:Swim Good

"Swim Good" was written by Frank Ocean, Waynne Nugent and Kevin Risto of the duo Midi Mafia, who also produced the track. The song appears on his debut mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra, which was released on February 18, 2011.{{cite web|last=Noz|first=Andrew|title=Frank Ocean: Smart And Subtle R&B Songwriting|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/04/21/135514908/frank-ocean-smart-and-subtle-r-b-songwriting?ps=cprs|publisher=NPR|access-date=2011-04-28|date=2011-04-21}} When asked by The Quietus about his own interpretation of the character in the song it was noted that Ocean "politely withdrew, saying he'd enjoy that discussion but he doesn't want to spoil his audience's experience of his songs". He further commented "but you have fun with the imagery, and for me the whole concept that everything has to be... Like, nobody gets upset with a director when a director's film isn't about his life. People think that with a recording artist that shit has to be like a fucking play by play of their whole life, but it's not. It's imagery, and a little bit of satire." The track was released as the second single from Nostalgia, Ultra digitally on October 18, 2011 by Def Jam Recordings.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/swim-good-single/470956395|title=Swim Good – Single by Frank Ocean – United States|work=iTunes Store|publisher=Apple Inc. |access-date=2012-01-11}}

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"Swim Good" has been interpreted as "a first-person debate about killing yourself".Dombal, Ryan (March 4, 2011). [http://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15172-nostalgia-ultra/ Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Frank Ocean: Nostalgia, Ultra.]. Pitchfork. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.{{cite web|author=Grundy, Luke|url=http://www.escapeintolife.com/music/music-review-nostalgia-ultra-by-frank-ocean/|title=Music review: nostalgia, ULTRA by Frank Ocean|publisher=Escapeintolife|date=March 21, 2011|access-date=2011-09-23}} The track has been called an "astonishing suicide song" and that "Ocean finds himself dressed in black ('Like I'm ready for a funeral'), tormented by heartbreak and on the verge of driving his car into the sea."Jonze, Tim (December 14, 2011). [https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2011/dec/14/best-albums-2011-frank-ocean Best albums of 2011, No 3: Frank Ocean – Nostalgia, Ultra]. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2011-11-123. The song has been described as a "grim escape fantasy", which "has the singer driving his car to the shore, his trunk “bleeding” with “broken hearts”. The hook of the song ends with the refrain of "I feel like a ghost, no Swayze, ever since I lost my baby."{{cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/nostalgia-ultra-r2155805/review|title=Nostalgia, Ultra – Frank Ocean|publisher=AllMusic. Rovi Corporation|at=Review|access-date=2012-01-11}} Pitchfork described the singing as "heart-battered." The Quietus states that the song "makes you realise the ocean means a lot more to this songwriter than the reference to Ocean's Eleven that he's cited in interviews, he is mysterious and tragic."{{cite magazine|author=Melissaa, Bradshaw |url=http://thequietus.com/articles/07450-frank-ocean-interview/ |title='Imagery, And A Little Bit Of Satire': An Interview With Frank Ocean|magazine=The Quietus |date= November 22, 2011|access-date=2011-05-20}}

"Swim Good" received positive reviews from music critics and was widely considered to be one of the best tracks off Nostalgia Ultra. Sam Hockley-Smith of The Fader commented that "Swim Good" was one of the "highs off of record", as did Anthony Osei of Complex magazine.{{cite magazine|author=Staff|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2011/09/video-frank-ocean-swim-good|title=Video: Frank Ocean "Swim Good"|magazine=Complex|date=September 16, 2011|access-date=2011-09-23}}{{cite web| author= Hockley-Smith, Sam|url=http://www.thefader.com/2011/02/25/frank-oceans-nostalgia-ultra-album/ |title=Frank Ocean's Nostalgia, Ultra Album « The FADER |publisher=Thefader.com |date=2011-02-25 |access-date=2011-04-28}} Pitchfork commented that the track was a "brooding highlight" off the record. In addition, Yahoo! Music's Billy Jounhson described it as a "breakout" song". AbsolutePunk stated the song was "hard-hitting" and "proved that Ocean's voice is as great as his knack for writing thoughtful pop songs."Holly HoX! (February 28, 2011). [http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2196002 Frank Ocean – Nostalgia, Ultra – Album Review – AbsolutePunk.net]. AbsolutePunk. Retrieved on 2011-06-17. NPR's Andrew Noz commented that "in the standout "Swim Good," he sings of putting broken hearts in the trunk of a Lincoln Town Car and driving to the ocean as they bleed through."Jebb, Charlie (March 31, 2011). [http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/frank-ocean/nostalgia-ultra Frank Ocean: Nostalgia, Ultra – Music Review – No Ripcord]. No Ripcord. Retrieved on 2011-06-17. Several critics noted the song for its dark subject matter. On the week of September 10, 2011 the song debuted at number eighty-one on Billboard{{'}}s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and peaked at position number seventy.

