Rap-Up.com || Bridget Kelly Clears Up Confusion Over Frank Ocean-Penned Song

Bridget Kelly and Frank Ocean both earned new fans with their versions of “Thinking About You,” but who had the song first? The Roc Nation singer is setting the record straight on the ballad’s origin.

The Odd Future crooner decided to release his version of the song the day before Kelly released hers, titled “Thinking About Forever.” But Ocean originally penned it for Kelly’s EP Every Girl.

“We called Frank in to write a song for me and that was what came out of it,” she told Mina SayWhat on SiriusXM. “Of course it’s an amazing record, so everyone fell in love with it right away, myself included. I think at some point in the process of us putting the EP together, he just decided he was gonna put his version out.”

While she may be disappointed with the move, she doesn’t hold it against him. “He wrote the record. He had his vocals so he can pretty much do whatever he wants,” she explained. “I think the unfortunate thing is that everyone then saw it as Frank’s record so when mine came out, it was kinda like, wait a minute, she’s covering Frank Ocean’s song. And it was like, not really. Your boy actually demoed my song.”

Ocean recently released a radio edit of his song, which may appear on his upcoming Def Jam debut. “Now that push has come to shove, we’re just gonna let the song have a life of its own,” said Kelly. “Frank Ocean is incredibly talented, but at the same time, he’s gonna do what he wants to do.”

Posted in Bridget Kelly, Frank Ocean | Permalink

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

65 Comments

Cranberry
March 21st, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Wow. What a queen’d out douche bag.

Well, we all know whose version is better.

[Reply]
kev Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 12:48 pm
@Cranberry,
What??
She’s actually being really cool about the situation considering its really her song.
I’m convinced ur retarded.

[Reply]
CarlosBonegro Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 2:33 pm
@kev, how can it be her song when she didnt even write it? and released hers and made her version after franks?

[Reply]
batman Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 5:45 pm
@CarlosBonegro, u need to re-read what they just posted he wrote the song for her and made a demo she sang the song released it for her album. Frank Ocean saw people’s reaction and then leaked his demo. Which is kind of a duechy move. But she was being nice about it though. I like Tori Kelly’s version of this song better than both of them put together no offense.

[Reply]
dave Reply:
March 22nd, 2012 at 4:00 am
@batman, there is no tori version,she covered it.the best is bridget and frank’s since thats the original.its like me saying the best of marvins room is jojo’s.covering a song does’s not make it better,u just sang a song that already exists u only added your flavor into it you didn’t write or produced the song u know…

[Reply]
Cranberry Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 2:05 pm
@Cranberry, I was talking about Frank Ocean… He is full of himself. He leasked the song because he saw their reaction. The same guy who said The Eagles were intimidated by his remix of their song? and that don’t make any sense being that he used their melody and their beat..he just inserted his own words..Dude is talented but lets be serious…he a Queen

[Reply]
Cranberry Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 4:18 pm
@Cranberry, I didn’t write this, you brazen thief, but yes, all of this basically.

[Reply]
dave Reply:
March 22nd, 2012 at 4:02 am
@Cranberry, totally agree,and even tho he’s talented its to early for him to be acting like this…

[Reply]
Babading Reply:
July 10th, 2012 at 7:39 am
@Cranberry, Isnt it funny how it says he released his version A DAY BEFORE she released hers? Kind of makes you look like an idiot since you can’t really test for a reaction before it even comes out. Maybe he wrote it about himself and decided he should keep it.

[Reply]
joe
March 21st, 2012 at 12:50 pm
franks,duh

[Reply]
Lauryn
March 21st, 2012 at 12:52 pm
Frank Is Wack For That. I Honestly Don’t Care About His Being Better – He Knew What He Was Doing & Knew Her EP Was Important. Please Don’t Be A B*tch Frank Because People Will Hold That Sh*T Against You + Your Not Paid Enough To Do That Type Of Sh*t. Reach 30M Then Act C*cky!!!

[Reply]
Miles Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 2:33 pm
@Lauryn, Frank Ocean actually has a good bit of money. He was a ghostwriter since he was 17, writing songs and not getting credit. But If You write a song u have the right to do what ever you want with it

[Reply]
Lauryn Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 3:45 pm
@Miles,

No You Don’t Have The Right To Do Anything w/ It! If Documents Are Involved Then No You Can Not. He Ain’t Dumb So Please Don’t Do That – I’m Talking ‘The Dream’ Money, He Ain’t Got That Sh*t.

