A Watermelon in Easter Hay
Вставка
- Опубліковано 9 тра 2015
- The instrumental track as it appears on the album Joe's Garage by Frank Zappa. The album describes the life of a musician who lives in a dystopian world where music has been made illegal so he is forced to resort to dreaming of imaginary guitar notes. The narration (provided by the Central Scrutinizer, a government agent who enforces all the laws that haven't been passed yet) which occurs before this track is as follows:
"This is the Central Scrutinizer. Joe has just worked himself into an imaginary frenzy during the fadeout of his imaginary song. He begins to feel depressed now. He knows the end is near. He has realized at last that imaginary guitar notes and imaginary vocals exist only in the imagination of the imaginer, and ultimately, who gives a fuck anyway? ... So he goes back to his ugly little room and quietly dreams his last imaginary guitar solo..."
While keeping a lot of the melodic elements that are in the original song, for the solo I decided to give my own improvisation inspired by the spirit of that solo.
His last imaginary piano solo
Frank's idea of Heaven.
Well said smarty pants.
last from which macro syllable faith limitation Z?
🤣
❤
Even the Central Scrutinizer had a tear in his eye over this one
If anybody sees this I'm so happy people are continuing to find, be inspired by, and comment on this video. It's nice to see people give a fuck!
Dude, I keep coming back to this again and again. Thank you.
Such an incredible video. Thank you for making this. (3 years after this comment)
Hello, I want ask you one thing. Do you have the partiture for piano this music?
i give a fuck, to this and to Peaches En Regalia too. thank you, Robert, for all these Zappa covers
I AM. THANK YOU FOR THIS MASTERPIECE
I am happy to see that Frank's music lives on with our next generation. Played with conviction and much appreciated.
FINALLY!
I recently told a friend, who needs interesting music that's hard to play? Music students.
this song sounds like grief. the never ending conundrum of conscience. heartache is so big and deep but so simple-two-dimensional in the way light is. the sun shines on me and i miss my dad.
Your comment those 10 months ago has made me cry.
Wow! You get it.The original version is a masterpiece.Checkout Dweezil Zappa doing his dad's version.Bring the tissue.You'll need it.
The song is about a music lover in a world where music is forbidden, and as he loses his mind, he dreams up one last guitar solo in his head that no one can take away from him. The entire concept album is probably the pinnacle of Zappas work.
I miss my sister.
The last dying breath of the most amazing music that was never played 😭
Robert has worked himself into an imaginary frenzy...
Glad To See A Young Person Who Appreciates Frank Zappa!
Wayne Danberry j'en
"Glad to see a young person who appreciates Frank Zappa" and watching him playing like that!!!
Wayne Danberry frank Zappa is timeless
ok boomer
. . . Wow!. How Old Were We? Me, 13, "The Soul Giants" . . . Then With Verve: "The Mothers Of Invention."
I will pay for your travels for you to play this at my wedding processional. My dad is the biggest Zappa fanatic I know, and it would be the most incredible thing ever.
I hope he took/takes you up on that.
Wow that's 1 hell of a wedding with this guy playing piano, can I come 🤣😂
I hope something like this happened. My daughter doesn't have my musical tastes and she's a delight so that's fine. But as your dad I would sit there weeping with joy at having the sweetest coolest daughter in the universe if she set something like this up for my benefit and hers. You're right. Most incredible thing ever.
@@alkuhseltsur9243 reading this comment while this played made my eyes tear up more than usual during this song.
That’d be so dope. Did he come out for your wedding?
He used to cut the grass. He was such a nice boy.
From a 45 year lover of Frank Zappa and his music I say that is a great interpretation Robert. This is one of Frank's most moving pieces and thanks for sharing it here.
R.H. Omea I agree. It is beautiful.
Totaly Agree. Same here, listen 35 Years to Franks Music, and i luv this Version. Great >3
I have been listening and reciting Franks music for over 50 years. This song will be one of the songs I have chosen to represent my life long love of music to be played at my memorial services. Everyone that truly knows me will be disappointed if Frank is not played then.
Dats so funky, even Obama likes it.
@@johnsolis7631 Obama is satanic & centrally involved in the global coup d’etat.
I don't know how you managed to capture the magic on piano but this is spectacular and haunting.
Thanks so much for posting this!
This is Zappa 's most emotionally moving composition. I even think more so by being played on piano. Great choice and great performance.
Frank would be impressed but then ask you to do it in 7/8 reggae! Beautiful job!!
xD
Difficult thing to do, unless of course, you are Steve Vai, or Zappa himself
Great job on a truly fantastic piece of music, this will be played at my funeral. I was at a local restaurant a couple of years ago and I had gotten to know the house pianist. One evening , he walked by my table to go on break and I mentioned this composition, he went outside to smoke a cig and pulled this up on You Tube. He walked back in , sat down and played this perfectly,.....I was blown away !
