Author Archives: Alan Ilagan

While Emi chose this year’s Golden summer theme and its Egyptian accents, Noah supplied this musical entry as it used to be one of his favorite songs. Frank Ocean gives a modern twist to the scene with ‘Pyramids‘ as we traverse the sandy treks of the past with the imagined desert of the future. I just hung out with the twins for Jaxon’s birthday (future family post coming up). For now, feast your ears upon this offering and its dramatic story suite – perfect for this sultry turn of summer.

Set the cheetahs on the loose
There’s a thief out on the move
Underneath our legion’s view
They have taken Cleopatra

Run run run come back for my glory
(Cleopatra, Cleopatra)

And we’ll run to the future
Shining like diamonds in a rocky world
A rocky, rocky world
Our skin like bronze and our hair like cashmere
As we march to the rhythm
On the palace floor
Chandeliers inside the pyramids
Tremble from the force
Cymbals crash inside the pyramids
Voices fill up the halls

Set the cheetahs on the loose
There’s a thief out on the move
Underneath our legion’s view
They have taken Cleopatra, Cleopatra

The jewel of Africa
What good is a jewel that ain’t still precious
How could you run off on me?
How could you run off on us?
You feel like God inside that gold
I found you laying down with Samson
And his full head of hair
I found my black queen Cleopatra
Bad dreams Cleopatra

Remove her
Send the cheetahs to the tomb
Our war is over, our queen has met her doom
No more she lives, no more serpent in her room
No more, he has killed Cleopatra, Cleopatra

Big sun coming strong through the motel blinds
Wake up to your girl for now let’s call her Cleopatra, Cleopatra
I watch you fix your hair
Then put your panties on in the mirror, Cleopatra
Then your lipstick, Cleopatra
Then your six-inch heels
Catch her
She’s headed to the pyramid

Though I haven’t seen this movie, nor do I know anything about it, the music from ‘The Egyptian’ ushers us into the next portion of this Solid Gold Summer. Thanks to my niece’s decree, this is our Egyptian flair for the golden summer season – who are we to deny Miss Emi Lu? She is wise beyond her years.

This cinematic soundtrack evokes a fictional land far away, probably not very based in reality, which is sort of what summer is like – it’s an attitude, an idea, a feeling… not always easily named or labeled, not always easily defined, and often very much in our heads.

Sometimes, though, summer is serious. And real. And concrete in its heat and humidity which hits like a wall.

Sand dance memories, tomb painted scenes, lost to the desert, dissipated into the night sky, and no star extending its arms to cradle or catch. A falling star can’t even catch itself – how dare we expect it to catch one of us?

Summer sand ruminations – either from the desert of the edge of the sea – are complicated.

Our Solid Gold Summer continues its Egyptian excursion with this fun reimagining of the Bangles’ ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’ which is cheese on top of cheese on top of cheese, and that’s what summer is all about. Extra cheese, please.

All the old paintings on the tombs,
They do the sand dance,
Don’t you know?

If they move too quick
They’re falling down like a domino.

All the bazaar men by the Nile,
They got the money on a bet.

Gold crocodiles they snap their teeth
On your cigarette.

Foreign types with their hookah pipes say
Walk like an Egyptian.

The blond waitresses take their trays
They spin around and they cross the floor;
They’ve got the moves.
You drop your drink then they bring you more.

All the school kids so sick of books,
They like the punk and the metal band.
When the buzzer rings,
They’re walking like an Egyptian.

All the kids in the marketplace say:
Walk like an Egyptian.

Summer fun, summer fun, summer fun… if we repeat it enough it simply must come true.

Right?

Yes?

Please?

When Emi was originally entertaining summer theme ideas, she wanted to incorporate some element of Egyptian flair and Cleopatra vibes. We have reached that turn after a Solid Gold start, and our golden glory will thread its way through this Egyptian excursion along the Nile. We begin with a fragrance, as Egyptian as anything we’ll ever conjure here, and in keeping with the lighter touch of Cleopatra aspects. Sur de Nil was reportedly created with the inspiration of the Nile River running tranquilly in the background. It’s a lovely soft beginning for our own Egyptian journey here, which turns the soundtrack around in eclectic fashion worthy of my occasionally-eclectic niece. She takes after her fun Uncle in that way (and several others). And so we tip-toe into the pyramids, into a land of sand and sunlight, heat and papyrus and the sound of water running along like the sole savior it has become.

Do not speak to me of Queens and Kings, whisper only of love and beauty. Crowns and titles never impressed anyone around here, contrary to popular assumption. Still, pomp and circumstance passes the time, and we humans are notoriously in need of entertainment and amusement, so let us aim to enthrall you with this turn on our summer journey. There are palm trees swaying in the warm breeze, and a romantic aspect of night that pulls you along the with the current of the river.

“All strange and terrible events are welcome, but comforts we despise.” – Cleopatra

The conundrum of summer: such glorious atmosphere, such dark nights, such tease and please and unease. We find a way in the dizzying sunlight, only to forget the path by the time we wake from an afternoon nap. Dangers and delights alike, and no one could ever really tell the difference depending on how the shadows appear. Summer tempting, summer limiting, summer its own diabolical sphinx, impossible to riddle any sort of sense or meaning, and still we yearn, still we strive, still we grasp at the asp intent only on getting out alive, on seeking its own survival.

“I rested my temples on the breast of temptation, and put my neck voluntarily under her yoke of flowers; I tasted her cup. The pillow was burning: there is an asp in the garland: the wine has a bitter taste: her promises are hollow- her offers false. I see and know all this.” – Charlotte Bronte