My questions are ... Are you familiar with 'Harpo Marx's Harp playing? Ever watched him play in the Marx Brother's Films? Have any comments, insights, or inspirations, as it regards the application of humor or fun in playing the harp?
If this interests you could you please look at the orchestral music Zappa wrote on this channel? One could argue Zappa made as much band stuff as he did to fund the rehearsal, performance, and recording of his orchestral works. here is a TH-camy place to start. th-cam.com/video/26X9ecyMZss/w-d-xo.html Frank Zappa / Ensemble Modern, Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Germany, 17 sept 1992 p.s. imo This is the best channel of it's kind here on TH-cam. Thank you for our time, insight, intelligence, and talent
You could do worse than to listen to Ruth Underwood perform on some of the Zappa albums, she is a Julliard trained virtuoso Xylophnone, Marimba, Vibraphone player, and was with Zappa quite a while. Inca Roads and Apostrophy are good place to start.
Frank Zappa music is like an acquaintance who comes over, kind of smells funny, says inappropriate things... but makes everyone smile and is somehow brilliant.
😂 a Very Apt description. Overall I LOVED Frank and have several Albums of his. My Favorite is, We're Only in it for the Money. And yeah, I dragged the ex to see 1001 Motels...which I loved... Her not so much. lol She never did have much of a sense of humor.
The trouble is, at times Frank's humour is a bit .... well.... male? Don't eat the yellow snow hurr hurr When it comes to bands your boyfriend likes, I'd count Rush in there. Been to see them a couple of time but never because I liked them, lol @@RedSinter
@@jonathanhenderson9422 The Aristocrats are a GREAT band - saw them live and i would recommend you do the same if you like seeing what a trio is capable of. incredible talent in that band .
@Scott Trainer - Not accurate. Frank put his own Warning/Guarantee stickers on a few of his records in the mid-80s as a f*ck you to the PMRC (parents music resource center)
You have done an excellent job reviewing this piece - I think Zappa did intend "Peaches" to be a playful composition. Two comments: At the switch over to a blues-themed melody about midway through the piece, you said it sounded "Oriental". Blues and East Asian music have something in common: pentatonic scales. You also said during the classical version "I even hear Stravinsky". Zappa's influences include Stravinsky, Holst, Stockhausen, Edgar Varese, and 1950's doo-wop music.
Well. Prince did it too, alltho in more subtle ways usually, Frank even defended his rights to do his "do it all night" songs, ha ha. I do similar stuff aswell. It's fun for sure with Quirky weird humor, sex, society based humor. Prince, Frank, Michael, George Michael and finally Mercury are probably the biggest music geniuses we've ever had. R.I.P
With 68 albums released during his lifetime and another 70 released after his passing one song doesn't even scratch the surface of Zappa,but this is the one I voted for you to start with. Zappa may have been the most prolific artist of the 20th century.
I knew buckethead had alot but I didn't know 400 as for the 700 of this other guy I'll have to look up,and I did say may have been. So I just looked up buckethead 47 studio albums and 388 extended play records, Zorn has 400 as performer on some and composer and performer on others. Zappa composer and performer on all with musical scores for very large ensembles up to full orchestra.zappa also died in 93 at only 52 so who knows how productive he would have been with an additional 30years.
The amount of musicians from around the world honoring Frank by performing his music is mind-boggling and seemingly endless if you dive into it. R.I.P. Frank. You are missed!
Do you realize that Frank wrote down Every Note, for Every Instrument, for ALL of his compositions, including those which featured Full Orchestras ? Genius is really a serious understatement, there are no words to sufficiently describe what Frank Zappa did with his music. I was fortunate enough to see him perform a few times in the 60's and 70's. Meet him once at a birthday party when he was living in Claremont, CA. Legends Never Die !
I’ve been a Zappa fan for over 30 years and this piece is one of my favorites. It’s so fun to hear it again through a new listener’s ears! I’m glad you got the playful humor you’ll find in much of his best music.
This track comes from the album 'Hot Rats'. It comes in a special place in the Zappa history, being just after he had disbanded the original 'Mothers of Invention'. He wasn't tied to a specific set of musicians and put together a very varied set of musicians across the 6 tracks. Zappa & Ian Underwood were the only people who played on all tracks.
@@poopy_pants_joe1194 - Yes Frank hired stunt guitarists to play impossible guitar parts that no one else could play as Frank was more interested in composition at many points. However, many of my favorite Zappa songs feature Frank on guitar. He had a very unique style that wasn't reproducible. His tone range was incredible. He played viscerally. Listen to Frank play Transylvania Boogie from the Chunga's Revenge album, then listen to Warren Cuccurullo - Transylvania Boogie on TH-cam for example. You will hear Warren play very precise, and technically cleaner than Frank. But to me, Frank has more soul, and don't forget, he wrote it. I appreciate Warren's playing but he didn't have this compositional ability and would not of come up with this on this own. Listen to Frank's solo on Inca Roads. Enough said...
@@todd8155 I'm friends with some of these folks...Not Warren though, because he's a known crazy. "He had a very unique style that wasn't reproducible. " Really? th-cam.com/video/DFpWMdSlb0k/w-d-xo.html
Ive been listening to this song for 50 years & still hear something new each time. Im glad you have bee introduced to this wonderful music. Once you realize how extensive his catalog is you will understand that it might take a while, ie lifetime, to understand.
Agree 100 %. I’ve been a fan for 50+ years. Frank’s music always sounds fresh and after multiple listens still has surprises. I don’t think I will ever tire of his music.
Speaking of hearing something new, over 50 years of listening for me also and I didn’t realize how amazingly synchronized the wah-wah is and normally I always first listen for Frank on guitar.
Frank was so wonderful. He bucked the industry wanting him to "fit in" with rock, but he did it his way. The fans discovered him and hung on for the ride. There is a LOT of humor in his lyrical work and his melodic work. His live performances were outstanding. Many of us have large Zappa collections.
Zappa was a great composer, with a big heart, your point about humor and a child like approach almost avante garde is spot on. Like when Picasso returned to painting with a child like innocence....i pray too God you listen to more of his music, there is 40 years worth plus and no two tracks are the same. Hot rats is a classic experiment i think. I felt as you did when i first heard this track 40 years ago. Thankyou. This track will always sound new and fresh if you listen to it for a hundred years.
@@Pablo-dh7di yea... another surprise. Like the extra 20 seconds of fade on this studio version... never heard that before this version. Not sure what album has it!
This is Frank Zappa in 1969 (in his beginnings as a recording author); His first album was released in 1966, and the last, when he was still alive, in 1993 "The Yellow Shark" performed by "The Modern Ensemble". "Humor" is one of the key words about Frank's music. If you get to listen to more of Frank's large body of work, you'll get to know him better. He was a really original musician as far as rock/blues based music is concerned. His preferred composers were, besides blues musicians, Stravinsky, Webern, Varèse, Schoenberg, ... If you dive deep in Frank's work you will find it wider and more meaningful than Peaches in Regalia, and I think other "Key words" will come up. LOVE THIS CHOICE. LOVE YOUR REACTIONS.
Zappa's music is brilliant and playful but the genius of Zappa comes from how he was able to push music a step forward through the use of technology. Nobody was really doing that. Zappa was also one of the first to use the wah-wah pedal before it became abused by everyone else for its iconic sound. He used it the correct way, for his own tone rather than for a wacky gimmick. He was and will forever be one of a kind.
"Peaches En Regalia." It tells the story of a bowl of peaches that lives in the Royal Garden Hotel, across the street from the Kensington Market in London. One of my favourites... I love much of Frank's work - in particular Rdnzl, music for guitar and low budget orchestra, Drowning witch/Envelopes, Inca Roads, Cheepnis...in no particular order - there are so many great pieces but these are the 1st that spring to mind..
So good to see Zappa up here. I hope this signals exploration beyond the land of metal. So much good stuff out there. My understanding is that Frank was a percussionist originally and so was able to write for percussion instruments. You might want to check out "The Black Page". In a way it's dedicated to studio musicians - folks Frank knew well. Sometimes studio musicians would accept a Sunday morning gig. The joke was that musicians were normally out very late on Saturday nights. So when they showed up for a Sunday morning gig they weren't in the best shape. The thing they all wanted to avoid being placed in front of them to play from sight was a page black with complex musical notation. So, with this in mind, Frank wrote a piece that was indeed thick with difficult, complex music - a black page. First it was written for the drums alone. If not the Black Page you could try the delightful Inca Roads. Finally, a cool interview with George Duke - the wonderful keyboardist. th-cam.com/video/ERFUbX648S4/w-d-xo.html
@@TJtheHAWK Well, this is her channel but she's done a lot of metal. King Diamond, Metallica, Nightwish, Rammstein, Tool... It seems like about 33% of the reactions are metal. There is so much other music and she has so much to offer I hope she will venture out. For instance: A Slow Drag With Josephine - Elvis Costello Court & Spark -- Joni Mitchell 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon Aja - Steely Dan Too High - Stevie Wonder A Day In The Life - Beatles It's her channel and I'll just appreciate what she has to offer when it's something that I'm interested in.
