Frank wrote a song called Jewish Princess which the ADL found offensive and they asked for an apology, here is Frank's answer: Zappa denied an apology, arguing: "Unlike the unicorn, such creatures do exist - and deserve to be 'commemorated' with their own special opus". He said that the ADL's concerns were "as if to say there is no such thing as a Jewish Princess. Like I invented this?" There was no one less unapologetic than Frank, he called it as he saw it. He also had a message for the 'beautiful' people out there, read that as 'woke' these days, "There are a lot more of us ugly MF's than you." Woke people act as if they have no dark side, they are just in denial.
@@FernieCanto you misinterpret his meaning, he was referring to the people whose appearance is always more important than substance. As far as 'woke,' those who use that term are more anti-intellectual than 'anti-beautiful, and FZ was one of the most intellectual men there ever was. He warned of Theocratic Fascism creeping into American politics in the 80s, I do suspect he would be outraged by how far it has come since then.
@@Peter-K I just find it highly questionable to try to associate Zappa with the "anti-woke" crowd, considering that those people are, in reality, closeted authoritarians who are trying to argue that the other side is "jUsT aS bAd" as the side they themselves defend.
@@FernieCanto he would criticize 'cancel culture' as an assault on free speech, but he would also hate the fascists, just listen to the song, "When the Lie Is So Big,' pretty much predicted where we are. Take a look at his Firing Line interview, "I am a conservative, but I am NOT a Republican." He was an old school con, fiscally conservative, but socially very liberal.
Zappa was a genius that in may ways constantly hinted, both in his conversations, interviews and his lyrics, that we may find ourselves in a space much like we are today. Certainly in regards to the state of public discourse and our inability to converse in good faith with people who may not share our ideas or worldview. Quite understandable that anyone unfamiliar with his ironic embodiment of everything wrong with America thought all of it was done unironically. He's an acquired taste, no doubt.
An absolute masterpiece album!I don’t find the lyrics offensive at all,rather very intelligent actually.To say they are offensive in 2022 I would say is being a bit too concerned with Political correctness.I mean,look at the world in 2022.It’s way worse and offensive.Frank Zappa sang a lot about the American society beyond the conservative religious surface the leaders wanted and want to portrait.Also to note is Zappas aversion to sappy love lyrics.For example Peter Framton’s I’m in you.Frank’s reaction to that was “I have been in you” from the Sheik yerbouti album.Everyone of course gets very offended by Zappas lyrics but Frampton’s everyone is ok with because it’s a love song.Frank Zappa was years ahead of us writing about the dirty side of our society we tend to look away from because we are programmed to do so.
I never doubted you would be up to this..... another aspect is that this is definitely an American story . Frank was very clearly getting at the heart of America's obvious contradictions , with which we still struggle....
Frank was very concerned about conservative pressure on music and musicians. He refers to Iran, where music was banned at the time, in the liner notes. He later took on Tipper Gore and all the others who wanted to put parental warnings on records. And made mincemeat of them on numerous TV appearances.
Hey Jim! Thanks for this video. I'm glad you feel better about everything. Comments really help especially when not familiar with a certain piece of music. Carry on Jim. Onwards and upwards!😎
Finish it. Taken collectively as a work of art it's brilliant. It is socially unacceptable for a reason. The musicianship is second to none. How many popular rock songs border on child molestation? Zappa stuck it in your face rather than disguise it as "love" and poetry. You hit the nail on the head! Zappa is the George Carlin of rock music.
Way to go man! Glad you could see this as satire. Many people would stick with their first reaction and that is the reason a lot of comedians are getting shut down these days. If you're interested to hear the rest of the story you should check out Joe's Garage Acts Two and Three. Cheers.
Read his book, maybe before you listen to anymore albums. You'll get there and once you understand what he was doing, you'll love it. Frank Zappa was a true genius. Fantastic guitarist as well. After this maybe listen to one of the fusion instrumental albums. Then I'd go back to the beginning Freak Out and work your way through in order. Zappa tended to release albums in a sort of yin-yang order. Many sides to Zappa, always experimental. Enjoy the journey. Some you'll love, some you'll hate. Very different to anyone else. 👍
Still the same. See The Voice of TV show in the Netherlands. Abuse of candidates reflects that the same issue still applies. After exposing the abuse via a internet documentary called BOOS for the TV show, all kinds of business area's people stood up against abuse. Another remarkable discovery was abuse at soccer blub Ajax. And lots of area's to follow.
