is addicting and manages to incorporate everything i love about music into a singular 5-minute track.
it’s dynamic: the snappy snare drum, slick baseline and stylish melody juxtaposed by the tragic lyrics make it a treat to the ear. the second half of the song breaks down into a smooth grove- bringing Hynes’ masterful instrumentation to the forefront of the listener’s attention.
throughout the majority of the song, you’re gripped by his poignant and tragic lyrics that shine a light on his desire for intimacy. the repetition of “come into my bedroom”- reveals his desire for physical intimacy, as well as emotional intimacy. the desire to be truly known and understood. welcoming this person into his metaphorical bedroom as a way of opening himself up. other lyrics like “young as i want to know, i’ll never let you go" highlight his nativity, as he truly believes that against all odds he’ll be with this person forever.
the song is apart of the soundtrack for the movie Palo Alto, which unfortunately gained a poor perception due to the involvement of (the gross) James Franco. nevertheless, Hynes’ masterful work on the soundtrack acts like a spine for the film. his expert placing of songs within scenes ties the entire movie together for me.
to me, this song embodies girlhood and does so in a multitude of different ways.
the lyrics themselves resonate as they navigate a desire to truly be understood by someone. in addition to how they explore a blindly optimistic outlook on what seems to be young love. as well as a burning desire to make a simple fling last the long run. whilst instrumentally, it’s just one of those songs that (as cringe as it sounds) just makes you want to get and dance around your bedroom, without judgement and as freely as you desire.
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