This song was one of my first entry points into Zappa, when I was about 15. This and the Overnight Sensation album... of course :) Peaches is just amazing. What a composition!
Great to see it can still put a big smile on someone's face - it will also in a hundred years. Zappa is great fun as a composer. Intelligent creativity, love it, always have!
Me, too. Went to every Zappa concert that came within 100 miles of me. Genius doesn't begin to describe him. And he only recruited people who were also geniuses. George Duke, Ian and Ruth Underwood, etc. Jazz/rock/classical fusion is as close as I can get to an accurate description. And it was ALWAYS FUN.
Frank was a composer...For Sure!!! saw Frank in Boston in June 1971 and again later in the 70s!! Wow!! One of my MANY favorites from Frank. Thanks for reviewing. Love your facial expressions!!
Delighted that you've discovered the wonders of Zappa. Funnily enough, when I was watching your previous vids I wondered what you'd make of FZ. I really enjoy your work. x
It was fun watching someone experience Peaches en Regalia for the first time. Zappa was a genius. This piece always seems to make me happy. I'm glad you listened to the orchestral version. I would also commend a cover of the piece made by Frank's son Dweezil back around 2010, which won a Grammy. Great episode!
The breadth and depth of Zappas vision was truly unique. His music explored so many areas and genres and always from an unusual perspective. There is so much to experience within his catalogue, glad to see him making an appearance on the channel.
A number of reputable orchestras have performed this piece over the years. Zappa was one of the more talented and musically knowledgeable composers of the rock era. The London Symphony Orchestra recorded two albums of nothing but music composed and arranged by Zappa back in the 1980s.
Zappa is one of the most diverse, profound, important composers of our time. He wrote in many styles, from very basic blues, rock, pop, to the more complex jazz and orchestrated music. He taught himself how to compose/instrumentation at a very early age. By age fourteen he had written his earliest pieces and was strictly composing orchestrated music for the first seven years of his career. Later on, he began to branch out and build bands that could play his diverse styles and complex arrangements. He's also composed, as I said, for orchestra. Later in his career, he worked with the London Symphony Orchestra, releasing a couple of albums on which they performed his music. He died in '93 but has a total of some 119 studio albums released, some posthumously.
What a beautiful thing to watch. I saw a video that showed a deaf person hearing sound for the first time. And the look on the deaf person’s face! Not a criticism at all but welcome to our cult . I loved your reaction and description. It feels the same to me after years of enjoying it. So….he was a giant. Hidden in the weeds. Keep it up please
Defiantly check out "The Black Page". Frank heard some of his musicians joking about his scores having so many notes that it looked like a black page so he composed this piece. He showed them lol. its a monster!
Just a little heads up. Yes. It is all a conspiracy. Zappa fans the world over are trying to get classical musicians into this music, because it really needs your kind of skill and understanding to live and breathe as live music into the future. So happy to see your reaction, and hoping for a steady stream of reinterpretations in the future. I will attend performances, promise!
If FZ fans want to revitalise his music the least they can do is do it themselves. The "don't touch the artwork" mentality in this fucking fanbase... I don't even see "every other beat removed" memes of Zappa songs. I don't even see _lyric videos,_ let alone fan videos.
@@smorrow I'll only speak for myself. I've been humming the main melody line from peaches to myself lately. A few others float up into my mind every now and again. That's as far as it goes in my case, as far as performance quality and audience size goes. I'm a listener. When it comes to listening, there are of course the records, and every now and again a live performance. Usually good, rarely as good as it could be. ZPZ is really quite good, Banned from Utopia was amazing on the two occasions I've heard them. So was the Norwegian wind ensemble (classically trained musicians, college graduates). Not being a musician myself, I'm out on a limb guessing here. But I really do believe it takes a bit more than your rock'n'roller to pull this stuff off. It's at times a demanding (but rewarding) listen, and I imagine even more demanding to play. That was my point. Bring this music to the attention of really good orchestras, and hopefully funding so they can study, practice, rehearse, and perform to its full potential. I think Zappa himself would have loved it. People keep referring to him as a musician, he always thought of himself as a composer working in the "rock band format".
If you put a gun to my head and asked me to choose a Zappa tune, I’d probably pick this one, for all the reasons you describe, it’s hilarious, engaging, dynamic and just plain playfully unexpected. And the drumming is insanely great. My dad worked with George Duke quite a bit in this period, Zappa’s pianist, and a pioneering figure in Jazz in his own right, and he also produced Jean Luc Ponty’s first record, in close collaboration with Zappa himself. Ponty was Zappa’s violinist, and went on to be a significant figure in the Jazz world as well. My dad’s impression of Zappa was very positive - he was very demanding and exacting, but also very very prepared, which my dad respected enormously. And, unexpectedly for the era, and my dad’s experience with Jazz musicians and composers stretching back to the early 50s, Zappa was adamantly not into drugs, which my dad also appreciated, he was about the work, not the party.
Ron, my first concert was FZ & The Mothers in May 1973 with that ridiculous band and with Mahavishnu Orchestra opening, preceded by Leo Kottke solo. I saw JL Ponty two more times with his own ensemble ('77 & '78). Got to see Frank with George Duke one other time, in April '75. So lucky. Great story about your dad!
@@eileenhenryselby-smith9762 Richard Bock. The year after Ahmet Ertugen started Atlantic Records, he started a label called Pacific Jazz, and later a sub-label called World Pacific. He discovered Chet Baker, Wes Montgomery, helped Buddy Rich form his Big Band and made several records with him, as well as Art Pepper, Jazz Crusaders, Joe Pass, Barney Kessel, and many others. He was instrumental in defining what became known as West Coast Jazz. He also signed Ravi Shankar and brought awareness of a whole range of Indian Classical musicians to America.
@@fredmossberg2069 wow! What a place to start! That Billy Cobham record Spectrum still knocks my socks off - I heard Stratus on the radio today and cranked it way up -as does most of Mahavishnu and Shakti. I never got to see Zappa in concert, I bet it was wild, especially with that version of the Mothers, that Roxy record is bonkers.
@@fredmossberg2069 That is one of the coolest three band lineups I've heard of (yeah, we'll count Leo on that 12 string as a band). Saw Mahavishnu that summer (the Between Nothingness and Eternity album from Central Park, NYC) and Kottke twice about then (Amherst and Central Park). To have followed those guys with Frank! Well, seems you'd have needed a long break after Mahavishnu to have a clean palate (and recovered ears) to take more astounding music!
Just visited Vilnius, Lithuania, which has one of two memorial statues of Frank Zappa (Baltimore the other). Thrill of a lifetime to see it in person and to realize Frank's reach around the world! There's a QR code that you scan at the statue that asks you to play a Zappa song while you stand there. Peaches en Regalia came up for me.
I had to smile when you mentioned Stravinsky during the listen of the orchestral version. When Zappa was 14 he discovered 20th century composers - first Edgar Varese and soon after Igor Stravinsky (he especially mentions "The Rite of Spring") and was hugely influenced by their music/compositional aesthetics.
My personal recommendations of FZ pieces to listen to next: "Inca Roads", "Brown Shoes Don't Make It", "Montana" ... or, if you want to have a tune that is a) shorter and b) using 60s rock music and including Stravinsky: "Status Back Baby".
Your comment concerning the percussion taking the lead was interesting. I recommend," The Black Page ". The title refers to how busy the score is, in fact Zappa was known to make auditions for band members very difficult.
It is hard to believe that you never heard of Frank Zappa before because you are a classical musician. He is one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. Listen to the Ensemble Modern for example.
Your description of the song as a dry joke with lots of layers is spot on. Zappa was the king of sardonic rock. Cosmik Debris is pretty fantastic dry humor that is well scored. Well, so are all of Apostrophe and Cosmik Debris. Glad you started with Peaches, it was the piece Zappa kept reworking over and over and over for decades, and is perfectly suited for orchestral treatment, which Zappa essentially achieved with the Mothers of Invention on Hot Rats, all those blended instruments making the banjo sound and Oriental/Indian sound you mentioned. Zappa's library of released material in his lifetime was massive, it's only grown since his death. His lyrics and onstage monologues are not for everyone, but they are uniquely Framk Zappa.
