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Location: Michigan | One of the most strangest , interesting styles of musicians that I have ever heard in my life was Frank Zappa. I still do not know if I think he is a musical genius or if his music is mostly garbage. I understand that music is a form of art , and that everybody has a different interpetation of it.I think that he has some fantastic songs that I enjoy alot but for the most part I think that 75% of his music sounds like meaningless stuff . He was for sure an Icon in the music business as a songwriter,player and one of the most political people ever involved in the music industry .What do you make of Frank Zappa and his music??? GWB |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Genius, that's CAPITAL G! |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Genius +1 |
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Location: big island | PHI ZAPPA KRAPPA. exactamundo! |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | But all he wants to play is calm-eddie music.
His music sounds that way cuz he composed it that way.
As a technical guitarist, I understand that he could play anything he wanted.
So he played what he wanted.
A whole lot of famous musicians said that he was a Genius.
I bow to their appraisal...
You just made me think... I need to listen to some Zappa. :cool: |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | I think Zappa is absolute genius. However, extremely repetitive. Very much like Philip Glass. If you've heard 10 minutes of Zappa (or Glass) you've heard his entire repitoire. However, I could listen to it EVERY single day. I would call that genius.
Dave |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Beyond genius. There is currently a profile of FZ on "Classic Albums" of VH1 Classic. Narrated mostly by Dweezil and Steve Vai. If you ever wondered why you may have thought he was a genius, this profile of how Apostrophe/Overnight Sensation was recorded and the touring surrounding it, is a good window into his world and process. Genius just doesn't seem to do justice to a guy that can freehand write xylophone music as easily as guitar or any other instrument. |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Genius. FZ always had great bands and put on great shows! |
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Location: ms | I think genius is a bit of a overstatement. Talent no question, but he seemed to think even more of himself that his fans did. I think i would have liked him more if he would have just shut up and played his guitar. |
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Location: NJ | someone once said my guitar playing was like a cross between zappa meets neil young while both were on acid.
I took it as a compliment
a big G
we're hungry Freaks daddy!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | Zappa may be known mostly as a rock and roll icon, but he's also a serious classical, post-modernistic, avant-garde composer. In a recording of his classical compositions -- which featured a modern ensemble conducted by Pierre Boulez [a composer in his own right] -- the reviewer writes the following:
"Frank Zappa often complained about how difficult it was to find a classical orchestra that would actually take the time to learn the scores it is presented and try its best to do a honorable job when it comes to contemporary composition. Late in his career, he found such a group of musicians, the Ensemble Modern (which recorded "The Yellow Shark"), but in the mid-'80s Pierre Boulez' Ensemble InterContemporain recorded a worthy session of material, released in August 1984 on EMI's classical imprint, Angel, as "The Perfect Stranger". The title track was commissioned by Boulez, and sees the composer coming back to the days of "200 Motels", both in terms of style (the music is very programmatic) and references (at the center of the piece is the vacuum cleaner found in the aforementioned movie and in the cover artwork of the album "Chunga's Revenge"). "Naval Aviation In Art?" and "Dupree'S Paradise," the latter an old rock piece from 1973 rearranged for orchestra, are also performed by Boulez' ensemble. The remaining four tracks are credited to "The Barking Pumpkin Digital Gratification Consort" -- i.e., Zappa's Synclavier, a keyboard computer. "Outside Now, Again" and "Jonestown" are among the darkest, moodiest pieces of computer music the man has written. The composer remixed the album in 1992 and a moved a couple of tracks around. Compared to the "London Symphony Orchestra" sessions, "The Perfect Stranger" is a much stronger album with a better, rehearsed ensemble. Still, those not interested in the man's so-called serious music should steer clear of it. ~ François Couture, All Music Guide"
here's the link to order the recording if interested:
http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Stranger-Frank-Zappa/dp/B00006JL96/re... |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | ...and I thought " Perfect Stranger" was a song by Deep Purple...
Vic |
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Location: PDX | The guy could write entire orchestral scores in his head. He was a MASTER guitar player, and could play a number of other instruments. He was a prolific composer for over 30 years. He wrote most of the lyrics for his vocal compositions (including an opera).
I strongly disagree with Dave on the repetition comment. His harmonic variation is phenomenal. Perhaps it's a matter of taste or ear. I know folks who think all Bach sounds alike.
The man is up there with Mozart in my book. He's definitely a musician's musician.
With that being said, if you don't like his music -- move on to something that grabs you.
