“Let’s Call Her Cleopatra, Cleopatra” Jordan Johansen CAMWS | 5/27/2020 | Session 7C [email protected]

“Let’s Call her Cleopatra, Cleopatra” – Handout https://camws.org/sites/default/files/meeting2020/abstracts/2344LetCallHerCleopatra.pdf

1. “Cleopatra Had a Jazz Band,” 1917, Sophie Tucker, https://youtu.be/xXCKD0qoXrE

Cleopatra had a Jazz Band in her castle on the Nile Ev’ry night she gave a jazz dance in her queer Egyptian style She won Mark Anthony with her syncopated harmony, And as they played she swayed – She knew she had him all the while. ------Egypt got the dancing craze, so the wise men say. When they heard that music start, the natives began to dance and say. ------Caesar came from Rome to learn to dance the fox-trot and one-step, And when he heard those Jazzers play, He sure was full of pep.

2. “Teenage Cleopatra,” 1962, Tracey Dey, https://youtu.be/RXRTV80fddQ

He called me the queen Of all his treasure (Cleopatra) Said I’d rule his world with Only my smile (only my smile) ------Now he calls her his teenage Cleopatra (Cleopatra) He calls her his princess Of the Nile (of the Nile)

“Let’s Call Her Cleopatra, Cleopatra” Jordan Johansen CAMWS | 5/27/2020 | Session 7C [email protected]

3. “Cleopatra,” 1979, Adam and the Ants, https://youtu.be/ixfQuAZ1UKk

C-Cleopatra did a ten-thousand In her lifetime Now that’s a wide mouth C-Cleopatra gave a service With a smile-oh She was a wide mouthed girl A wide mouthed girl

C-Cleopatra did a hundred (1-0-0) Roman centurion For after dinner mints C-Cleopatra used a suction Oh so unheard of She was a wide mouthed girl A wide mouthed girl (believe it)

4. “Some Girls are Bigger than Others,” 1986, The Smiths, https://youtu.be/BLSLx5wt9Fg

As Anthony said to Cleopatra As he opened a crate of ale:

Oh, I say: Some girls are bigger than others Some girls are bigger than others Some girl's mothers are bigger than Other girl's mothers

“Let’s Call Her Cleopatra, Cleopatra” Jordan Johansen CAMWS | 5/27/2020 | Session 7C [email protected]

5. Andy Partridge: “Hearing this again recently I realized it could be interpreted as a tad “paedo,” but dear listener, this was not intended. I too saw myself as 14 years old in the song. Honest.”1

6. “Young Cleopatra,” 1987, XTC, https://youtu.be/JnbZzk6Be9k

My oh my, what a sight for sore eyes, young Cleopatra My oh my, what a wonderful prize, young Cleopatra You'll never be a queen unless you do as you're told You wouldn't understand it being fourteen years old Don't ever give your love for free But then again, don't even let it be sold

You have your teachers in a trap There's no age limit or no gap To who you set alight with fire consuming I'm glad your father is my friend And now that school is at an end He's only an excuse for me To wait here at your palace gates One glance from those two eyes Will seal your playground empire

7. “Cleopatra,” 1992, Yo-Yo, https://youtu.be/RNSs5-ujGzs

Forget Wonder Woman, she’s a trick Working around in red, white, and blue The girl is through Another superhero comin atcha But much blacker Yo-yo, better known as Cleopatra. ------Keep strivin’, livin’, and survivin’ Do the right thing, and no one could match ya And that’s from Cleopatra.

1 https://xtc.fandom.com/wiki/Young_Cleopatra “Let’s Call Her Cleopatra, Cleopatra” Jordan Johansen CAMWS | 5/27/2020 | Session 7C [email protected]

8. “Cleopatra, Queen of Denial,” 1993, Pam Tillis, https://youtu.be/lY-t_8O6RTM

Just call me Cleopatra, everybody ‘Cause I’m the Queen of Denial ------Oh Queen of Denial Buying all his alibis Queen of Denial Floating down a river of lies, yeahhh

9. “Thugz Mirror Freestyle,” 2002, , https://youtu.be/5hwUAbjHtLs

Real relaxed, readin’ real love stories like Caesar and Cleopatra, we need another actress to play her ‘Cause Liz Taylor’s hot, but the Egyptian queen On the movie screen needs to be portrayed in a proper flava