Jim, i have this fantastic record, and would listen to it only on headphones, "after first blearing it out of my stereo" for all my kinfolk to hear, but as i realized the lyrics, i chose to protect any one in hear shot?, so it became a "private" listen only, sorry but i dont see any other option, the album is a creative work of genius, period.
Kudos for posting this Jim - it takes real guts to admit you made a mistake, especially on the internet! Having said that, just because something is satirical doesn't mean we always have to give it a free pass or automatically enjoy it. Satire can miss its target, age into irrelevance or even become more problematic than the thing it's satirising! I don't think any of that necessarily applies to Joe's Garage (though in another 50 years, who knows?), but certainly when shorn of historical and cultural context you're left with something that on the surface can seem needlessly cruel and unpleasant. I would never blame anyone for listening to an album like this in 2022 and thinking "nah, not for me". FWIW I personally do enjoy it for what it is, but it's by no means top tier Zappa for me.
Stay Away from Zappa's " Torture Never Stops" / Dirty Love / and especially Dyna-Mo-Hum" If you review those songs, you will have to have another of these explanatory videos...! BUT... If you do review them, they are really great tunes deep down behind the words...!
I was playing ‘Zoot Allures’ at high volume after school one afternoon in the early ‘80s, and apparently one of my neighbors got a bit concerned when hearing “The Torture Never Stops” blaring from my windows. The police officers that responded were amused in the end.
That’s why you should listen to some Igorrr, no lyrics just pure emotions. Well there are lyrics but they are in Oxxo Xoox language and it’s pretty hard to decipher that.
As a non native English speaker, I had trouble understanding what Zappa was singing. I of course miss most of the double meaning if the lyrics; I even miss those in well pronounced English. You would have the same problem as you would hear Dutch and understand Dutch , you still would miss the underlying message. Only if you live in an English speaking society long enough you would be able to.
Zappa have always been offensive, just dive through his older stuff. But after the massive hit-album Sheik Yerbouti album the "mainstream" became fully aware of him and started the censoring campaign in full (Like the ADL "Anti-Defamation League" got ballistic on the "Jewish Princess" track.) Funnily enough, Bobby Brown was a MASSVIE hit in (western/mainland)Europe. If you want offensive, take good listen to the 3x-album Thing Fish. Probably the best Broadway musical newer played on Broadway. The songs them self isn't particularly controversial (for Zappa), but the "in-between" is. Great album. :)
And another thing; the guy who commented that Frank was a conservative? Ridiculous. To categorize Frank with such shallow terms as conservative or liberal is koo koo. It's too black and white.
I know, I know… the penny dropped and I realised what was going on by Act Two and Three. A very very good suite of music. I can’t help WHEN I am listening to this, and can only do so with a modern ear!
I don't think your prudish. I think some of Frank Zapper's lyrics can sexually objectify women. A bit like today, when rap artist lyrics are calling women b**ches and h*es etc. It reflects a kind of attitude and culture. So maybe Frank is using this attitude and Culture as a satire or he is just trying to push boundaries against censorship. But it also could be a 60s/70s sexual revolution attitude, which at times could be pretty sexist towards women. I think there maybe a chance that Frank lived his art. I think his wife may have found it difficult to deal with at times. Sometimes you can't separate the artist from the art.
Zappa has also said many times that in his youth he always looked for and enjoyed R&B songs with explicit lyrics and I think in his later years he was sometimes trying to pay homage to and update those kind of lyrics.
You should have just stuck with your gut instincts. 65% or more of Zappa's catalogue involves smut and shock lyrics. It's a gimmick and that's all it is. I am an erstwhile Zappa fan but after many years and and a large catalogue of his music I began to grow tired of the infantile, gratuitous lyrics and overly complicated music. Not everything has to be a crusade.
Frank wrote a song called Jewish Princess which the ADL found offensive and they asked for an apology, here is Frank's answer:
Zappa denied an apology, arguing: "Unlike the unicorn, such creatures do exist - and deserve to be 'commemorated' with their own special opus". He said that the ADL's concerns were "as if to say there is no such thing as a Jewish Princess. Like I invented this?"
There was no one less unapologetic than Frank, he called it as he saw it. He also had a message for the 'beautiful' people out there, read that as 'woke' these days, "There are a lot more of us ugly MF's than you." Woke people act as if they have no dark side, they are just in denial.
"He also had a message for the 'beautiful' people out there, read that as 'woke' these days"
The 'cute' people are 'woke'? Well, ain't THAT a reach.