A little tidbit. Deep Purple’s Iconic song,Smoke on the water, has a reference to Zappa. I can’t express how huge that riff is, in music. It is like the introduction of the guitar to every guitar player on the planet, heck I’m not a musician but I can play that. And one other thing, I remember in junior high a teacher ask the class if they could talk to anyone living or in history who would it be? When it went around the room ,there Lincoln, Washington, Jesus, some kid said Patton, and when it got to me. I said Frank Zappa and I got a wide eyed look
I'm a lifelong fan of this song and, I absolutely agree, it is humorous! Zappa was always a fan of strange orchestral sounds, double reed instruments especially, for their "medieval flavor". And I think this piece's tootiness, the horns altered to sound like car horns, carry that idea. Such a simple alteration, changing the tape speed, with a great effect.
A very accessible, and as you say - "fun/playful" composition by Mr. Zappa. I have loved this song for easily 50 years and your listen/review/breakdown is a joy. I'm glad you now have this piece of music in your life and in your music background.
One thing about Zappa's instrumentals, and this piece is a prime example, he doesn't spend a great deal of time fleshing out ideas. He puts them on blast and leaves it to you to keep up.
Excellent reaction ! You have just discovered the genius of a modern composer, Frank Zappa! Please give a try to The Black Page parts 1 & 2 from the live album "In New-York". The Black Page is a really complex melody originally composed for a drum solo
I just found you by accident. Been a Zappa fan for more than 30 years. Your take on the composition is precious. Please listen to more of the cannon. There's a lot.
Thank you… I’m a 72-year-old lifelong rock musician I can read very little I know quite a bit of basic theory. When I first noticed you here I thought this is a joke she’s not gonna get it. To my surprise you have opened up a view of music I’ve listened to all my life that I’ve never had the privilege of seeing. Thank you again❤
Look at the black page if you want to see the importance of his drum scores. As a long time Zappa fan I loved your facial expressions as each part came up. Confusion, recognition, and surprise. That's Zappa Fantastic breakdown You seem to get him.
I remember buying the LP decades ago. The song following this is "Willie the Pimp" featuring Don Van Vliet (AKA Captain Beefheart). Took the record in an entirely different direction...
I believe that would be the performance from the Live at Fillmore East album. The first studio version is from "One Size Fits All". There are many other recordings from different concerts with different lineups of musicians over the years. Frank never performed his music the same way twice. Every guitar solo is unique, every concert is different.
You have to remeber that one of Zappa first loves as a teen was 'Ionisation' by Edgard Varèse. In many ways rock music was a three ring circus that Zappa ran so that he could afford to write symphonic music. Not that the London Philharmonic Orchestra liked his "dots"
This is my fave Zappa/Mothers’ number-but how can anybody really tell which Zappa composition is really the best or most accomplished? There are too many examples. For example, I also love “Montana” (from Overnight Sensation), and RDUNZL (from Studio Tan). If you like violin, check out the Mothers’ Richard Penniman (“Little Richard”) cover, “Directly From My Heart to You” (from Weasels Ripped My Flesh): the violin leads right the way through-and it’s fantastic. Zappa had a reputation as a strict task-master who knew exactly what he wanted performed: he scored everything and expected his musicians to play it authentically -even the infamous “Blackout,” so-called because of the area of the scoresheet that is covered with black notes. I think almost any musician involved with this number (the bands personnel changed a lot over the years) would rank it one of the most difficult-and if you got one note wrong, Frank would know. It’s so true: one cannot “catch it all” at a single go. And that’s why this music is eternal: one can listen over and over and still discover new aspects, virtually forever. Zappa was nothing if not sardonic and sarcastic. He spoofs a lot of genres.
It is no surprise that you mention how Frank puts a tinge of humor into this piece. He often wrote in a way that kept you on your toes and contained little surprises that make you smile or even chuckle. In his autobigraphy he talks about his process in creating a new piece and that after the melody and other basic elements were fleshed out he would "put the eyebrows on it". Meaning he would add tone of voice or inflection, so to speak. I've often said that he's the only person I've ever heard who could play a sarcastic guitar part.
Zappa was a musical genius who was a few decades ahead of everyone else. Go through the lineup on all of his albums and you will find a veritable Who's Who of up and coming jazz and rock greats - they learned a LOT from him.
It's just so absolutely fascinating to hear the opinions and see the reactions of such highly trained musicians, like Virgin Rock (and others here in the land of TH-cam) analyzing Zappa's music on their first exposure to it. (I fell in love with Zappa's music in the late 60's and am loving it even more, especially when listening to more versions of his music and also the opinions of skilled musicians.) So ... thank you for your intriguing insights! :)
Funny is a good analogy for the piece, Frank composed many pieces of music based on humour, in fact, he released a live show and album called "Does Humour Belong in Music".....he also composed for orchestra as you may already know....loved this analyses.
I never would have guessed how delightful it would be to see someone like you react to and describe Zappa’s music in such a way. As a fan of his, your insights really brought to the surface things in the music which I could not have described myself. “It’s a bit humorous”: bingo! Towards the end of the song, “it sounds like laughter” really got me. I never had made that connection! It really does I was always fascinated by music, particularly Zappa’s, and you are helping me understand why! Thank you for that! Definitely subbing and checking out other pieces/artists that you’ve commented on
Amy, please do the album "One Size Fits All". Probably one of his best and a lot of stuff to cover there. True musical genius, was Frank. Including being a crazy good guitarist. His voice was also one of a kind.
One of the most interesting and probably the best reaction video I’ve seen of Zappa’s music. You got the playfullnes, the coyness, tongue in cheek quality of his more serious music. He created music all day every day for it was his main passion and joy in life. Remember that he basically taught himself all of this stuff. Saw your comment on questions so here is one. What contemporary composers with the same humorous and deadly serious music woul dyou liken it to. I know of Olga Neuwirth for example who quotes his music in one of her pieces. What others are there? Just out of you head?
Yay! A shortcut to understanding Frank's music is there for those with the background to appreciate it (that's you). He cites a specific composer for playing the largest part in his developing such a unique approach/perspective to his music, Varese. The idea of using sound in its most primitive forms (often completely non musical in nature) to create music, fascinated Frank. While his influence isn't always apparent in Frank's music, it's always there. Frank also loved R&B and helped to "discover" other musicians who made their names off the beaten track. Like Alice Cooper and Wild Man Fisher. Much of his music is composed as a framework for live performance incorporating improvisational sections that he would direct with hand signals to the musicians on stage, "conducting" them through the improvised sections and calling for differing arrangements and breaks at will. To be in Frank's band, was the equivalent of being in the best of orchestras. Top teir musicians that Frank got to experiment with every day. 🤘🧙♂️🤘 Rich the Ancient Metal Beast
Frank Zappa is a self- taught musician and IMHO a genius. He followed his muse and created music that is completely original. Frank was an outrageous character in real life. In 2013, Esa-Pekka Salonen and the L.A. Phil did an entire Frank Zappa program featuring his piece called 200 Motels.
In case Vlad didn't mention it, Zappa was a BIG fan of modern classical music, particularly Stravinsky, Webern and Varèse. He also wrote many orchestral scores.
Frank wrote everything he wanted and infused it with fun. Big Band, orchestral works, jazz, rock, lots of really really difficult and complex stuff plus acting about and having (sexual or political fun and jibes) on stage. This was the era of ultra-flexible, best-on-the-planet musicians and insane scores. Enjoy!
Thank you! Zappa got me at the age of twelve...and now I'm sixty-four...and still...lots of Zappa in my head! I started playing bass when I was twelve...and I always practiced and still practice a lot along Zappa...it's a real treasure trove...never ending at all!😄 Subscribed here.👍🙂
Once you immerse yourself in Zappa's music, you will find he is a very creative, brilliant and unique mind. A brilliant guitarist and composer. His music runs the gamut from serious modern classical composition to satirical songs of social commentary to rock to jazz to pastiches of other forms of music. There is a little bit of everything in his repertoire. And he was very prolific.
Thank you for doing this! I think you'd really enjoy another Zappa instrumental, "Dog/Meat" from a live album called Roxy by Proxy. It's every bit as playful and intricate, and it rewards your attention. It's definitely up there with Peaches En Regalia as one of the most perfect showcases of Zappa's melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic idiosyncrasies.
