Why was Zappa so popular?

I'll eat oysters any way they are presented to me.

I love them on the shell, but they are great fried and in other dishes like thanksgiving dressing.

Oh Em Gee! I love oysters.

 

I biefly joined a Zappa tribute. The music was challenging. After getting inside of it a bit, I dtarted to think a lot it was written to be difficult but not necessarily very musical. Dont get me wrong, it all works and works well. I just think he was really trying to show how smart he was.

 

Steve Vai explains it .

 

There will never be another Frank.
1 of the GOAT

 

Maybe it would be because...
Frankie N his muse...
Ain't someone our parents would have called over for DinDin...
Or
There is no explaining the Human aesthetic...
No...
None..
Keine...
NEMO...(latin)
HAKUNA(swahili)
NIKTO...

 

I think I loved the idea of Frank Zappa more than the reality of Frank Zappa. He was just so damn certain of what he wanted to do and he didn't care a jot about what anybody else thought. His few interviews were brilliant and he was truly original. I only owned one Zappa album in my entire life...Hot Rats. It was a tough row to hoe for a blues/rock kid. But I did finally develop an appreciation for what he was doing with his music. That doesn't mean Hot Rats was on my continuous playlist, or that I always pulled it out at parties. But he did leave a mark on my musical journey.

I think he would have been a great elder statesman for music if was still alive. I can imagine he would have some very interesting opinions on the state of the music industry today.

 

FZ was a huge influence on how and why i make music.
Even down to why 'popularity' doesn't really matter in the long run.
It's all about having personal standards, and his were always some of the highest.
i needed that reminder right now... thank you.

 

Dweezil about FZ's improvisation techniques and and stuff that I can't do

 

I massively admire you for doing that, because I know I couldn't execute a lot of those parts with any repeatability.

Was he being clever for the sake of it? Maybe sometimes he was. The thing is though, the composer shouldn't have to care about how difficult the piece is for the musicians. All he/she should have to worry about is the end result.

Apart from a few classics, such as Brown Shoes and Willie The Pimp, most of the repertoire is above my pay-scale as a player.

 

B-I-N-G-O

 

I suppose since the music was more complicated, and personal, than what most people gravitate too in general. I don't like all of it (I don't like anyone's total output), but some if it is genius, such as One Size Fits All, or Apostrophe. Much of it, but I get the dislike.

 

Maybe think of it in the same way we look at mathematicians and how they do much of what they do because it's available to them intellectually. It exercises their minds and creativity in ways most of us can't grasp let alone follow along. The mere fact you can follow speaks volumes about your skills, IMHO.

 

The other half of my opinion on FZ is that my 20 year old self loved his lyrics.

My 55 year old self thinks a lot of it is uncomfortable in mixed company and may have been written by a 13 year old boy.

A few exceptions for sure..

I love Inca Roads, Black Napkins, Zoot Allures. Montana. Lots to love but lots to leave me scratching my head.

 

I was fortunate to see him several times the Armadillo.. Including the live recorded album with Muffin Man as an encore and he shouted "Goodnight Austin Texas, wherever you are...". And he was actually the closer on the last night of music forever at a place where I grew up... The Armadillo World Headquarters.. He drew well here, it was always full when he came through

 

FORget it!

 

“Trouble Comin’ Every Day” was the first rock protest song I ever heard. I’ve had the lyrics memorized for over 50 years.
Then there’s Overnight Sensation his most coherent work, featuring Tina Turner on vocals

 

Was he that popular? Really? Or was he just well-regarded by a very few people?