@@FernieCanto you misinterpret his meaning, he was referring to the people whose appearance is always more important than substance. As far as 'woke,' those who use that term are more anti-intellectual than 'anti-beautiful, and FZ was one of the most intellectual men there ever was. He warned of Theocratic Fascism creeping into American politics in the 80s, I do suspect he would be outraged by how far it has come since then.
@@Peter-K I just find it highly questionable to try to associate Zappa with the "anti-woke" crowd, considering that those people are, in reality, closeted authoritarians who are trying to argue that the other side is "jUsT aS bAd" as the side they themselves defend.
@@FernieCanto he would criticize 'cancel culture' as an assault on free speech, but he would also hate the fascists, just listen to the song, "When the Lie Is So Big,' pretty much predicted where we are. Take a look at his Firing Line interview, "I am a conservative, but I am NOT a Republican." He was an old school con, fiscally conservative, but socially very liberal.
Zappa was a genius that in may ways constantly hinted, both in his conversations, interviews and his lyrics, that we may find ourselves in a space much like we are today. Certainly in regards to the state of public discourse and our inability to converse in good faith with people who may not share our ideas or worldview. Quite understandable that anyone unfamiliar with his ironic embodiment of everything wrong with America thought all of it was done unironically. He's an acquired taste, no doubt.
Zappa held a mirror up to society and people didn't like what they saw.
My favorite thing-to nerd out and get deep! This is great. Thanks Jim and community. ✌🏻❤️🎼
An absolute masterpiece album!I don’t find the lyrics offensive at all,rather very intelligent actually.To say they are offensive in 2022 I would say is being a bit too concerned with Political correctness.I mean,look at the world in 2022.It’s way worse and offensive.Frank Zappa sang a lot about the American society beyond the conservative religious surface the leaders wanted and want to portrait.Also to note is Zappas aversion to sappy love lyrics.For example Peter Framton’s I’m in you.Frank’s reaction to that was “I have been in you” from the Sheik yerbouti album.Everyone of course gets very offended by Zappas lyrics but Frampton’s everyone is ok with because it’s a love song.Frank Zappa was years ahead of us writing about the dirty side of our society we tend to look away from because we are programmed to do so.
I never doubted you would be up to this..... another aspect is that this is definitely an American story . Frank was very clearly getting at the heart of America's obvious contradictions , with which we still struggle....
Respect for seeing Franks "light" and making and explanatory video
Frank was very concerned about conservative pressure on music and musicians. He refers to Iran, where music was banned at the time, in the liner notes. He later took on Tipper Gore and all the others who wanted to put parental warnings on records. And made mincemeat of them on numerous TV appearances.
Hey Jim! Thanks for this video. I'm glad you feel better about everything. Comments really help especially when not familiar with a certain piece of music. Carry on Jim. Onwards and upwards!😎
Finish it. Taken collectively as a work of art it's brilliant. It is socially unacceptable for a reason. The musicianship is second to none. How many popular rock songs border on child molestation? Zappa stuck it in your face rather than disguise it as "love" and poetry. You hit the nail on the head! Zappa is the George Carlin of rock music.
Way to go man! Glad you could see this as satire. Many people would stick with their first reaction and that is the reason a lot of comedians are getting shut down these days. If you're interested to hear the rest of the story you should check out Joe's Garage Acts Two and Three. Cheers.
I just needed to have some context to what I was listening to!
Read his book, maybe before you listen to anymore albums. You'll get there and once you understand what he was doing, you'll love it. Frank Zappa was a true genius. Fantastic guitarist as well.
After this maybe listen to one of the fusion instrumental albums. Then I'd go back to the beginning Freak Out and work your way through in order.
Zappa tended to release albums in a sort of yin-yang order. Many sides to Zappa, always experimental.
Enjoy the journey. Some you'll love, some you'll hate. Very different to anyone else. 👍
Great response!
Still the same. See The Voice of TV show in the Netherlands. Abuse of candidates reflects that the same issue still applies. After exposing the abuse via a internet documentary called BOOS for the TV show, all kinds of business area's people stood up against abuse. Another remarkable discovery was abuse at soccer blub Ajax. And lots of area's to follow.
Jim, i have this fantastic record, and would listen to it only on headphones, "after first blearing it out of my stereo" for all my kinfolk to hear, but as i realized the lyrics, i chose to protect any one in hear shot?, so it became a "private" listen only, sorry but i dont see any other option, the album is a creative work of genius, period.
By the way Jim. It only gets worse. Haha. But there is some sublime music ahead too.