Love your reactions and I sights. Your recognition of the unique and remarkably playful brilliance of Zappa is both entertaining satisfying for this musician and Zappa fan
This Zappa song reminds a lot of the big band Spike Jones And His City Slickers. He was a comedy act using unorthodox instruments like gun shots to make music. He was also a serious musician with his alternative band Spike Jones And His Other Orchestra. Tons of rock groups including Zappa were influenced by him.
When this was first released, I read avidly about it in the music press at the time. Apparently "Peaches En Regalia" was a menu item at a restaurant where Zappa lived, and he found the phrase so melodic that he composed the piece around what was in his head when he read the words. Oh - and there is a dummy keyboard in here somewhere - you can all hear it but nobody identifies it!
At last! FZ! I'm a life long, serious fan - since the '60s. Have more Zappa albums than any other 2 or 3 artists combined. Seen him multiple times with various lineups. Read every book, article, seen every movie by or about, listened to every interview I could find. Even named my dog "Zappa." 😆 (Zappa loyalists are hardcore!) "Peaches" is one of my personal most-listened-to musical pieces. Yet, your responses and commentary feel so fresh and interesting! This is far beyond any "Reaction Video" on the TH-cams It's a true joy to "be along for the ride" as you experience your first journey into FZ's musical world. 👏👏👏
I believe that the earliest video of Frank that can be found on TH-cam is a clip from The Steve Allen Show, sometime in the early 60's. Frank arranges for the studio band to join him while he plays the lead instrument, a bicycle.
Welcome to Zappa's universe, vast, eclectic and wonderful. The Black Page is a must, it was written to challenge studio musicians who were complaining that the music was so dense the pages were almost black. Thanx for the reaction. P.S the subjects and lyrics of some of his songs had a bunch of people in the government pretty upset back in the eighties.🤣
So pleased to see your reaction! He is not everyone's cup of tea, so it tickles me to watch someone appreciate this fascinating composition. I have loved Frank Zappa my entire life and saw him live twice in 1980 and 1981. Thank you so much for this awesome side by side comparison and your positive and educated review.
so interesting to hear someone listen to Frank's music without the usual preconceptions that most of us have. You understand the playfulness and humor of it all. i'd really enjoy hearing your breakdown of The Black Page on Zappa In New York
If the playfulness of this is what you enjoyed, the "Yellow Snow" suite (the first 4 songs on the "Apostrophe (')" album about 12 minutes total) are the best examples of this as well as being the most unpredictable and humorous song I have ever heard.
I used to love staring at the dogwood tree in my front yard while blasting this song on my Dad's Quadraphonic stereo. The song just allows you to feel without lyrics getting in the way. The song does a wonderful job of jumping flawlessly from style to style. From feeling to feeling. Instrumentals are so underrated these days.
When I first heard this song 40 years ago it was absolutely overwhelming....took me like a big big swirl and pulled me away into - I don't know where, I felt the music through and through like touching every fiber of me. Hard to see someone analysing this peace....if you're too deep in your profession, arts may loose their magic for you
What a delight to have Zappas music analysed by someone with such charm and knowledge! Can't wait for more. Can I suggest 'Echidnas Arf (of you)'. A short piece of musical perfection imo🙂
Yes, yes, yes! And then the version of the group Heavy Breeze on YT. And if one starts with the lyrics I would suggest Inca Road, Yellow Snow and Montana. Do not listen to Bobby Brown, Crew Slut, Stick It Out etc!
What an enchanting presence you are, so pure & sincere, open to fresh inputs yet firmly grounded in common sense & established values. Frank would have been greatly amused & charmed to view your "classical musician's response" to arguably one of his most festive pieces!
“Little House I Used To Live In” from his album Burnt Weeny Sandwich is an incredibly great piece that should be heard by everyone who is interested in Zappa. The entire album is superb.
As usual, please write here your questions only.
Does humor belong in music? (It’s a philosophical title of one of Frank Zappa’s live albums)
another famous qout by Zappa from the Roxy and elsewhere album is "Jazz is not dead, it only smells funny"
My questions are ... Are you familiar with 'Harpo Marx's Harp playing? Ever watched him play in the Marx Brother's Films? Have any comments, insights, or inspirations, as it regards the application of humor or fun in playing the harp?
Zappa was ok but Beefheart was the real deal
th-cam.com/video/6aG_BBW7uEA/w-d-xo.html
If this interests you could you please look at the orchestral music Zappa wrote on this channel? One could argue Zappa made as much band stuff as he did to fund the rehearsal, performance, and recording of his orchestral works. here is a TH-camy place to start.
th-cam.com/video/26X9ecyMZss/w-d-xo.html Frank Zappa / Ensemble Modern, Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Germany, 17 sept 1992
p.s. imo This is the best channel of it's kind here on TH-cam. Thank you for our time, insight, intelligence, and talent
You could do worse than to listen to Ruth Underwood perform on some of the Zappa albums, she is a Julliard trained virtuoso Xylophnone, Marimba, Vibraphone player, and was with Zappa quite a while. Inca Roads and Apostrophy are good place to start.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Watch Ruth!!
Ruth Underwood is an amazing percussionist.
Not to mention Flora Purium,Shiela Escovido and Airto Moriara
Do I hear Inca Roads? I think I hear Inca Roads
Check out Roxy
Frank Zappa music is like an acquaintance who comes over, kind of smells funny, says inappropriate things... but makes everyone smile and is somehow brilliant.
Jazz is not dead!
😂 a Very Apt description. Overall I LOVED Frank and have several Albums of his. My Favorite is, We're Only in it for the Money. And yeah, I dragged the ex to see 1001 Motels...which I loved... Her not so much. lol She never did have much of a sense of humor.
@@RedSinterDump her! 😊
It only smells bad!@@simonzai7386
The trouble is, at times Frank's humour is a bit .... well.... male? Don't eat the yellow snow hurr hurr When it comes to bands your boyfriend likes, I'd count Rush in there. Been to see them a couple of time but never because I liked them, lol @@RedSinter
I think Frank was the only person that had an album released with an adult rating label on it and the entire album is instrumental.
Basically that was the revenge of the PMRC for making them look like idiots during his testimony before Congress.
@@jonathanhenderson9422 The Aristocrats are a GREAT band - saw them live and i would recommend you do the same if you like seeing what a trio is capable of. incredible talent in that band .
it was Jazz From Hell, G Spot Tornado was the best song on it
@Scott Trainer - Not accurate. Frank put his own Warning/Guarantee stickers on a few of his records in the mid-80s as a f*ck you to the PMRC (parents music resource center)
@@brianthomas2434 - Actually Frank put his own Warning/Guarantee stickers on a few of his records in the mid-80s as a f*ck you to the PMRC
You have done an excellent job reviewing this piece - I think Zappa did intend "Peaches" to be a playful composition.
Two comments: At the switch over to a blues-themed melody about midway through the piece, you said it sounded "Oriental". Blues and East Asian music have something in common: pentatonic scales. You also said during the classical version "I even hear Stravinsky". Zappa's influences include Stravinsky, Holst, Stockhausen, Edgar Varese, and 1950's doo-wop music.
Many years from now, Zappa will be considered as a truly historic musical genius.
Isn't he already? Serious question, he was at least experimental in his approach to (new?) instruments, with regards to integrating them in his set.
He is already universally acknowledged as one of the musical Geniuses of the 20th century. You are so right!
@@peterthompson8014 he is almost the mozart of the 20th century, he is only a tiny bit to tame...
Is now.
Too late. He is now
Frank was a musical genius in my opinion. The way he fused different styles of music with humor makes him unique.
Lmao, in your opinion?
😂Frank Zappa is the best musician I have ever heard 🤣🎶🎵
Atavacron is one of the best Allan Holdsworth albums@@avatacron60 Cheers!
Well. Prince did it too, alltho in more subtle ways usually, Frank even defended his rights to do his "do it all night" songs, ha ha. I do similar stuff aswell. It's fun for sure with Quirky weird humor, sex, society based humor. Prince, Frank, Michael, George Michael and finally Mercury are probably the biggest music geniuses we've ever had. R.I.P
Which Miachel are you referring to?@@MaxFury_Official
With 68 albums released during his lifetime and another 70 released after his passing one song doesn't even scratch the surface of Zappa,but this is the one I voted for you to start with. Zappa may have been the most prolific artist of the 20th century.
Buckethead has more than 300 albums and he is still alive and kicking. ;)
EDIT: Corrected a typo 400 -> 300
@@Thomas..Anderson John Zorn has more than 700 albums...is the Máster Mega Máster all time...and still live and jazzing!
