Zappa didn’t take himself very seriously
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Topic: Zappa didn’t take himself very seriously
Posted By: Ofur
Subject: Zappa didn’t take himself very seriously
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:06
| I suspect Frank Zappa had difficulties taking himself seriously, most of his music is so full of silly humor that I get the feeling he simply couldn't take himself seriously. I'm not saying he was a poor musician or anything, but it seems he was rarely able to be totally serious about it. |
Replies:
Posted By: The Miracle
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:09
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another negative thread Ofur? His music is awesome, thus I take him seriously. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ocellatedgod" rel="nofollow - last.fm |
Posted By: horza
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:09
 are you on medication ??
Zappa had a sense of humour ------------- Originally posted by darkshade: Calling Mike Portnoy a bad drummer is like calling Stephen Hawking an idiot. |
Posted By: con safo
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:10
When did you come to this stunning conclusion? ------------- 
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Ofur wrote:Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:10
 HOW COME NO ONE'S REALISED THIS BEFORE?! |
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:10
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Is there any problem with Zappa not being totally serious? The music usually was very well thought out and very creatively done, it's just the lyrics and words that were silly. ------------- 
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Posted By: Ofur
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:14
| Right, anyway I think he wasn't capable of making music that was totally serious. |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:16
Wronnnnnnnnnnnnng. |
Posted By: horza
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:17
i'm telling the central scrutinizer !!  ------------- Originally posted by darkshade: Calling Mike Portnoy a bad drummer is like calling Stephen Hawking an idiot. |
Posted By: con safo
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:17
Thats an awfully stupid thing to say. I'm sure he was VERY capable of doing serious music but it just wouldnt be him. Anyways if you want zappa without the humour look into some of his more instrumental albums.. Grand Wazoo, Hot Rats -------------
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Posted By: Ofur
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:19
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I don't want Zappa without the humor. |
Posted By: con safo
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:20
I'm confused. -------------
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Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:20
That doesn't mean to say Zappa never wrote non-humourous music, does it? Your arguments are as garbled as ever, Ofur. |
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:21
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Yellow Shark? -------------
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Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:22
I was thinking of that very same album. Also, 90% of Hot Rats, Grand Wazoo and Waka/Jawaka. |
Posted By: con safo
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:23
Mom & Dad?  -------------
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Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:30
Not to mention Jazz from Hell -------------
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Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:31
Indeed. ...That's why I didn't mention it!  |
Posted By: Ofur
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:34
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He wasn't totally incapable of making serious music, but I think he had to force himself to be serious, I'm sure it didn't come quite naturally. Let's look at his catalogue. How many albums out of the 60 or something albums he made aren't full of typical Zappa silliness? Not that many. |
Posted By: con safo
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:36
 -------------
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Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:37
So what are you saying? Is this a bad thing or not? I personally love that Zappa had a sense of humour and you've suggested that you prefer it. Everybody knows that Zappa was often humourous so I just don't understand what you were trying to say when you made this thread. |
Posted By: MustShaveBeard
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:40
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First you start the thread about new music being more experimental then old, and completely change your opinion halfway through, and now this. Make up your damn mind! It's only a matter of time before you start hating prog!
------------- Your life or your lupins!!! |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:42
This is, of course, assuming that Ofur likes prog as it is. I've not seen him do much praising of it. |
Posted By: MustShaveBeard
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:45
Well, apparently he like Frank Zappa. Or does he? I'm completely confused! ------------- Your life or your lupins!!! |
Posted By: Ofur
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:55
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Zappa sux big time. His music is too silly. I probably wouldn't bother posting about something I didn't like. So the above line is a joke alright? |
Posted By: FragileDT
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:56
This is a very good thread. Im glad Ofur came up with this conclusion
about Zappa (that doesn't make any sense whatsoever.) ------------- One likes to believe In the freedom of music But glittering prizes And endless Compromises Shatter the illusion Of integrity |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:58
 ? |
Posted By: Ofur
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:59
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Oh come on people connect the dots. When I say he wasn't capable of making music that was totally serious I meant in general. He almost never made totally serious music. Face it I'm right. |
Posted By: Retrovertigo
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 20:59
Zappa didn't take himself very seriously?  |
Posted By: Ofur
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 21:03
I never said I didn't like Trout Mask Replica (you just assume it because I was bashing it), however I like it for different reasons than most people. |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 21:05
And what might they be? Do tell us, master! |
Posted By: Ofur
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 21:10
Every time I think about the album it makes me laugh. I think the album is totally unlistenable, apart from two tracks that are ok. The idea of people liking this album and taking it seriously makes me smile every damn time I think about it. |
Posted By: MustShaveBeard
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 21:11
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[/QUOTE] I never said I didn't like Trout Mask Replica (you just assume it because I was bashing it), [/QUOTE] Don't you just hate it when people do that? Shame on you, TP! Just because someone says they don't like something doesn't mean they don't like it! ------------- Your life or your lupins!!! |
Posted By: Ofur
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 21:21
