Just Between You, Me, and The Cart Wall...
Under The Influence #1: Lets Be Frank
If you've done anything long enough, you eventually have the opportunity…and perhaps the obligation…to reflect on how you got there.
Or before you now, in my case, to review the things and people you'd like to thank…or perhaps blame…for where you are, professionally.
I've had that opportunity lately, so here we go.
Let's start by thanking Frank Zappa.
The dude or dudette who penned this for Wikipedia must'a been a fan, because they nailed it:
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American musician, composer, activist and filmmaker. His work is characterized by nonconformity, free-form improvisation, sound experiments, musical virtuosity, and satire of American culture.
Now THERE'S creative for you.
As legendary Vancouver Sun columnist Denny Boyd once put it, he wrote "songs with lyrics that cut like a propane torch".
Originally, it was those songs that grabbed my youthful attention.
But eventually, that initial discovery turned into a three decade bender (and still somewhat going strong) of "the world's finest optional entertainment" that embraced not only satirical lyrics...but also, compositional brilliance and guitar playing mastery, heavily influenced by Stravinsky and Varese (and 50's doo-wop!), that admittedly, can frequently be a challenge to appreciate.
But once you get it…YOU GET IT BIG.
"A composer is a guy who goes around forcing his will on unsuspecting air molecules, often with the assistance of unsuspecting musicians."
Above: Protected in plastic for the enjoyment, amusement, and astonishment of future Popil generations.
Earlier in my existence, and early in my discovery of things Zappa-esque, my dream scenario was to strap down everyone I knew into a big comfy chair with a pair of the world's largest speakers perched in front of them, and roll a few tunes until YOU got it, too.
(For those who were part of that earlier version of me, your forgiveness is asked for here.)
Lyrically, Frank was a reporter...documenting the human experience, and the people he encountered.
So like an observational comedian, he didn't need to make up the characters or scenarios he was frequently criticized for...all he had to do was write it down, as his lyrical repertoire was pretty much comprised entirely of social observation:
"I'm making comments about society, and the society that I was commenting on [ed: at the time] was engaged in what they love to describe as the sexual revolution – a world of sexual incompetents encountering each other under disco circumstances. Now can't you do songs about that?"
He threw out a multitude of ideas and albums just to see what would stick. There are over 100 albums in the Zappa catalogue, and on each one is at least one gem my ears can't live without.
And you can't dance to 99.5% of it.
Above: I wasn't there to see him sign it, but it's mine, mine, mine. Thank you for your generous donation, DH.
He was the dissenting musical voice who tried to keep the rest of us honest, and point out stupidity wherever he encountered it.
"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say that there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe."
If you've never heard a Frank Zappa song before, I invite you to click the link below and experience at least one during your lifetime.
From a live MTV performance on Halloween night 1981, this is the one song I'll play for the aliens when they finally show up, wanting to know what Frank was all about.
It's not as musically challenging as most of his output, and doesn't have one of his masterful guitar solos (that's worth a post unto itself), but it does give you a taste of where he stood on a certain subject...
This song just barely touches on the wordplay that Frank, to me, was famous for.
Adjusting words as he saw fit to make a rhyme.
Making up words to fit any situation.
Ya know what?
I find myself doing that all the time.
(And yes, that's a 20 year old Steve Vai in the leopard skin top.)
What you begin to realize is that Frank Zappa selectively surrounded himself with masterful musicians, so he had to have realized early on that if you're going to be weird, or different, you'd better be good at it.
And he lamented a general lack of musical education, and the appreciation of all genres of music...not just what came through your radio.
Born December 21, 1940, Frank Zappa died from prostate cancer and departed on his "final tour" 25 years ago today...December 4, 1993.
He often asked the musical question:
"Does humour belong in music?"
It sure as heck does, Frank.
His modus operandi was AAAFNRAA...
"Anything Anytime Anyplace for No Reason At All".
And that's why I miss him a lot.
Dammit, Frank.