I knew buckethead had alot but I didn't know 400 as for the 700 of this other guy I'll have to look up,and I did say may have been. So I just looked up buckethead 47 studio albums and 388 extended play records, Zorn has 400 as performer on some and composer and performer on others. Zappa composer and performer on all with musical scores for very large ensembles up to full orchestra.zappa also died in 93 at only 52 so who knows how productive he would have been with an additional 30years.
How many works did Telemann compose?
3000 pieces, still unbeaten for centuries
How many of bucketheads music is repeated live performances and compilations?
This is a clasic Zappa tune. A master piece and way ahead of its time. Frank Zappa was an extremey gifted composer and musician. Sad he died so early.
Sad yeah. But he left us hundreds of hours of original music. And this is not his best at all.
The amount of musicians from around the world honoring Frank by performing his music is mind-boggling and seemingly endless if you dive into it. R.I.P. Frank. You are missed!
I don't see it mind-boggling at all - it's totally understandable
@@marlon-jl4ge Lol . What a compliment to someone so far from your reality. Seriously.
@@marlon-jl4ge As a composer/musician?
@@bertilknudsen shit ugly zappa was an insult to other composers
@@thebergbok8279 zappa troll go and cry to another shoulder
Frank was an absolute genius. Very entertaining and a blast to see live.
Bravo! A righteous first reaction to a genius, Frank Zappa. Congrats to those who voted for good music.
Do you realize that Frank wrote down Every Note, for Every Instrument, for ALL of his compositions, including those which featured Full Orchestras ? Genius is really a serious understatement, there are no words to sufficiently describe what Frank Zappa did with his music. I was fortunate enough to see him perform a few times in the 60's and 70's. Meet him once at a birthday party when he was living in Claremont, CA. Legends Never Die !
There might not be a single person in modern music more dedicated to their craft than Zappa. Borderline obsessive.
Genius is not an understatement. The word genius is just very overused.
I missed his Sheik yer buti show in Paris in 1979, but Roxy Music was worth the ticket price. I should have gone to both.
I’ve been a Zappa fan for over 30 years and this piece is one of my favorites. It’s so fun to hear it again through a new listener’s ears! I’m glad you got the playful humor you’ll find in much of his best music.
This song almost always makes me laugh. It’s Uncle Frank at his wittiest.
Second
Over sixty years for me, I never get tired of it.
Lucky enough to see him live at the Oval
Zappa was filth
This track comes from the album 'Hot Rats'.
It comes in a special place in the Zappa history, being just after he had disbanded the original 'Mothers of Invention'. He wasn't tied to a specific set of musicians and put together a very varied set of musicians across the 6 tracks. Zappa & Ian Underwood were the only people who played on all tracks.
Frank was a musical genius....oh and one of the best guitarists ever....the range of music styles he played is perhaps unmatched
I saw once someone saiyng there are two kinds of the worlds best guitarist. Frank Zappa and everyone else. He had his own unique style.
Best guitarist? Then why hire Steve, Ike, Denny, Adrian or any of the others? Zappa hired those guys to play parts he couldn't have.
@@poopy_pants_joe1194 - Yes Frank hired stunt guitarists to play impossible guitar parts that no one else could play as Frank was more interested in composition at many points. However, many of my favorite Zappa songs feature Frank on guitar. He had a very unique style that wasn't reproducible. His tone range was incredible. He played viscerally. Listen to Frank play Transylvania Boogie from the Chunga's Revenge album, then listen to Warren Cuccurullo - Transylvania Boogie on TH-cam for example. You will hear Warren play very precise, and technically cleaner than Frank. But to me, Frank has more soul, and don't forget, he wrote it. I appreciate Warren's playing but he didn't have this compositional ability and would not of come up with this on this own.
Listen to Frank's solo on Inca Roads. Enough said...
@@todd8155 I'm friends with some of these folks...Not Warren though, because he's a known crazy.
"He had a very unique style that wasn't reproducible. "
Really? th-cam.com/video/DFpWMdSlb0k/w-d-xo.html
@@nikolajkrarup8750 yeah whoever said that has their head up their a$$ 🤣 he's great but that's serious hyperbole for Zappa on guitar
Ive been listening to this song for 50 years & still hear something new each time. Im glad you have bee introduced to this wonderful music. Once you realize how extensive his catalog is you will understand that it might take a while, ie lifetime, to understand.
Agree 100 %. I’ve been a fan for 50+ years. Frank’s music always sounds fresh and after multiple listens still has surprises. I don’t think I will ever tire of his music.
Speaking of hearing something new, over 50 years of listening for me also and I didn’t realize how amazingly synchronized the wah-wah is and normally I always first listen for Frank on guitar.
Frank was so wonderful. He bucked the industry wanting him to "fit in" with rock, but he did it his way. The fans discovered him and hung on for the ride. There is a LOT of humor in his lyrical work and his melodic work. His live performances were outstanding. Many of us have large Zappa collections.
Zappa was a great composer, with a big heart, your point about humor and a child like approach almost avante garde is spot on. Like when Picasso returned to painting with a child like innocence....i pray too God you listen to more of his music, there is 40 years worth plus and no two tracks are the same. Hot rats is a classic experiment i think. I felt as you did when i first heard this track 40 years ago. Thankyou. This track will always sound new and fresh if you listen to it for a hundred years.
The bass guitar is amazing, especially in the middle section. Shuggie Otis at age 16. He also wrote "Strawberry Letter 23". Props.
I didn't know that was him how cool
@@Pablo-dh7di yea... another surprise. Like the extra 20 seconds of fade on this studio version... never heard that before this version. Not sure what album has it!
Shuggie!!
@@seansweeney3532it's from the album HOT RATS
So glad you pointed this out! I've loved this song for years and listening to it after I began playing bass made me hear the entire song differently.
Peaches is one of my favorites and it was fun to watch and listen to you and your reactions. Frank was a genius ❤
This is Frank Zappa in 1969 (in his beginnings as a recording author); His first album was released in 1966, and the last, when he was still alive, in 1993 "The Yellow Shark" performed by "The Modern Ensemble". "Humor" is one of the key words about Frank's music. If you get to listen to more of Frank's large body of work, you'll get to know him better. He was a really original musician as far as rock/blues based music is concerned. His preferred composers were, besides blues musicians, Stravinsky, Webern, Varèse, Schoenberg, ... If you dive deep in Frank's work you will find it wider and more meaningful than Peaches in Regalia, and I think other "Key words" will come up. LOVE THIS CHOICE. LOVE YOUR REACTIONS.
Zappa's music is brilliant and playful but the genius of Zappa comes from how he was able to push music a step forward through the use of technology. Nobody was really doing that. Zappa was also one of the first to use the wah-wah pedal before it became abused by everyone else for its iconic sound. He used it the correct way, for his own tone rather than for a wacky gimmick. He was and will forever be one of a kind.
that´s right, a truly trailblazer in many aspect.
"And the same old chords going over and over became a symphony..."
Thank you Frank.
As to not offend our ears....
@@mrwilson7617a coupla quarts a beer, would fix it so the intonation would....
"Peaches En Regalia." It tells the story of a bowl of peaches that lives in the Royal Garden Hotel, across the street from the Kensington Market in London. One of my favourites... I love much of Frank's work - in particular Rdnzl, music for guitar and low budget orchestra, Drowning witch/Envelopes, Inca Roads, Cheepnis...in no particular order - there are so many great pieces but these are the 1st that spring to mind..
So good to see Zappa up here. I hope this signals exploration beyond the land of metal. So much good stuff out there. My understanding is that Frank was a percussionist originally and so was able to write for percussion instruments. You might want to check out "The Black Page". In a way it's dedicated to studio musicians - folks Frank knew well. Sometimes studio musicians would accept a Sunday morning gig. The joke was that musicians were normally out very late on Saturday nights. So when they showed up for a Sunday morning gig they weren't in the best shape. The thing they all wanted to avoid being placed in front of them to play from sight was a page black with complex musical notation. So, with this in mind, Frank wrote a piece that was indeed thick with difficult, complex music - a black page. First it was written for the drums alone.
If not the Black Page you could try the delightful Inca Roads.
Finally, a cool interview with George Duke - the wonderful keyboardist. th-cam.com/video/ERFUbX648S4/w-d-xo.html
The Helsinki Inca Roads from YCDTOSA
To be fair she hasn't done much metal other than Megadeth.