Yes! After all the unpleasantness in jail, we have "Watermelon in Easter Hay".
@@2wayplebney You knew exactly what I was talking about Graham.
There is a advert on TV. Beach boys (Wouldn't it be nice 1966) Listen to the words and its about under age sex. No one utters a word.
Kudos for posting this Jim - it takes real guts to admit you made a mistake, especially on the internet! Having said that, just because something is satirical doesn't mean we always have to give it a free pass or automatically enjoy it. Satire can miss its target, age into irrelevance or even become more problematic than the thing it's satirising! I don't think any of that necessarily applies to Joe's Garage (though in another 50 years, who knows?), but certainly when shorn of historical and cultural context you're left with something that on the surface can seem needlessly cruel and unpleasant. I would never blame anyone for listening to an album like this in 2022 and thinking "nah, not for me". FWIW I personally do enjoy it for what it is, but it's by no means top tier Zappa for me.
Thank you! It makes it easier with the background knowledge about what he was trying to shine a light on
Stay Away from Zappa's " Torture Never Stops" / Dirty Love / and especially Dyna-Mo-Hum" If you review those songs, you will have to have another of these explanatory videos...!
BUT... If you do review them, they are really great tunes deep down behind the words...!
I was playing ‘Zoot Allures’ at high volume after school one afternoon in the early ‘80s, and apparently one of my neighbors got a bit concerned when hearing “The Torture Never Stops” blaring from my windows. The police officers that responded were amused in the end.
This is a very good reaction video
Your reaction to being called a prude 😁 x
That’s why you should listen to some Igorrr, no lyrics just pure emotions. Well there are lyrics but they are in Oxxo Xoox language and it’s pretty hard to decipher that.
Lol!
As a non native English speaker, I had trouble understanding what Zappa was singing. I of course miss most of the double meaning if the lyrics; I even miss those in well pronounced English. You would have the same problem as you would hear Dutch and understand Dutch , you still would miss the underlying message. Only if you live in an English speaking society long enough you would be able to.
You need to do You Are What You Is
No need to apologise for an opinion, hats off for it though.
I get slammed for hating the cover of Studio Tan!
Zappa have always been offensive, just dive through his older stuff. But after the massive hit-album Sheik Yerbouti album the "mainstream" became fully aware of him and started the censoring campaign in full (Like the ADL "Anti-Defamation League" got ballistic on the "Jewish Princess" track.) Funnily enough, Bobby Brown was a MASSVIE hit in (western/mainland)Europe.
If you want offensive, take good listen to the 3x-album Thing Fish. Probably the best Broadway musical newer played on Broadway. The songs them self isn't particularly controversial (for Zappa), but the "in-between" is. Great album. :)
Don't listen to Bobby Brown if you're easily offended.
Haha - I"ve already heard that!
And another thing; the guy who commented that Frank was a conservative? Ridiculous. To categorize Frank with such shallow terms as conservative or liberal is koo koo. It's too black and white.
Frank actually said on a TV interview "you may not like this but I'm a conservative"
Frank Zappa was truly both a jerk and a genius. That’s it.
Nice 👌!!
ummm.... Modern sensibility? Two Words: Cardi B WAP.... should be your next up. Frank was purposefully skilled at satire and pushing the envelope.
I know, I know… the penny dropped and I realised what was going on by Act Two and Three. A very very good suite of music. I can’t help WHEN I am listening to this, and can only do so with a modern ear!
I don't think your prudish. I think some of Frank Zapper's lyrics can sexually objectify women. A bit like today, when rap artist lyrics are calling women b**ches and h*es etc. It reflects a kind of attitude and culture.
So maybe Frank is using this attitude and Culture as a satire or he is just trying to push boundaries against censorship. But it also could be a 60s/70s sexual revolution attitude, which at times could be pretty sexist towards women.
I think there maybe a chance that Frank lived his art. I think his wife may have found it difficult to deal with at times. Sometimes you can't separate the artist from the art.
Zappa has also said many times that in his youth he always looked for and enjoyed R&B songs with explicit lyrics and I think in his later years he was sometimes trying to pay homage to and update those kind of lyrics.
You should have just stuck with your gut instincts.
65% or more of Zappa's catalogue involves smut and shock lyrics. It's a gimmick and that's all it is.
I am an erstwhile Zappa fan but after many years and and a large catalogue of his music I began to grow tired of the infantile, gratuitous lyrics and overly complicated music.
Not everything has to be a crusade.