60. Frank Ocean - “Ivy”

This track is like poppin’ open a crisp, cool can of nostalgia. There’s a sweetness to it that borders on bitterness. However, the bitterness never fully materializes, or rather its kept at bay by the force of sheer willpower. Its a song that’s steeped in sadness, like a rich, dark tea, but there’s also a brightness to it as well – a touch of lemon as the memories glitter and fizz in gasps of happiness. Only the happiness is far away, like squinting at a distant film or watching as something you once loved disappears forever, winding around the corner or retreating with the light like a fading shadow.

Its a darkness born of light or a sadness born of happiness. After all that’s what nostalgia is – abuse emanating from joy. It’s almost as if all happiness has an expiration date, and everything that was once so beautiful and sweet is inevitably destined to fade away and decay into something bitter and acrid that’s only capable of causing pain and distress. We repeatedly return to it in the hope that it will provide what it once held, but what once was has been ushered along by time long ago. It’s impossible to reconnect with and all that remains is an empty echo, much like the bitter screech that punctuates this track.