@@TJtheHAWK Well, this is her channel but she's done a lot of metal. King Diamond, Metallica, Nightwish, Rammstein, Tool... It seems like about 33% of the reactions are metal. There is so much other music and she has so much to offer I hope she will venture out. For instance:
A Slow Drag With Josephine - Elvis Costello
Court & Spark -- Joni Mitchell
50 Ways To Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon
Aja - Steely Dan
Too High - Stevie Wonder
A Day In The Life - Beatles
It's her channel and I'll just appreciate what she has to offer when it's something that I'm interested in.
Without shit ugly zappa, the music World would be much better 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
This song was one of my first entry points into Zappa, when I was about 15. This and the Overnight Sensation album... of course :) Peaches is just amazing. What a composition!
Great to see it can still put a big smile on someone's face - it will also in a hundred years. Zappa is great fun as a composer. Intelligent creativity, love it, always have!
Me, too. Went to every Zappa concert that came within 100 miles of me. Genius doesn't begin to describe him.
And he only recruited people who were also geniuses. George Duke, Ian and Ruth Underwood, etc.
Jazz/rock/classical fusion is as close as I can get to an accurate description.
And it was ALWAYS FUN.
Frank was a composer...For Sure!!! saw Frank in Boston in June 1971 and again later in the 70s!! Wow!! One of my MANY favorites from Frank. Thanks for reviewing. Love your facial expressions!!
Delighted that you've discovered the wonders of Zappa. Funnily enough, when I was watching your previous vids I wondered what you'd make of FZ. I really enjoy your work. x
It was fun watching someone experience Peaches en Regalia for the first time. Zappa was a genius. This piece always seems to make me happy.
I'm glad you listened to the orchestral version. I would also commend a cover of the piece made by Frank's son Dweezil back around 2010, which won a Grammy.
Great episode!
The breadth and depth of Zappas vision was truly unique. His music explored so many areas and genres and always from an unusual perspective. There is so much to experience within his catalogue, glad to see him making an appearance on the channel.
Unique, dynamic, playful, sometimes controversial. Yup, yup, yup and yup. 😎😁
Zappa was garbage
A number of reputable orchestras have performed this piece over the years. Zappa was one of the more talented and musically knowledgeable composers of the rock era. The London Symphony Orchestra recorded two albums of nothing but music composed and arranged by Zappa back in the 1980s.
Too bad this doesn't show more of Zappa's guitar playing. He really was one of the best. May I suggest "Watermelon in Easter Hay"? A true genius.
makes me cry every time
Yo yo mama better...
To truly get Watermelon in Easter Hay, one has to listen to the entire opera.
@@fuzzym30 It does help to understand that it is "imaginary"...
"trying to get a guitar solo with this band is like trying to grow a watermelon in Easter hay."
Frank Zappa
I have a great slide of Frank giving me the finger in 1972 while I was taking flash photos I felt honored.
Congratulations! You have just dipped the first milimiter of your toe in the unbounded, unmeasured ocean of Zappa's music. 😀
love it!!!
Well said!
So surprising, original, spacial, yet tight in composition. Still one my very favorite productions from Frank.
Zappa is one of the most diverse, profound, important composers of our time. He wrote in many styles, from very basic blues, rock, pop, to the more complex jazz and orchestrated music. He taught himself how to compose/instrumentation at a very early age. By age fourteen he had written his earliest pieces and was strictly composing orchestrated music for the first seven years of his career. Later on, he began to branch out and build bands that could play his diverse styles and complex arrangements. He's also composed, as I said, for orchestra. Later in his career, he worked with the London Symphony Orchestra, releasing a couple of albums on which they performed his music. He died in '93 but has a total of some 119 studio albums released, some posthumously.
@Frankincensed - There are currently 124 official Zappa releases and over half have been released posthumously.
I see you everywhere bro
Shit zappa was an insult to other composers
What a beautiful thing to watch. I saw a video that showed a deaf person hearing sound for the first time. And the look on the deaf person’s face! Not a criticism at all but welcome to our cult . I loved your reaction and description. It feels the same to me after years of enjoying it. So….he was a giant. Hidden in the weeds. Keep it up please
Defiantly check out "The Black Page". Frank heard some of his musicians joking about his scores having so many notes that it looked like a black page so he composed this piece. He showed them lol. its a monster!
If I would have to pick one Zappa song/score, it would be Black Page. Luckily I don't have to pick just one.
Definitely.
Defiantly has a completely different meaning from the one you are intending.
Zappa was a pathetic Person
Just a little heads up. Yes. It is all a conspiracy. Zappa fans the world over are trying to get classical musicians into this music, because it really needs your kind of skill and understanding to live and breathe as live music into the future. So happy to see your reaction, and hoping for a steady stream of reinterpretations in the future. I will attend performances, promise!
If FZ fans want to revitalise his music the least they can do is do it themselves. The "don't touch the artwork" mentality in this fucking fanbase... I don't even see "every other beat removed" memes of Zappa songs. I don't even see _lyric videos,_ let alone fan videos.
@@smorrow I'll only speak for myself. I've been humming the main melody line from peaches to myself lately. A few others float up into my mind every now and again. That's as far as it goes in my case, as far as performance quality and audience size goes.
I'm a listener.
When it comes to listening, there are of course the records, and every now and again a live performance. Usually good, rarely as good as it could be. ZPZ is really quite good, Banned from Utopia was amazing on the two occasions I've heard them. So was the Norwegian wind ensemble (classically trained musicians, college graduates).
Not being a musician myself, I'm out on a limb guessing here. But I really do believe it takes a bit more than your rock'n'roller to pull this stuff off. It's at times a demanding (but rewarding) listen, and I imagine even more demanding to play.
That was my point. Bring this music to the attention of really good orchestras, and hopefully funding so they can study, practice, rehearse, and perform to its full potential.
I think Zappa himself would have loved it. People keep referring to him as a musician, he always thought of himself as a composer working in the "rock band format".
Without shit ugly zappa, the music World would be much better 🤣 🤣
If you put a gun to my head and asked me to choose a Zappa tune, I’d probably pick this one, for all the reasons you describe, it’s hilarious, engaging, dynamic and just plain playfully unexpected. And the drumming is insanely great. My dad worked with George Duke quite a bit in this period, Zappa’s pianist, and a pioneering figure in Jazz in his own right, and he also produced Jean Luc Ponty’s first record, in close collaboration with Zappa himself. Ponty was Zappa’s violinist, and went on to be a significant figure in the Jazz world as well. My dad’s impression of Zappa was very positive - he was very demanding and exacting, but also very very prepared, which my dad respected enormously. And, unexpectedly for the era, and my dad’s experience with Jazz musicians and composers stretching back to the early 50s, Zappa was adamantly not into drugs, which my dad also appreciated, he was about the work, not the party.
Who was your dad? Sounds interesting!
Ron, my first concert was FZ & The Mothers in May 1973 with that ridiculous band and with Mahavishnu Orchestra opening, preceded by Leo Kottke solo. I saw JL Ponty two more times with his own ensemble ('77 & '78). Got to see Frank with George Duke one other time, in April '75. So lucky. Great story about your dad!
@@eileenhenryselby-smith9762 Richard Bock. The year after Ahmet Ertugen started Atlantic Records, he started a label called Pacific Jazz, and later a sub-label called World Pacific. He discovered Chet Baker, Wes Montgomery, helped Buddy Rich form his Big Band and made several records with him, as well as Art Pepper, Jazz Crusaders, Joe Pass, Barney Kessel, and many others. He was instrumental in defining what became known as West Coast Jazz. He also signed Ravi Shankar and brought awareness of a whole range of Indian Classical musicians to America.
@@fredmossberg2069 wow! What a place to start! That Billy Cobham record Spectrum still knocks my socks off - I heard Stratus on the radio today and cranked it way up -as does most of Mahavishnu and Shakti. I never got to see Zappa in concert, I bet it was wild, especially with that version of the Mothers, that Roxy record is bonkers.
@@fredmossberg2069 That is one of the coolest three band lineups I've heard of (yeah, we'll count Leo on that 12 string as a band). Saw Mahavishnu that summer (the Between Nothingness and Eternity album from Central Park, NYC) and Kottke twice about then (Amherst and Central Park).
To have followed those guys with Frank! Well, seems you'd have needed a long break after Mahavishnu to have a clean palate (and recovered ears) to take more astounding music!
Just visited Vilnius, Lithuania, which has one of two memorial statues of Frank Zappa (Baltimore the other). Thrill of a lifetime to see it in person and to realize Frank's reach around the world! There's a QR code that you scan at the statue that asks you to play a Zappa song while you stand there. Peaches en Regalia came up for me.