I want it my ‘celebration of life’ party as well. Not to mention, Pat Metheny’s “Last Train Home”.
It's just a couple of the same notes but how they're phrased is the genius of Zappa.Its tough watching Dweezil do this masterpiece.
@@prqshn I want Jerry Jeff Walker's "Leavin Texas" at mine.
My funeral.
Frank Zappa Watermelon in Easter hay
Genesis Firth of Fifth
Beatles Golden Slumbers
Steve Hillage Palm Trees
Caravan Winter wine
❤
I'm having it put in my will to have this played at my funeral. The 2013 version by Dweezil performing in London. He cries when he plays. Kills me every time.
I've always thought the same thing. It sounds like a spirit being set free...
Ï
I've told me wife the same.
I've let my wife know, as well
A Watermelon In Easter Hay?!!
Don't you boys know any nice songs?
Aqui tienes una gran canción.
That was GREAT !!!
Yeah, I know a couple. Stick it out, Catholic Girls, Crew slut, Jewish Princess, Honey don't you want a man like me. You know, the romantic songs by Zappa.
Well, it depends on the mood, but most of the times I prefer a beautiful piece than just a nice song.
I have been in you
Bobby Brown goes down
Muffin Man
This was a great rendition of a great work of music.
The Central Scrutinizer had to admit that Joe was always free.
It doesn't surprise me at all how well this translates to Piano. I wish one of these 10K+ people who liked it [10 dissenters] would put you in front of an in-tune piano in a more acoustical friendly space with some quality mics and record this for real. good job. if you're ever near Philly I can arrange for that very thing.
Joe's Garage is a fantastic album. Great choice and wonderful performance.
This album got me into Zappa! I heard the odd piece, and saw him on some of the late night shows, but when I heard that album, I was totally hooked!!!
Watermelon in Easter Hay is no doubt my favorite composition by FZ .. I watched him create music on the Tonight Show with Steve Allen on a bicycle in 1963 .. in 1966 I bought his Debut Double Album "Freak Out" .. with the Mothers of Invention .. I knew right then guitar was my instrument .. in a very complex 9/4 tempo this track makes anyone weep especially when you know the story motivating this composition .. or if you were lucky enough to watch him play it live .. RIP Master Zappa
What is the story of this song?
A lovely requiem for FZ !!! R.I.P. Frank, we all sorely miss you . . .
Brilliant......beautiful.....One of my favorite Zappa tunes, and this kid just gives it the treatment.
unemployed, depressed and hating every single bit of the world around me...i load up youtube and i see this song A Watermelon in Easter Hay. This has happened every time i lose a job...thanks for your piano piece...very emotional :)
Well....
Just going to throw this out there.
But watching this was the first time I've ever teared up listening to a Zappa song.
Rock on man!
Been listening to my God since 1974 when I was 14. I cry every night that my God has left us,but he left so much to enjoy. Music is my religion and Frank Zappa is my God.
you should pull up Dweezil Zappa - Watermelon in Easter Hay (London 2013)
This was amazing, and might I add , possibly the best cover of that song I have heard. Spine tingling beautiful music
Nice! Here's my version - one hot summer's evening in 2006 - ua-cam.com/video/UaTzNpLnYbM/v-deo.html
7:36 You nailed it here with the subtle slow-down and the augmented chords. Great job man
As most people who clicked on your link, I was curious to hear how this guitar piece would translate to piano.
Well done for having the courage to take it on and doing it justice!
I think it's lovely. I hope he sees these comments.
''There are Artists who wrest us up, & place us intoThemselves!
These are the 'One's' who continue to wrest us up...
Even beyond Their rests in peace.'' -gilpin 4618
God save Zappa music
Amazing..... played this to my girlfriend who hates Zappa and she loves it..... I then tell her its Zappa! Ha! I will turn her (naive, blinkered musical mind) or you will Robert. Love it!
Nothing is beautiful compared to this. Hey Frank Zappa see what you have created.
This is seriously one of the best things I've ever heard.
Bravo Robert, Bravo...When I recently saw Dweezel play this song he fore warned the audience that he sometimes gets emotional when he plays it ....And he did...It was Beautiful....
Wow. That sounds incredible.
I’m a hardcore zappa fan and this is fucking gorgeous... I love how you interpreted this legendary piece of music and Made it your own.
Happy to have found this splendid piano rendition of Zappa's masterpiece. Now what about Night school!
What a great interpretation of this piece! Congratulations!!!