On July 31, 2012, the music video was nominated for three MTV Video Music Awards: Best Direction and Best Male Video, with Ocean being nominated for Best New Artist for his work with the video.{{cite web|author=Martin, Andrew|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/07/mtv-reveals-2012-vma-nominees|title=MTV Reveals 2012 VMA Nominees Including Drake, Frank Ocean & Rihanna|work=Complex|date=2012-08-02|access-date=2011-09-23}}

File:Frank Ocean Coachella 2012 1.jpg

Ocean released a behind-the-scenes video promoting a music video for the track. It was filmed by his cousin, and released on Ocean's Tumblr on August 11, 2011.Fitzmaurice, Larry (September 16, 2011). [http://pitchfork.com/news/44019-video-frank-ocean-swim-good/ Video: Frank Ocean: "Swim Good"]. Pitchfork. Retrieved on 2011-11-123. The video, directed by Nabil Elderkin, was officially released on September 16, 2011. The video was released on Frank Ocean's Vevo on September 23, 2011 and was available for purchase on iTunes on September 24, 2011.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/music-video/swim-good/id467129468 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724181140/https://itunes.apple.com/us/music-video/swim-good/id467129468 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 24, 2014 |title=Swim Good – Music Video by Frank Ocean – United States|work=iTunes Store|publisher=Apple Inc.|date=April 14, 2012 |access-date=2012-04-14}} The Fader commented that "Elderkin serves up a fairly literal interpretation of “Swim Good,” Nostalgia, Ultra‘s most heart-wrenching metaphor. It does however feature an explosion, a panda mask and the second appearance of Ninja Frank Ocean."{{cite magazine| author= Noz, Hadley|url=http://www.thefader.com/2011/09/16/video-frank-ocean-swim-good/ |title=Video: Frank Ocean, "Swim Good" « The FADER |magazine=The Fader |date=2011-09-16 |access-date=2011-04-28}} The video features "Frank Ocean and his samurai sword star" and it "blends Asian and aquatic vibes with impressive cinematography."TheUrbanDaily Staff (September 16, 2011). [http://theurbandaily.com/1536915/frank-ocean-swim-good-new-music-video/ Frank Ocean Swim Good]. TheUrbanDaily. Retrieved on 2011-11-123. Rap-Up reported "tanquility turns traumatic in Frank Ocean’s suspenseful video."{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/09/16/video-frank-ocean-swim-good/|title=VIDEO: FRANK OCEAN – 'SWIM GOOD'|work=Rap-Up |date= 2011-09-17|access-date=2011-05-20}}

The clip opens with a dazed Ocean "going through the motions of eating popcorn though he's wearing an Odd Future mask that does not have a mouth opening."{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/hip-hop-media-training/frank-ocean-swim-good-video-dont-pop-the-trunk.html|title=Frank Ocean 'Swim Good' Video: Don't Pop The Trunk|last=Johnson Jr. |first=Billy|work=Yahoo! Music|publisher=Yahoo!|date=September 16, 2011|access-date=2011-09-23}} It features a "'70s orange and black Lincoln limousine" and Ocean in an orange samurai robe "mysteriously driving along the coastline and deep into the forest." He then whips out his sword and "draws blood from his unsuspecting female victim. He sets fire to the vehicle and watches it burn on the cliff during the explosive conclusion." In the closing moments, "viewers are {{sic|lead}} to believe that the mystery woman was also the passenger of the rear compartment" and the video ends when the "camera zooms in on Ocean's blood-stained sword."{{dead link|date=April 2015}} The video "adds color to the already chilling, and unusual storyline for alternative R&B song" according to Yahoo.

Ocean embarked on a solo tour through North America and Europe to promote both the mixtape and his other musical projects.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/04/14/frank-ocean-makes-waves-at-coachella/ |title=2011 year in review: Best in pop music |last=Staff |work=RapUp.com |date=April 14, 2012 |access-date=2012-04-14}}{{cite magazine|author=Goldring, Erika |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/frank-ocean-flies-solo-at-the-house-of-blues-in-new-orleans-20111106|title=Frank Ocean Flies Solo at House of Blues in New Orleans|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media|date=November 5, 2011|access-date=2011-12-09}} The set lists to the various shows varied, though "Swim Good" was performed at all shows.{{cite magazine|author=Staff|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/frank-ocean-flies-solo-at-the-house-of-blues-in-new-orleans-20111106|title=Frank Ocean Flies Solo at House of Blues in New Orleans|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media|date=November 6, 2011|access-date=2011-12-09}} The track was included during Ocean's setlist at the April 2012 Coachella Musical Festival.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/46139-watch-frank-oceans-entire-coachella-set/ |title=Watch Frank Ocean's Entire Coachella Set |first=Evan |last=Minsker |publisher=Pitchfork Media |date=April 14, 2012 |access-date=2012-04-14}} Complex magazine stated the audience "sang every word of ULTRA’s suicidal serenade “Swim Good,” which closed with the same seagull chirps it does on the tape."{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/04/frank-ocean-review-coachella-2012 |title=Review: Frank Ocean at Coachella 2012 |first=Brad |last=Wete |work=Complex |date=April 14, 2012 |access-date=2012-04-14}}

• Frank Ocean – vocals
• Midi Mafia – production
• Ariel Chobaz – mixing
• Calvin Bailiff – recording engineering
• Reggie Rojo Jr. – recording engineering
• Kuda Magocha - Sponsor

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|title=Swim Good|artist=Frank Ocean|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2011|certyear=2024|access-date= April 18, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Swim Good|artist=Frank Ocean|type=single|award=Silver|relyear=2011|certyear=2022|id=17903-2445-1|access-date=February 27, 2022}}

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|streamsonly=true|artist=Frank Ocean|title=Swim Good|award=Gold|id=6280|relyear=2011|certyear=2013|access-date=May 16, 2022}}

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{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmN9rZW0HGo Music video] at YouTube

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Category:2011 singles

Category:Frank Ocean songs

Category:Songs written by Frank Ocean

Category:Music videos directed by Nabil Elderkin

Category:Songs about suicide

Category:Song recordings produced by Midi Mafia

Category:2011 songs