[Reply]
Miles Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 5:11 pm
@Lauryn, Frank Ocean is well in the millions. And The-Dream got money but he not a great writer, all of his songs a repeditive. His songs that he write are repeditive. He ruined Ciara’s career, and hurt Mariah Carey’s career. Theres only a handful of good songs he writen out of his hundreds of credits. In about 3 years Frank Ocean will have twice as much. I feel as though he could do whatever he wants with the song. he wrote it, it’s his song. I would have did the same. When it’s your creativity you have the right to change your mind

[Reply]
MRBIG Reply:
April 9th, 2012 at 6:04 am
@Miles, I agree with you, but once you sell a song onto someone it is technically their song as you wrote it for them. Idc though as Frank Ocean’s version is way better and I stan for Beyonce but Frank Ocean singing I Miss You sounds better too.

[Reply]
dave Reply:
March 22nd, 2012 at 4:06 am
@Miles, he does it wherever it suits him,why didn’t he do that to the track he wrote for beyonce?i’ve seen him sing it live but he would never release it as a single..

[Reply]
georgia23 Reply:
March 23rd, 2012 at 6:31 am
@Miles, Miles you are right, but if the artist has paid for the song, depending on their contract. He SHOULD not release the song as his own once it’s been paid for. Not that he can’t, he just shouldn’t. If this becomes a trend, you can rest assured he won’t be getting many checks coming through.

[Reply]
TRP
March 21st, 2012 at 12:53 pm
I guess he can’t be sued because he legally owns the song, even though he was paid by Roc Nation for it to be Bridget’s?

Bridget’s was actually the first version I heard, so when I heard Frank’s later, I thought of it nothing but a demo song. I mean, it’s vocally lazy like a demo usually is.
I like both of them, so whatever.

[Reply]
WonderLand19
March 21st, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Frank is a douche.
When i first heard this song with HER vocals i was sure it would be hit for HER. She needed that song more than he did. Iam glad she kept it classy but what Frank did was underhand. Sorry, it doesn’t sit right with me.
I hope next time Bridget gets a the song that will open more doors for her.

[Reply]
CarlosBonegro Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 2:36 pm
@WonderLand19, stfu if it doesnt sit with you then go buy her ep

[Reply]
WonderLand19 Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 5:35 pm
@CarlosBonegro, Maybe i should then. By the way, keep it classy. No need to overreact :)

[Reply]
Replay
March 21st, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Bridget is a really talented girl!

“I think the unfortunate thing is that everyone then saw it as Frank’s record so when mine came out, it was kinda like, wait a minute, she’s covering Frank Ocean’s song. And it was like, not really. Your boy actually demoed my song.”

The most idiots talk so… the same with Ester Dean… she write and made Demos for Rihanna and this idiots just say “Shit cover” when the Demo is leaked…

[Reply]
BrainFood.com
March 21st, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Copywriting Laws ain’t no joke. As long as he’s breakin’ her off, all she gotta do is chill and let the rewards come in.

It’s a little disheartening that he didn’t throw back no cred when he decided to put his version out. Bad business move (on his part) if you ask me.

[Reply]
Shade Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 1:26 pm
@BrainFood.com, what credit? he made it. How could he be sued over a song he made?

[Reply]
Frank Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 2:54 pm
@Shade, agreed. replay you’re alittle off buddy. there’s no legal angle here… just integrity.

[Reply]
BrainFood.com
March 21st, 2012 at 1:04 pm
@BrainFood.com,

Oh. I read that wrong. I didn’t realize it was his words to begin with. Well, damn. I guess she just lost one on this one.

[Reply]
Interview: Bridget Kelly & Mina SayWhat Talk EP And “Thinkin About You” Origins | Mina SayWhat
March 21st, 2012 at 1:05 pm
[...] to Rap-Up for the write up! Tweet [...]
ITAINTYOBABY
March 21st, 2012 at 1:15 pm
just do a duet and put it on your upcoming album

[Reply]
Zack
March 21st, 2012 at 1:15 pm
No one cares about her anyway. Frank wrote it, let him have it. It’s not the first time someone has written a song, handed it off, and changed their mind.

[Reply]
IV. Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 1:54 pm
@Zack,
still doesn’t make that shit right tho

[Reply]
Frank Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 3:05 pm
these comments are heartbreaking. that’s a very rotten attitude to have. obviously you have no respect for the value of a pact or an agreement. “no one cares about her anyway” how can you defend shitting on someone just because they are less better off than you? what does that even have to do with the fact that you gave them your word?

that’s a disgusting justification. that mentality is why people say the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. because of people who think that someone’s importance is of a lesser value than their own therefore their word doesnt matter. shame on the people who think like that. id expect that kind of comment from a groupies.. but not from a level headed person with basic decency. i like them both… but if frank ocean went back on his word then there is no defending that. no matter how much of a dickrider you are.

But i do agree pop singers are the most spoiled artists in music. shout out to all the artist who write their own shit and actually work on their art from a personal perspective.

