Novacane (song)

"Novacane"
"Novacane"
Single by Frank Ocean
from the album nostalgia,ULTRA.
Released	May 31, 2011
Recorded	2010
Genre	Neo soul; alternative R&B; alternative hip hop;
Length	5:02
Label	Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	Frank Ocean; Christopher Stewart; Monte Neuble;
Producer(s)	Tricky Stewart
Frank Ocean singles chronology

"Novacane" is the debut solo single by American singer Frank Ocean. It was released as the lead single from his mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra. The song was written by Ocean, Tricky Stewart and Victor Alexander, and produced by Stewart. Lyrically, the song narrates a young female dental student who makes a living doing porn and who recreationally uses local anesthetic drugs which she acquires from her place of study. The song explores themes of isolation, loneliness and a lack of feeling caused by numbness. The song received highly positive reviews from music critics and was listed as one of the best songs of the year by publications such as The New York Times, Spin, Ology, Zimbio and Pitchfork. Reviews praised the dark subject matter of the song, and praised Ocean's ability to create narratives and the sonic atmosphere of the track. The cover for Novacane is similar to the Roxy Music album Stranded.

When Nostalgia, Ultra was expected to be re-released as a commercial EP by Def Jam, "Novacane" was released as its first single, though the EP's release through the label was cancelled. The song peaked at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and entered the top 10 on the Heatseekers Songs chart. The song received a music video directed by Australian director Nabil Elderkin released on June 16. The highly stylized video shows a long take of Ocean sitting in a dimly lit room as he applies lotion. Ocean performed the song during a show in New York City with alternative hip hop group OFWGKTA, and during his seven show tour through North America and Europe. It was also performed during his fourteen-show North American tour in support of his debut studio album, Channel Orange.