Don't tell Frank, but this song always put a tear in my eye. This version is beautiful too, thank you.
Made me cry, wonderful
Always nice to see others appreciating Zappa's music. Nice performance. Sounds great on the piano.
chaosmos24 ii
That's really pretty, had me teared up 30 seconds in. Dweezil says this is the most emotional song he plays of his dads. Well done man.
Joe has just learnt another instrument
It is very nicely to watch him playing without sheets of notes. This feels more trustworthy and authentic. Thanx for these momories.
Why do I like this on a Piano better ? Awesome playing !!! Right to the soul...you captured it perfectly.THANKS FOR SHARING!
Never thought that song would work on piano since bending the string is pretty much the essence of the song (and of Joe), but the sustain of the low notes really makes up for that! Also you conveyed the growing intensity of the song and the slight, syncopic variations of the notes right after the 'bend' very well. Great job man!
Robert, that piece has always had a particularly profound effect on me. I'd get that same feeling every time I listened to it. I also found it to be, for me, a necessary and integral part of the Joe's Garage album, which puts the listener through some real changes. I sort of ~needed~ that last piece to bring me back from that dystopian and horrible world we seem to be approaching as I write this. For what it's worth, your interpretation gave me that same sense of 'returning safely after a long and sometimes terrible experience...;-) Anyway, that's what I got out of the piece on the album and it's what I got from your performance.
Thank you.
how’s this for dystopia...!
thank you for one of my FZ favorite song
Just found this 7 years after you posted. Thank you. Frank would approve; you brought a lot of people together with your interpretation. Hope you are carrying it on!
No words to describe how good this interpretation of the song is 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 thanks
If anyone would have asked me if this piece can be played on piano in an really impressive way, I would have said NO. Now I say YES!
This is truly keeping in the tradition of Zappa. I'd love to hear more of his stuff covered on orchestral instruments.
This is the song I want played at my funeral. The melody speaks of freedom and sadness to me...
This is one of Zappa's great compositions, and you've done a great job of giving it new life with a piano arrangement. Kudos to you.
once Zappa was DJing on radio and said the full title is "trying to play a guitar solo with this band is like trying to grow Watermelon In Easter Hay" and he closed the show with it. Maybe it was ""Playing a guitar solo with this band is like trying to grow a watermelon in Easter hay""
Music is my religion and Frank Zappa is my God.
this is my husband's 2nd birthday without him for he would of been 56 today and I found this outstanding piece played on the piano by this young man it brought tears to my eyes as this was one of his favorite songs by frank I know he is looking down at us with his beautiful big smile Happy Birthday Michick My Love xxxxxoo
this is from his wife of 26 years using his site
Oh my goodness! A wonderful rendition. Superb! Thank you so much for posting this. T.
Hey man this is fuckin awesome. I mean I would have never thought of doing this on piano. And your about perfect .. that's incredible. Assuming your a fan of Frank's .. I'm glad I ran into this video thanks , music is the best !
This was fantastic! Well done, young man. Frank would be proud.
agreed...
Awesome , absolutely fantastic , It is not imaginary anymore.
Nice job. One of my favorite pieces of all time. (But ultimately...)
Who gives a f.. anyway
Дивно, емотивно....у овом хладном и безосећајном свету, лепо је чути мелодију коју само душе са емоцијама могу исказати....
Much praise! Whatever your discipline, so well played! For All you Zappa fans out there, take yourself back to the 79's and put this MAN in Any of those older writings
Composers never die, Played so well
Bravo! Young Man! Very true homage to the creator, so good I thinkl you would have been employed! 5 Zappa stars for me!!!! Beautifilly covered!
Sadly, the piano doesn't cry like the guitar but this is a heroic attempt to capture the feeling of this piece. I applaud you for caring and even trying.
Everytime I hear a Frank recording of this I get the chills and tear up. You got the same sir. 🙏
This is so great piano solo playing for me.This song is my best favorite song of FZ.
Those first couple notes bought it all back! I still have the Live cassette I first heard Frank play this. Think it was You Can't Do That Onstage Anymore.
Man this chokes me up. I can still see Frank onstage at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Bravo! An incredible rendition, I think Frank would have loved it. And he would have complimented the attention to detail, every little twist was there.
Frank would appreciate the quality of this version and the impeccable timing - great job dude
As beautiful as the soul who composed it. The mordern day composer refuses to die.
Wow, that felt really good. Honestly, thank you very much. Bravo!
I imagine heaven being like this sound. In Brazil, we have a lyric where it says:
"One day the air was filled with love
And in all their splendor the voices sang
His song echoed through the fields
Climbed the mountains and reached the universe
And a star shone showing the way
"Glory to god in the highest
And peace on earth to men of goodwill""
Robert, your interpretation of his unique sound explains these lyrics. Thanks for sharing with us.
