Ratings

"Pyramids" is one of the songs that would pop up in my head when someone asks for THE perfect song. This near-10 minute experience ticks almost every box in what makes a song great. Production, Lyricism, Concept, the beat switch & the catchiness are all top notch and even relatability is there to an extent. The song starts with a retro futuristic synth sound, the melody of these synths is instantly recognizable, iconic for the 2010s and hit their peak just before the beat switches. This switch up is gradual but once those drums kick in during the 2nd half and Ocean starts his melodic rapping, you're in for a ride. This second beat sounds more modern in sound with its prominent hi-hats and the dark sub-bass. What I love about the production aside from obviously its impeccable quality is how well it complements the subject matter. The retro 1st part finds Ocean describe Queen Cleopatra. He first glorifies her achievements, as the jewel of Africa, and just before Part 1 ends, he details an incident where she sleeps with another man for sexual favors, compares this to "the fall/original sin" in the bible by Eve when she was tempted by the Devil in a serpent form, and then beautifully flips this to draw a parallel to the present modern world of sex workers in the 2nd part. The Fall of Cleopatra is used as a metaphor for the many such "queens" in present life losing themselves & "falling" into transactional sex. The song feels more like a documentary than a critique, he just says things as he has experienced it, making it all more relevant to the present day and age. Frank himself has come out and said he has actual pimps in his LA family. I guess they weren't lying when they say prostitution is the "oldest profession" and 'Pyramids' is one timeless song that deals with that very timeless profession.