10. “Ghetto Dreams,” 2011, ft. Nas, https://youtu.be/HX7NewfcUK4

But I’m still single, looking for Cleopatra African Queen, yo look at me, I’m a bachelor

11. “Cleopatra,” 2012, Gucci Mane, https://youtu.be/A69QRQLUGbc

That ass sits super right like Cleopatra This here might end in a disaster disaster Like Caesar and Cleopatra

“Let’s Call Her Cleopatra, Cleopatra” Jordan Johansen CAMWS | 5/27/2020 | Session 7C [email protected]

12. “Pyramids,” 2012, Frank Ocean, https://youtu.be/dMV31MWIjLE

Set the cheetahs on the loose There’s a thief out on the move Underneath our legion’s view They have taken Cleopatra ------The jewel of Africa, jewel What good is a jewel that ain’t still precious? How could you run off on me? How could you run off on us? ------Remove her, send her 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

`

13. “Cleopatra,” 2016, Anik Khan, https://youtu.be/t2wcoFYrJGo

You remind me of Africa, Cleopatra Lead me in to your castle, Cleopatra We can rise above it all So bury us in the Taj Mahal, Cleopatra ------See I can’t fight this fight alone Every ruler needs a you at home Now do I look like I’d be taking orders? I’m breaking borders Claim my territory, and take shit over That’s why I need my lady, I need my lady Who wants to build this legacy with me. ------You feel like diamonds and gold, diamonds and gold, diamonds and gold You are my diamond and gold, diamond and gold.

“Let’s Call Her Cleopatra, Cleopatra” Jordan Johansen CAMWS | 5/27/2020 | Session 7C [email protected]

14. “The Flames of Desire,” 2016, ABC, https://youtu.be/96Xz6G8l8Lc

You came you saw you conquered Right then I knew you wanted me Burning in flames of desire ------VENI, VIDI, VICI ------Caesars have squandered jewels on you Empires they build on shifting sands Trading for kisses in a queue Like sacrificial lambs Let Rome in Tiber melt away Legions that conquer rise then fall I’ll kneel to the gods and then I’ll pray Do you hear my call?

15. “Cleopatra,” 2018, Lady Bitch Ray, https://youtu.be/NFmLhXY6D1c

“Let’s Call Her Cleopatra, Cleopatra” Jordan Johansen CAMWS | 5/27/2020 | Session 7C [email protected]

16. “Cleopatron (Drunk on Me),” 2017, Diamond White, https://youtu.be/Y_-dy-CisUQ

Hands, hands all on my neck like I’m your Barbie, but I’m Cleopatra He swervin’ on 101 from what he sippin’ on He say he don’t drink and drive, but baby that don’t matter He’s spinnin’ when he kiss me ‘cause I’m Cleopatron

17. Diamond White (via Instagram): “I came up with the idea for Cleopatron over a really interesting and “educational” time in my life. When you’re dealing with guys you learn a lot about different types of people, buuuut there was always one constant theme in most of the guys that liked me throughout that time. The fascination and almost addiction (which is where the alcohol references come in) to my melanin. Especially in the guys that never had any experience with a black girl. It was an immediate fascination. Real tea . Its a song about feminine energy and how powerful we are like an addiction. So much so that it creates an image of a goddess (that’s where cleopatra comes in). Apart from the meaning. It goes hard and I can’t wait for y’all to shake ya asses to this song (made with the amazing @feli_ferraro & @trakmatik @tairiqngarfield)”2

2 https://www.instagram.com/p/BbfYAU0hlPO/ “Let’s Call Her Cleopatra, Cleopatra” Jordan Johansen CAMWS | 5/27/2020 | Session 7C [email protected]

18. Samira Efendi: "Cleopatra is a song about trusting your gut instinct, standing up for yourself and being a “queen” - even when things get tough and especially if someone betrays or hurts you. It is truly a song about freedom, a celebration of all cultures and all sexualities and it's a song that is meant to inspire people to be who they are and to be proud of themselves - just as Cleopatra was. She was a queen who went through love, heartbreak, and betrayal, but she stood up for herself and is now remembered as an icon of strength and femininity."3

3 "Azerbaijan releases Efendi's Eurovision 2020 song 'Cleopatra' - Eurovision Song Contest". Eurovision.tv. 10 March 2020.