I didn't know that. I have to go Lithuania
I had to smile when you mentioned Stravinsky during the listen of the orchestral version. When Zappa was 14 he discovered 20th century composers - first Edgar Varese and soon after Igor Stravinsky (he especially mentions "The Rite of Spring") and was hugely influenced by their music/compositional aesthetics.
My personal recommendations of FZ pieces to listen to next: "Inca Roads", "Brown Shoes Don't Make It", "Montana" ... or, if you want to have a tune that is a) shorter and b) using 60s rock music and including Stravinsky: "Status Back Baby".
@@marlon-jl4ge - Ah, such a thoughtful and well-reasoned commentary.
@@HisboiLRoi without shit ugly zappa, the music World would be much better 🤣 🤣
Your comment concerning the percussion taking the lead was interesting. I recommend," The Black Page ". The title refers to how busy the score is, in fact Zappa was known to make auditions for band members very difficult.
Hearing Steve Vai recite his experience auditioning for Frank's band is hilarious...." Linda ronstadt is looking for a guitarist"....🤣
Boy, the next song on the album will blow you away. You are so close to greatness."Willie the Pimp" is one of his finest
Ah! The easy one!
and son of mr. green Genes follow
That's my favourite Zappa song. After Peaches I guess
Frank's first instrument was the snare drum, and his first composition, (written at age 13) was a solo drum piece entitled "Mice."
I came here for Peaches en Regalia, pls make more vids of Frank Zappa, to me, he is still the best serious composer of all times!
It is hard to believe that you never heard of Frank Zappa before because you are a classical musician. He is one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. Listen to the Ensemble Modern for example.
Your description of the song as a dry joke with lots of layers is spot on. Zappa was the king of sardonic rock. Cosmik Debris is pretty fantastic dry humor that is well scored. Well, so are all of Apostrophe and Cosmik Debris. Glad you started with Peaches, it was the piece Zappa kept reworking over and over and over for decades, and is perfectly suited for orchestral treatment, which Zappa essentially achieved with the Mothers of Invention on Hot Rats, all those blended instruments making the banjo sound and Oriental/Indian sound you mentioned. Zappa's library of released material in his lifetime was massive, it's only grown since his death. His lyrics and onstage monologues are not for everyone, but they are uniquely Framk Zappa.
A little tidbit. Deep Purple’s Iconic song,Smoke on the water, has a reference to Zappa. I can’t express how huge that riff is, in music. It is like the introduction of the guitar to every guitar player on the planet, heck I’m not a musician but I can play that. And one other thing, I remember in junior high a teacher ask the class if they could talk to anyone living or in history who would it be? When it went around the room ,there Lincoln, Washington, Jesus, some kid said Patton, and when it got to me. I said Frank Zappa and I got a wide eyed look
I'm a lifelong fan of this song and, I absolutely agree, it is humorous! Zappa was always a fan of strange orchestral sounds, double reed instruments especially, for their "medieval flavor". And I think this piece's tootiness, the horns altered to sound like car horns, carry that idea. Such a simple alteration, changing the tape speed, with a great effect.
A very accessible, and as you say - "fun/playful" composition by Mr. Zappa. I have loved this song for easily 50 years and your listen/review/breakdown is a joy. I'm glad you now have this piece of music in your life and in your music background.
One thing about Zappa's instrumentals, and this piece is a prime example, he doesn't spend a great deal of time fleshing out ideas. He puts them on blast and leaves it to you to keep up.
Excellent reaction ! You have just discovered the genius of a modern composer, Frank Zappa! Please give a try to The Black Page parts 1 & 2 from the live album "In New-York". The Black Page is a really complex melody originally composed for a drum solo
I just found you by accident. Been a Zappa fan for more than 30 years. Your take on the composition is precious. Please listen to more of the cannon. There's a lot.
Just 30 years? Half a century here!
Thank you… I’m a 72-year-old lifelong rock musician I can read very little I know quite a bit of basic theory. When I first noticed you here I thought this is a joke she’s not gonna get it. To my surprise you have opened up a view of music I’ve listened to all my life that I’ve never had the privilege of seeing. Thank you again❤
Same background. Same sentiments.
@@ed.z. A great contrast to let's say Rick Beato
@@marlon-jl4ge Haha, qualified quality thrash!
Zappa was pathetic
@@kosta130 🤣 Ugly.... & pathetic ? That's an honor for Frank ,or you mean his wife?!
Look at the black page if you want to see the importance of his drum scores.
As a long time Zappa fan I loved your facial expressions as each part came up. Confusion, recognition, and surprise.
That's Zappa
Fantastic breakdown You seem to get him.
I remember buying the LP decades ago. The song following this is "Willie the Pimp" featuring Don Van Vliet (AKA Captain Beefheart). Took the record in an entirely different direction...
If the Captain would be the next subject...🤯
I believe that would be the performance from the Live at Fillmore East album. The first studio version is from "One Size Fits All". There are many other recordings from different concerts with different lineups of musicians over the years. Frank never performed his music the same way twice. Every guitar solo is unique, every concert is different.
You have to remeber that one of Zappa first loves as a teen was 'Ionisation' by Edgard Varèse. In many ways rock music was a three ring circus that Zappa ran so that he could afford to write symphonic music. Not that the London Philharmonic Orchestra liked his "dots"
This is my fave Zappa/Mothers’ number-but how can anybody really tell which Zappa composition is really the best or most accomplished? There are too many examples. For example, I also love “Montana” (from Overnight Sensation), and RDUNZL (from Studio Tan). If you like violin, check out the Mothers’ Richard Penniman (“Little Richard”) cover, “Directly From My Heart to You” (from Weasels Ripped My Flesh): the violin leads right the way through-and it’s fantastic. Zappa had a reputation as a strict task-master who knew exactly what he wanted performed: he scored everything and expected his musicians to play it authentically -even the infamous “Blackout,” so-called because of the area of the scoresheet that is covered with black notes. I think almost any musician involved with this number (the bands personnel changed a lot over the years) would rank it one of the most difficult-and if you got one note wrong, Frank would know.
It’s so true: one cannot “catch it all” at a single go. And that’s why this music is eternal: one can listen over and over and still discover new aspects, virtually forever.
Zappa was nothing if not sardonic and sarcastic. He spoofs a lot of genres.
It is no surprise that you mention how Frank puts a tinge of humor into this piece. He often wrote in a way that kept you on your toes and contained little surprises that make you smile or even chuckle. In his autobigraphy he talks about his process in creating a new piece and that after the melody and other basic elements were fleshed out he would "put the eyebrows on it". Meaning he would add tone of voice or inflection, so to speak.
I've often said that he's the only person I've ever heard who could play a sarcastic guitar part.
Zappa learned percussion at school, so drums and percussion generally were always important to him.
Zappa was a musical genius who was a few decades ahead of everyone else. Go through the lineup on all of his albums and you will find a veritable Who's Who of up and coming jazz and rock greats - they learned a LOT from him.
He was brilliance. I miss him so much.
You have more of an open mind, musically speaking, than many of my friends. I thoroughly enjoy your videos.
I use to go to pawn shops & used cd stores just to find Zappa albums as a young musician I was so Influenced by how creative his music was .
It's just so absolutely fascinating to hear the opinions and see the reactions of such highly trained musicians, like Virgin Rock (and others here in the land of TH-cam) analyzing Zappa's music on their first exposure to it. (I fell in love with Zappa's music in the late 60's and am loving it even more, especially when listening to more versions of his music and also the opinions of skilled musicians.) So ... thank you for your intriguing insights! :)
Funny is a good analogy for the piece, Frank composed many pieces of music based on humour, in fact, he released a live show and album called "Does Humour Belong in Music".....he also composed for orchestra as you may already know....loved this analyses.
I never would have guessed how delightful it would be to see someone like you react to and describe Zappa’s music in such a way. As a fan of his, your insights really brought to the surface things in the music which I could not have described myself.
“It’s a bit humorous”: bingo!
Towards the end of the song, “it sounds like laughter” really got me. I never had made that connection! It really does
I was always fascinated by music, particularly Zappa’s, and you are helping me understand why! Thank you for that!
Definitely subbing and checking out other pieces/artists that you’ve commented on
Amy, please do the album "One Size Fits All". Probably one of his best and a lot of stuff to cover there. True musical genius, was Frank. Including being a crazy good guitarist. His voice was also one of a kind.
Agreed ! It's one of my favorite too.
At least, she should react to/review 'Sofa No. 2.'