[Reply]
Phoenix_Wright Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 11:23 pm
@Frank, 100% agree with this comment, “No one cares about her anyway” was a terrible excuse. There is always SOMEONE who cares, and even if it isn’t a lot that doesn’t mean the situation should be overlooked.

[Reply]
OOL UH UH Reply:
March 22nd, 2012 at 12:25 am
@Frank, much respect to you. People are losing themselves to this idea if celebrity, especially, the non-celebs. Thanks for calling these smug [most likely poor] people out on they stuff. smh Frank was dead wrong for that.

[Reply]
Hip-Hop Fiend
March 21st, 2012 at 1:46 pm
He wrote it. His version is better. Let him take credit for it. That should motivate her to write a better song.

[Reply]
Cranberry Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 2:06 pm
@Hip-Hop Fiend, thats wack and if you think like that your wack

[Reply]
CarlosBonegro Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 2:38 pm
@Hip-Hop Fiend, co-sign why cant singers write their own songs nowadays you would see a rapper getting someone else to write there raps

[Reply]
AalexisR Reply:
March 22nd, 2012 at 2:32 pm
@CarlosBonegro,

You’re more stupid than I thought. Rappers have ghostwriters too. That has been an ongoing thing. Bridget is a writer but even if she wasn’t singing is also an art. If she brings enough emotion to the song then I do not see the problem. Why is working with great writers a problem?

On Frank, I’m disappointed in him for that. These Odd Future people have some interesting ways of thinking.

[Reply]
SomethingElsee Reply:
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:39 pm
@CarlosBonegro,

Single ladies was written by Ne-yo….. nuff said. That’s the music industry.. artists write some for themselves. Some for others. and have others write some for them. That’s what happened. Have you ever heard a song and thought “that would’ve sounded better comming from (insert artist name)”? How does ne-yo look singing single LADIES? Irreplaceable? Frank should’ve waited to demo the song in my opinion.. that was real stupid on his part.. Bridget kelly’s taken it better than I would’ve…

[Reply]
Andreyo
March 21st, 2012 at 2:19 pm
That’s Messed up..that’s like when drake wrote rip for Rita Ora…weather that shit leaked or he just dropped his version it took away from the artist your writing for..
Don’t write music for people if u can’t fight the urge of it becoming a hit for someone else

[Reply]
CarlosBonegro Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 2:37 pm
@Andreyo, drakes version of that song has been out for years since like thank me later days rita ora should of known better

[Reply]
SomethingElsee Reply:
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:43 pm
@Andreyo, Then maybe she needs to clear up the confusion as well because on all of HER songs of RIP.. it says (I’m ready for you remix) or re-make. and his song came out like 2 years ago.. c’mon. Frank’s version came out a day or two before hers

[Reply]
Sam from FL
March 21st, 2012 at 2:23 pm
what a snake move by Frank. Poor Bridget…

[Reply]
Miles
March 21st, 2012 at 2:35 pm
I don’t find it wack or wrong. If you wrote the song it’s yours yo do what ever with it. Shid, I would do the same thing. If you want to avoid this learn to write your own music

[Reply]
CarlosBonegro
March 21st, 2012 at 2:42 pm
NO ONE in the world can tell frank ocean what to do with a song that HE wrote and that HE made first and that HE release first end of discussion
she should be happy that he even let her still release it after and if shes so hurt by it then she should write her own songs like all singers should do

[Reply]
Speechless Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 5:28 pm
@CarlosBonegro, THIS!

[Reply]
SomethingElsee Reply:
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:46 pm
@CarlosBonegro, not ALL singers write ALL of their songs. and their still successful.. you don’t see The dream leaking demos of birthday cake or ne-yo leaking versions of single ladies before the artist comes out with it first. he has the right to do what he wants with the song.. true. But on his part.. it’s questionable as to why he would do that.

[Reply]
CarlosBonegro Reply:
March 24th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
@SomethingElsee, because he sings it better?

[Reply]
sashaj
March 21st, 2012 at 3:02 pm
I just heard frank’s version and honestly even though I feel like he did her wrong and he shouldn’t have, his version is so much more organic and better imo…thinking about you is a frank ocean song

[Reply]
GolfWang
March 21st, 2012 at 3:06 pm
GW till the end but frank did bridget kelly wrong. she fine as hell tho so its all good

[Reply]
Songstress
March 21st, 2012 at 3:25 pm
I think that was a bit messed up if he was giving the some to her, although he does have legal rights but he could’ve done it differently.

[Reply]
Chile_Bew
March 21st, 2012 at 4:05 pm
it doesn’t matter if he recorded the Demo for you hun. it’s his song he WROTE it.