Mesmerising arrangement, solos right in the pocket, marimba and bell parts all there! Well done!
I can hear the central scrutiniser smiling and see him orchestrating additions and changes and tones
Gorgeous. Zappa would be proud.
Sounds great on a piano. I think it's my favorite piece by Zappa, although I'm a long way from having hear it all. Joe's Garage is probably my favorite.
i discover Frank because of my dad, this is our song. thank you for duplicate the awesomeness of the song by playing it in piano.. Much greetings from Mexico
Nice cover version. ''The Last Imaginary Guitar Solo'' (they played it over Frank's obituary on the BBC when they did a special after they'd announced he had died. It literally brought me to tears).
Now it is the last imaginary piano solo. I've noticed over the last 5-10 yrs or so that there's been a lot of musicians and music students putting up cover versions onto UA-cam etc of Frank's work. Great to see the next generations, the new generations of musicians studying Frank's work (and YES & King Crimson etc). Maybe there is a glimmer of hope for humanity after all.
This has convinced me that any and all songs can be played on a piano…
Here I visit again imagining Frank and family sitting around eating a watermelon sitting on Easter hay today.
I hope Frank can listen to this from his planet sometime...We’ll done kid!
It began, for me, at age 15 and now it's 53 years later, and I still listen to Zappa most of the time. Brain food, soul food and entertainment food. I repeat what others have stated: this is one of his most moving pieces of music. Thank you Robert and the host of others who have played this song, the best of whom is, in my humble opinion, his own son Dweezil. Zappa was in the same (or better) league as Beethoven, Mozart and Brahms. If those cats had the equipment Frank had, they might have sounded like Frank. But, no. No one has ever been as free and creative and broad minded mentally and musically as Frank Zappa. RIP dear Frank. You are and always will be in my heart.
can we all just appreciate how beautiful this chords progression sound in piano, zappa was such a genius.
I obviously can’t speak for Zappa but I feel like he would not only approve, but enjoy this. He would take you into his fold. He would push you and challenge you and put you on point and let you shine because he was a modern day maestro and that’s what maestros do.
Man
I love it, you totally nailed the melancholic, sad, bitter feeling of this absolute FZ's masterpiece
The requiem of Joe.
Simply phenomenal, great job
What a beautifully played performance of a masterpiece of our time. I can only hope that people 100+ years from now can hear a rendition of this powerful composition.
I am so happy to come across this ,my favorite instrument,The Piano and my favorite Zappa song.Did not expect this to be as haunting if not more than Zappa. Love Music that really touches my soul.True Music and a true Musician.Your Awesome.Can't wait to check out a your other vids.
Lovely! I'm a very long time Zappa lover, and a pianist, and really love your playing and your feel. I think your soloing also kind of captures Zappa's guitar soloing style...with its complex little mechanisms and deep dives into the harmony...Bravo!
A beautiful adaption to such an incredible piece. Think about this, it's in a major key, and yet the music is so, so sad. The mastery of Zappa to be able to tap into this rare, unique offering, it's like this composition has a spellbinding magic all it's own.
He performed this with his band, him on guitar, yet listen to how wonderfully this piece can be adapted to fit any adept arrangement.
Thank you.
Very particular melody with a highly suggestive signature rithm. High emotional impact due to it's summoning nature of love,death and a sort of hopeless hope...light and dark.sorrow and consolation...everything and everywhere...a lesson of something elusive of utmost importance as only a musical genius of Frank Zappa was capable of....really awsome....
Frank's work on this track is as good as anything Hendrix had to offer... You do a fine job arranging for piano; cheers!
...Grew up with Frank Zappa's music...thank you.
That's trully beautiful. Thank you.
Never felt compelled to comment before. Long time Frank fan.
I was feeling this tune all day yesterday because it was a rainy day. Today bright and sunny and I listen to this rendition. Great adaptation, thank you, most inspired. Keep at it. Most blessed.
Beautiful, just Beautiful.....Thank you
I listened to Joe's Garage in its entirety today. Such a great album and this is a standout track for sure. Wonderfully done by your good self.
Beautifully done! I thank you.
Gracias Bob, la vuelvo a escuchar una y otra vez, y mi cuerpo y mi alma se curan de tanta oscuridad, las luces brillan en el jardín y vuelvo a ilusionarme como cuando era un niño. Tu versión del meridiano de esta gran melodía vino a rescatarme, a buscarme para ir jugar nuevamente con mis instrumentos. Un gran abrazo desde Buenos Aires Argentina para vos. Jorge Orse, nube para mis amigos