About a week ago, Frank Ocean paid tribute to Aaliyah for what would be her 36th birthday. Though Ocean also released some new music not too long before, “Memrise” was quickly forgotten when the R&B singer uploaded his cover of “At Your Best (You Are Love),” streaming on the artist’s Tumblr.
Ocean’s take, which he titlted “You Are Luhh,” had us secretly crying our Friday nights away. Some music snobs claim that it’s nothing compared to Aaliyah’s version, or it doesn’t do justice to The Isley Brothers’ original. The track is noticeably different right from the start with a more subtle tone, a lovely falsetto, and the simplicity of a keyboard backing the soaring, emotional vocals throughout. Ocean also makes it his own by ad-libbing some of his own notes/runs and tweaking some words. HIs version fits the lyrics the best out of the three, throwing all the feels he had in him on the track. Don’t worry Frank, Aaliyah would be proud.
Words: Will Cua
Saint Audio 