_____
gh1 |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | No disrespect to zappa (or any other dead people), but being dead tends to score you extra genius points.
Example, Pres. John F. Kennedy. Goes down in history as a great president who stood up to the commies and died a tragic death. Thruth is if he never got shot he would only be remembered as the president that dragged our american forces into Vietnam.
In my opinon sometimes being dead can do wonders for ones legecy. Just ask Hendrix, Cobain, Elvis and Morrison, ....
Dave |
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| ...or Mozart, Beethoven...... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | ... or Anna Nicole Smith ! |
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Location: NJ | . . who is STILL losing weight . . . |
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Location: NJ | Originally posted by Tupperware:
Example, Pres. John F. Kennedy. Goes down in history as a great president who stood up to the commies and died a tragic death. Thruth is if he never got shot he would only be remembered as the president that dragged our american forces into Vietnam.
huh? you mean bay of pigs?
eisenhower got us into vietnam |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | The Cuban Missile Crisis was a masterstroke of political genius. Gotta give JFK credit for that... (Imagine if the "Chimp" had been in the White House then...) |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Just to clarify an earlier point, I think he's definately a Genius +1. That doesn't mean I like all his music. Some I don't like and some gets boring, but the talent is still there, which was the question, wasn't it? |
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Location: NJ | I always loved Sam Kinnison's take on JFK:
He's staring out his window in the OvalOffice at the Washington Monument.
He's got Marilyn Monroe bent over his desk.
He's got his finger on "the Button", a Cuban cigar in his mouth, and the "RedPhone" in his hand while he's yelling at Kruschev:
". . errr-ah, get yaw ghawd-damned missles outta' my back yhawd!! . ."
. . . a HELL of an afternoon!!! |
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Location: NJ | I think Zappa's definitely an Acquired Taste.
I HAD a bunch of his albums, but never updated any to CD.
Loved his playing, hated his singing.
Not crazy about his ENTIRE body of work, but there ARE definitely aLOT of moments of absolute genius.
His son's a damn fine player, but I find him annoying as hell . . . |
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Location: NJ | dweezil is annoying but rather humble. I met him once and told him how much I respected Frank's work. he was very gracious BUT imagine being that good of a guitarist and your legacy is performing the works of your father's and not your own. That much me an amazing mind screw.
I own probably 30 zappa LPs and probably another 15 or so cd's. they don't all get played all the time. I have to be in the mood.
The amazing thing about Frank is he so loved music he taught himself how to do his scores and orchestration. Name one other rock band that had a full horn section, marimba, kettle drums and utilized some of the best musicians out there.
jimmy carl black, ian and ruth underwood, lowell george, jon luc ponty, ansley dunbar, steve vai, the fowlers, and the list goes on and on.
The problem some have with zappa is that he is rather self serving. he really wanted to record everything that he wanted and did not care about anyone else. It was his band, you played his music you played it his way. he was not interested in the music of others and did not record it. if you could deal with that you stayed in the band, if not you moved on.
the flo and eddie days were magnificent!!!! |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Genius, but may not be your cup of tea.
Like Picasso, I know he's a genius, but except for a few pieces, he doesn't thrill me.
Same for Zappa. I know what he's doing is amazing stuff, but I'm not really moved by him. He's speaking to some else's muse, not mine. |
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Location: Carle Place, NY | I've been a big Zappa fan since the mid 70's. Cliff is right, it's an aquired taste. Dave Witko/Tuppy hasn't listened to enough Zappa. FZ's music spans multiple genres and cannot be catagorized into any one style.
Dweezel is doing his best to present his dad's music to a new generation. The Zappa Plays Zappa show that I saw at the Beacon Theater last June was amazing. Dweezel is incredibly talented and he adds new dimentions to the music, particularly the guitar solos. He claims that it took him two years to learn Frank's solo style. Dweezel has taken that style and added a modern edge to it. I think that Dweezel's solos are better and more musical than Franks.
As for the lyrics and vocals, FZ had a unique wit. His stage personna went perfectly with what he sang. FZ proved that satire does indeed belong in music. Unfortunately, Dweezel, or anyone else for that matter, cannot duplicate on stage a real FZ performance.
That said, I still enjoyed Zappa Plays Zappa enough to get some good seats for the August 6th show at the Northfork Theater/Westbury Music Fair. Anyone want to go? It'll be my treat! Send me a private email. |
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OT.FRANK ZAPPA GENIUS OR GARBAGE ???
