User:Siposun/Solo (Frank Ocean song)

Composition and lyrics
"Solo" is an alternative R&B song that features church organs played by James Blake. The key signature is 3 flats and is played in the key of E♭ major. Ocean sings in falsetto. The track addresses the pain of living a solo life through a coming of age perspective while maintaining an upbeat sound. The title is a double entendre. It can be interpreted as 'solo' as in alone or 'so low' as in feeling sad. Similar to Ocean's song Novacane, 'Solo' is sung receptively. Katharine Gardias of California Polytechnic State University interprets this as a way "to emphasize its meaning".

In the following lyrics "inhale, in hell, there's heaven", Ocean explores a non-traditional view of hell and heaven. Katharine Gardias of California Polytechnic State University interprets this line as Ocean getting high in order to see the good in "the worst situations". Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork refers to this line as "the smoked-out emptiness". In the second verse of the track Ocean shifts to the harsh reality of being alone. Donna-Claire Chesman of DJBooth interprets his lyric "I'm skipping showers and switching socks, sleeping good and long" "as an allusion to feeling depressed".

Critical reception
In a positive critique of the song, Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork calls 'Solo' "a stunning piece of songwriting that ultimately finds some peace with being alone. It sounds like a friend". Donna-Claire Chesman of DJBooth calls the track "the song you play, really, when you want to surrender". Additionally, Rob Harvilla from the Ringer claims 'Solo' to be "the next great Frank Ocean song". The track was also ranked by Billboard at number 96 on their Billboard Hot 100 chart. In a less positive online review, Chris Author was initially "confused by the randomness of the lyrics".

Cover performances
New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde performed a cover of 'Solo' at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC while on her Melodrama World Tour. Lorde has previously mentioned that her album, Melodrama, was inspired by Frank Ocean's album Blonde. Grant Rindner of Complex writes that Lorde makes the song her own by slowing "down the final chorus, wringing every drop of drama from Ocean's celestial and apocalyptic lyrics".

In another cover, American singer-songwriter Halsey posted a cover of 'Solo' to her Twitter account on April 24th, 2019. The singer mentions in her tweet that she sung the song to herself everyday while on tour, saying it fills her "with the feeling of home". Jordan Darville of Fader writes that Halsey's vocals give the song a "heartwarming boost".