...at least give a listen to "Inca Roads"...all the different movements and levels of musicianship in this song just blows me away...
Matt
@@_zhawkeye_9808 You got it, brother
@@d33j4ybf the lyrics may kill her ! 😱🤣😂🤣😂
One of the most interesting and probably the best reaction video I’ve seen of Zappa’s music. You got the playfullnes, the coyness, tongue in cheek quality of his more serious music. He created music all day every day for it was his main passion and joy in life. Remember that he basically taught himself all of this stuff. Saw your comment on questions so here is one. What contemporary composers with the same humorous and deadly serious music woul dyou liken it to. I know of Olga Neuwirth for example who quotes his music in one of her pieces. What others are there? Just out of you head?
Yay! A shortcut to understanding Frank's music is there for those with the background to appreciate it (that's you). He cites a specific composer for playing the largest part in his developing such a unique approach/perspective to his music, Varese. The idea of using sound in its most primitive forms (often completely non musical in nature) to create music, fascinated Frank. While his influence isn't always apparent in Frank's music, it's always there.
Frank also loved R&B and helped to "discover" other musicians who made their names off the beaten track. Like Alice Cooper and Wild Man Fisher.
Much of his music is composed as a framework for live performance incorporating improvisational sections that he would direct with hand signals to the musicians on stage, "conducting" them through the improvised sections and calling for differing arrangements and breaks at will.
To be in Frank's band, was the equivalent of being in the best of orchestras. Top teir musicians that Frank got to experiment with every day.
🤘🧙♂️🤘
Rich the Ancient Metal Beast
Frank Zappa is a self- taught musician and IMHO a genius. He followed his muse and created music that is completely original. Frank was an outrageous character in real life. In 2013, Esa-Pekka Salonen and the L.A. Phil did an entire Frank Zappa program featuring his piece called 200 Motels.
In case Vlad didn't mention it, Zappa was a BIG fan of modern classical music, particularly Stravinsky, Webern and Varèse. He also wrote many orchestral scores.
Great analysis. You are outstanding. Your ability to see into the intent of a piece of music is really wonderful. Bravo!
Frank wrote everything he wanted and infused it with fun. Big Band, orchestral works, jazz, rock, lots of really really difficult and complex stuff plus acting about and having (sexual or political fun and jibes) on stage. This was the era of ultra-flexible, best-on-the-planet musicians and insane scores. Enjoy!
Thank you! Zappa got me at the age of twelve...and now I'm sixty-four...and still...lots of Zappa in my head! I started playing bass when I was twelve...and I always practiced and still practice a lot along Zappa...it's a real treasure trove...never ending at all!😄
Subscribed here.👍🙂
Once you immerse yourself in Zappa's music, you will find he is a very creative, brilliant and unique mind. A brilliant guitarist and composer. His music runs the gamut from serious modern classical composition to satirical songs of social commentary to rock to jazz to pastiches of other forms of music. There is a little bit of everything in his repertoire. And he was very prolific.
Thank you for doing this! I think you'd really enjoy another Zappa instrumental, "Dog/Meat" from a live album called Roxy by Proxy. It's every bit as playful and intricate, and it rewards your attention. It's definitely up there with Peaches En Regalia as one of the most perfect showcases of Zappa's melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic idiosyncrasies.
Love your reactions and I sights. Your recognition of the unique and remarkably playful brilliance of Zappa is both entertaining satisfying for this musician and Zappa fan
This Zappa song reminds a lot of the big band Spike Jones And His City Slickers. He was a comedy act using unorthodox instruments like gun shots to make music. He was also a serious musician with his alternative band Spike Jones And His Other Orchestra. Tons of rock groups including Zappa were influenced by him.
As a lifelong Zappa fan. I think you got him on the very first try. 2 thumbs up.
When this was first released, I read avidly about it in the music press at the time. Apparently "Peaches En Regalia" was a menu item at a restaurant where Zappa lived, and he found the phrase so melodic that he composed the piece around what was in his head when he read the words. Oh - and there is a dummy keyboard in here somewhere - you can all hear it but nobody identifies it!
Thanx, I did not know that. A Florentine Pogen was a cake made by Pagens a Swedish bakery that had a branch in L.A. called Pogens
Nice quotes !
@@marSLaZZ66 Mahalo nui loa!
That was fun. I’ve always loved 40% of Frank’s music. But watching you “react” and analyze was really fun! More Frank please!!
At last! FZ!
I'm a life long, serious fan - since the '60s. Have more Zappa albums than any other 2 or 3 artists combined. Seen him multiple times with various lineups. Read every book, article, seen every movie by or about, listened to every interview I could find. Even named my dog "Zappa." 😆 (Zappa loyalists are hardcore!)
"Peaches" is one of my personal most-listened-to musical pieces. Yet, your responses and commentary feel so fresh and interesting! This is far beyond any "Reaction Video" on the TH-cams
It's a true joy to "be along for the ride" as you experience your first journey into FZ's musical world.
👏👏👏
We had a dog named Zappa! When she had pups we named one Baby Zappa. And, of course, the mother became Mama Zappa.
@@PunguinYoga
👍👍👍 LOVE IT!
My daughter named her dog "Iggy Pup" 😂
@@GorgeousRoddyChrome Great!
I believe that the earliest video of Frank that can be found on TH-cam is a clip from The Steve Allen Show, sometime in the early 60's. Frank arranges for the studio band to join him while he plays the lead instrument, a bicycle.
Welcome to Zappa's universe, vast, eclectic and wonderful. The Black Page is a must, it was written to challenge studio musicians who were complaining that the music was so dense the pages were almost black. Thanx for the reaction. P.S the subjects and lyrics of some of his songs had a bunch of people in the government pretty upset back in the eighties.🤣
I was thinking of writing the same. Another great orchestral choice that VR might enjoy is Strictly Genteel.
So pleased to see your reaction! He is not everyone's cup of tea, so it tickles me to watch someone appreciate this fascinating composition.
I have loved Frank Zappa my entire life and saw him live twice in 1980 and 1981.
Thank you so much for this awesome side by side comparison and your positive and educated review.
I need to listen to more Frank Zappa, because the more I hear, the more I appreciate his genius.
Sadly Frank passed way too soon, but he was very diligent. Have fun exploring his work.
so interesting to hear someone listen to Frank's music without the usual preconceptions that most of us have.
You understand the playfulness and humor of it all. i'd really enjoy hearing your breakdown of The Black Page on Zappa In New York
If the playfulness of this is what you enjoyed, the "Yellow Snow" suite (the first 4 songs on the "Apostrophe (')" album about 12 minutes total) are the best examples of this as well as being the most unpredictable and humorous song I have ever heard.
WITH THAT PIECE, FRANK TAKES YOU ON AN EMOTIONAL JOURNEY, JUST FEEL IT !!!
He loves to have Instruments communicate with each other, a Dialogue !!
I used to love staring at the dogwood tree in my front yard while blasting this song on my Dad's Quadraphonic stereo.
The song just allows you to feel without lyrics getting in the way. The song does a wonderful job of jumping flawlessly from style to style. From feeling to feeling. Instrumentals are so underrated these days.
Remember when an instrumental could even be a hit on popular radio? It makes me sad that this is impossible today.
This is a major tune for me. Very prominent on my perpetual listening list. Thanks, cats.
When I first heard this song 40 years ago it was absolutely overwhelming....took me like a big big swirl and pulled me away into - I don't know where, I felt the music through and through like touching every fiber of me. Hard to see someone analysing this peace....if you're too deep in your profession, arts may loose their magic for you
What a delight to have Zappas music analysed by someone with such charm and knowledge! Can't wait for more. Can I suggest 'Echidnas Arf (of you)'. A short piece of musical perfection imo🙂
Yes, yes, yes! And then the version of the group Heavy Breeze on YT. And if one starts with the lyrics I would suggest Inca Road, Yellow Snow and Montana. Do not listen to Bobby Brown, Crew Slut, Stick It Out etc!
@@nesseq the Heavy Breeze version is a great choice. I also love the one by 'Fuse'
What an enchanting presence you are, so pure & sincere, open to fresh inputs yet firmly grounded in common sense & established values. Frank would have been greatly amused & charmed to view your "classical musician's response" to arguably one of his most festive pieces!
“Little House I Used To Live In” from his album Burnt Weeny Sandwich is an incredibly great piece that should be heard by everyone who is interested in Zappa. The entire album is superb.
Theme From is one of my all-time favorites, there are some great piano covers of the Little House intro on the Tube.
Outstanding suggestion