Provider

So what is art? It's a question you could mull over for a lifetime. Minds much, much greater than mine thought about this question for centuries to, in my opinion, no avail. Everyone has their opinions, and some not at all. Try to explain it yourself. If you think you can in like 5 seconds (e.g. It's self-expression!) or even an hour (e.g. Art is actually a creation by humans for humans to give pleasure, an escape, comfort, catharsis, beauty, social improvement, social awareness, emotional resonance, etc. through different modes... music, writing, films, dance, etc.) you'll probably only grasp part of it still. Some might just say everything is art. Or maybe whatever is impactful to you. So, the beauty of this site/sight is that we can see what others think, and choose to agree or disagree, or even choose to see what we think they do.

Frank was inspired by the picture of a blonde buckled in the seat of a car. We can choose to understand... or not. To some of us, that picture will always just be some girl buckled in the seat of a car. Or, that album cover will always be a man covering his face, never seeing that orange and yellow make green, and that man and woman are a lot more similar than we're told. Do you enjoy staying in your seatbelt?

But even if we miss these signs, it's okay. Even if we miss the mark, like I might with this following interpretation, it's fine. There are no winners here. No ones keeping score. It's all about what you see, how it impacts you, how it may compel you, and having a discussion with those around you and those before you.

So... what is Frank talking about? To me, it's about art in a deep and complex way. It's hard to explain because I can only do this clumsily with words, but let me try to show you. However, it's more impactful, I think, if you let Frank tell you.

There are multiple interpretations that paint a more unified one. So...

One: Art provides Frank inspiration (i.e. "Feelings" that "might change his life"). Music and film move him: Kubrick, MJ ("moonwalkin"), Talking Heads, Aphex Twin, Shoegaze, Jaws, etc.)

Cars provide inspiration: night loops, trophy case, race striped body, brake lights...

Friends and Family, culture (Astro Van, Prada, Goku, Holyfield, etc.), drugs, etc. all "provide" him a sense of identity, and make him... him! What does a provider do? It gets your needs met. They don't speak for him, they help him speak for him!

Two: family, friends, lovers... human experience provide influence and nourishment. You could interpret it like a song to a lover, family member, or even friends (I don't spend time with my friends as much because my experience with you is so fulfilling it changes me for better. It gives me life. And at times it gets my head low [shoegazer] and at others I'm sky-high [moonwalking]. You are worth the ups and downs because I've never experienced what get with you. As I get to know you more, I hope you are blonde like I am blond.

Three: It's about Frank as an artist. He's been so busy working through the night (night loops) he hasn't had time for friends and family. He finds solace in music. But still, there is work to do. Is a Grammy-running enough? Is Platinum enough? ("Trophy case still light"). Music will give him the push needed, and taking its influence he will continue to forge his path ("coming up on his own two"). But what kind of path? High-level ("Diamond path"). And it's his own because without him it wouldn't exist.

This leads me to the whole interpretation. It's a discussion of art. As artists before him tried on hand-me-downs (i.e. The art form in existence before them) and they fit (understanding), they took this inspiration and pushed the current boundaries of the art form.

Is this the role of the artist? Why do this? I can guess: For love of the art form. The form "provides" impact (For Frank life changing feelings and perspectives), and, in turn, Frank can be a "provider" to us fans, just as those forms "provide" for him. But you know who else "provides" to him? Us. Fans. We provide the support also needed to keep Frank in his night loops. And the cycle continues.

So keep your ears split when listening to Frank. He'll find the right influences that make him the artist he is. Because he can't be a true artist if he's following the status quo.

To me, this song reflects what it means to have art, be an artist, the artist's role, the fans role, art's role of past, current, and future artists, what art can do for us, what we can do for art, etc. The interconnectedness. Is that what this is? So what is art?