[Reply]
MusiqLover
March 21st, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Damn. People here are stupid. If he wrote the song for HER, Roc Nation paid HIM for HER to use the song. Rights, although still his, it was a cock block for him to do a day ahead. Almost seems purposely…

[Reply]
@NamdeeMajor
March 21st, 2012 at 4:49 pm
My angle on this, i think everyone’s looking at this wrong. I’m a songwriter too, and songwriters pen songs all the time for artists and have the artists cut the song, and never hear back from the label till the album list is finalized and they find out their song didnt make the artists album. At that point after waisting all that time for months, and due to legalities make it difficult to pitch the same song to another artist. I think Frank Ocean might have been getting the vibe that he wasn’t sure if Roc Nation was going to make the song a priority, so him being an artist himself took his great song and decided to push it out himself. There’s nothing wrong with that if you ask me.

[Reply]
a
March 21st, 2012 at 5:09 pm
I agree with @NamdeeMajor. The only explanation for this is that She/Roc Nation didn’t cut a check to Lonny. It sucks for her but, nonetheless, the song isn’t a “real” hit presently and she has an EP full of songs – i.e. keep it movin’.

[Reply]
Neutron
March 21st, 2012 at 5:37 pm
@CarlosBonegro,

Ummm your logic fails cuz Jay-Z writes for tons of rappers and singers.

[Reply]
John
March 21st, 2012 at 5:44 pm
I first heard the song by Bridegett Kelly who the song was originally for, why Frank Ocean decided to release his “demo” of the song is unknown. However, I think Bridgett Kelly killed this song, and sang it even better on the acoustic version. Get hip people!!!

[Reply]
MsFitzieBaby
March 21st, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Hellooooo!! Omg, this song came out on the blogs like 8 months ago (in July to be exact) .. so to be fair, it’s BEEN out, not just 1 day before hers, but months & months before. But that’s the nature of the biz; the demo probably leaked online (which I’ve been jammin’ to). Then I noticed he released it officially, which made sense at the time, but this is the first I’m hearing about Bridget & I work in the industry! It totally sucks that it’s actually on her album tho & he’s now considering putting it on his own. They oughta just remix it & do a duet! Plus the point @NamdeeMajor made is totally valid. Labels hold on to songs, making it hard for the writer to shop it around, then don’t use it & time’s been wasted. So who knows what was really going on with the song on BK’s end.

[Reply]
ITHINKNOT Reply:
March 22nd, 2012 at 3:12 pm
@MsFitzieBaby, The song was released around the same time frank put it on his blog thats when her EP “Every Girl” came out. Her ep has been out for 7 or 8 months.But her management really wasn’t pushing it as a single even though every time you turn around she was singing it at some kind of promotional show. & If I’m not mistaken she said in an interview that over at Roc Nation they’ve been working on her album and that Thinking About You would be the lead single when it comes out. I can understand where she’s coming from cause it kind of threw me off guard when I heard the radio edit of Frank’s demo. I was kinda like is he even aloud to that with all the legal stuff and all but I guess he seen her version wasn’t getting any kind of buzz. So I guess he didn’t want a good song to go to waste when he could be making money off of it. You’re right he should have kept the song in the first place.

[Reply]
MsFitzieBaby Reply:
March 30th, 2012 at 9:58 am
@ITHINKNOT, Oh snaps! Didn’t know that. Sad that his version was more visible. Really doesn’t make sense that he could leak a song & get more play, than her having the label behind her & not getting any love!

[Reply]
lyfechanges
March 21st, 2012 at 7:30 pm
I like Frank and all but that was messed up…if he liked the song that much then he should have not gave it to bridget…..i like bridget, she can sing so its not like she messed up the song…i dont get it smh

[Reply]
Bridget Kelly Clears Up "Thinking About You" Confusion: "[Frank Ocean] Actually Demoed My Song” | Internet Music News
March 22nd, 2012 at 7:53 am
[...] to Rap-Up, while Frank did release his “Thinking About You” just a day before BK released hers, he [...]
ILoveIt
March 22nd, 2012 at 4:21 pm
That was a bitch move by Frank. Frank shows a lot of bitch tendencies though. He also sings songs he writes for other people at his concerts. Seriously, if I was an artist, you couldn’t pay me to have Frank write for me. Just so he could turn around and make the song a hit for himself, while taking the attention from my single. After I paid him money? Nah son, he can keep that.

[Reply]
Bizz
March 22nd, 2012 at 7:01 pm
this aint the first time he pulled that stunt. frank agreed on a certain amount of numbers for the “watch the throne” album as well…AFTER he saw the success of the album, the agreed upon amount doubled. Does Frank have talent? Plenty! Is he smelling the skin off his ass cheeks? Plenty more.

[Reply]
georgia23 Reply:
March 23rd, 2012 at 6:32 am
@Bizz, LMAO. Agreed 100%

[Reply]
TAYLOR
June 4th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
ITS HIS SONG EVERYONE!!!!

[Reply]