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Ahh I see so you should never criticize anything you like. Let's just praise In the Court of the Crimson King and never mention that Moonchild is bullsh*t. |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 21:26
Ofur... why don't you f**king well grow up? |
Posted By: MustShaveBeard
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 21:28
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Perhaps "bashing" was not the correct choice of words on your part. When I think bashing I think no matter what, you hate the album. Bashing and criticizing are completely different. For example, my (not at all) famous review of "CTTE" is bashing, because I don't like the song, and I express my distaste for it strongly. You can easily criticize something you like, but there's no way to bash it (bash a song, yes, but not the whole album). BTW, I like Moonchild. ------------- Your life or your lupins!!! |
Posted By: Ofur
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 21:44
Grow up? I think I smell an old fart here. |
Posted By: Ofur
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 21:53
CTTE is probably the song most responsible for me getting into prog. HOW DARE YOU put down my favorite song especially when you like the terrible Moonchild? Some people like Trouserpress need to stop being so insulted all the time or is he only pretending to be angry like me? |
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 22:01
He's entitled to his own opinion, so there is no need to get mad. Not everyone is going to agree with you, so get a grip! -------------
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Posted By: MustShaveBeard
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 22:02
Well so far the Roman Catholic Church hasn't torchered me yet for putting down the mighty Ofur's favorite song, so I think I'm gonna be O.K... ------------- Your life or your lupins!!! |
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 22:03
THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELS YOU! THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELS YOU! -------------
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Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 05:28
Does 19 count as "an old fart"? If so, yes you do. |
Posted By: horza
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 05:35
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At 43 i'm one of ofur's delusional boring old farts,wonder how old ofur is ------------- Originally posted by darkshade: Calling Mike Portnoy a bad drummer is like calling Stephen Hawking an idiot. |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 05:55
I'm guessing roughly 14-16 and under the misapprehension that he is a) extremely clever and b) extremely mature. |
Posted By: goose
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 06:27
So you don't think people should take humour seriously? A great deal of the music I hold closest to my heart I started off laughing at. For me humour is one of (note: one of!
)the strongest emotions I experience, and that's what drew me to Soft Machine, Genesis. And I'm sure it'll eventually draw me to Zappa, when I have the money to get a couple of records. |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 07:41
Ofur, let me throw in a few of your statements from your previous "cruel prank" thread: - People like me buy the album get pissed off and spread the word that the album sucks which makes more people buy it. This is one of the major problems with the album. Trout Mask Replica is painful to listen to I just don't like Trout Mask Replica and I think it's really painful to listen to. You don't even know what your own arguments are anymore! Give up and think of a new topic. |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 07:42
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Do some reading. I reading Barry Miles' excellent Zappa biography right at the moment: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1843540924/qid=1127475669/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_11_1/026-9226558-7204446 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1843540924/qid=1127 475669/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_11_1/026-9226558-7204446
and you will most likely change you opinion. |
Posted By: Lindsay Lohan
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 07:48
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ofur is definetly the funniest guy on the forum...this thread gave me the biggest laugh in ages...GO OFUR ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Fjuffe/?chartstyle=sideRed - [IMG - http://imagegen.last.fm/sideRed/recenttracks/Fjuffe.gif - |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 07:50
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Me too, "I never said I didn't like Trout Mask Replica, I just don't like Trout Mask Replica". Top man. |
Posted By: Chipiron
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 07:54
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... I'm scared... Shall I take myself seriously or not? I don't think I'll get some sleep tonight.. ------------- [IMG]http://www.belderrain.es/GIFs/tora.gif"> |
Posted By: Lindsay Lohan
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 07:56
ah great just read his other threads about prog fans being old farts and stuff...really funny ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Fjuffe/?chartstyle=sideRed - [IMG - http://imagegen.last.fm/sideRed/recenttracks/Fjuffe.gif - |
Posted By: DEzerov
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 10:57
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Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is
so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute
that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the
basic building block of the universe. The present day composer refuses to die......... ------------- The moon is made by some lame cooper and you can see the idiot has no idea about moons at all - Nikolay Gogol |
Posted By: thrang theng
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 11:36
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I've noticed that more the thread is related to humor more pages are added to it. So I'm glad to participate to this humoristic thread about the humor of our beloved FZ. Maybe we should go into details. Is it "Shut up and play yer guitar" serious or humoristic? The titles would indicate the second option but the music sometimes is serious. IT is really confusing isn't it? Maybe he was taking a laugh of us all????
------------- Take my fire Take my food and water Forget about those promises Of social good and social order... |
Posted By: the icon of sin
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 11:46
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Many of Zappa's (mostly) instrumental albums such as Sleep Dirt, Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo are 90% serious. Even albums that are pretty crazy (Studio Tan and We're Only In It come to mind) have serious messages underneath the coating. For example, the latter is incredibly anti-drugs and "The Adventures of Greggary Peccary" from the former takes shots at mass corporations. I guess it was his way of presenting his opinions in a different way to everyone else. Which brings us back to why he is so special, because he can combine these 2 emotions in music so effortlessly. |
Posted By: thrang theng
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 11:52
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He used humor as a way to fight some aspects of the contemporary american society and majors businness. That what is stated in his biography... He went to Court for some lirycs as well in the '80s. ------------- Take my fire Take my food and water Forget about those promises Of social good and social order... |
Posted By: con safo
Date Posted: September 24 2005 at 19:08
lmao this was great. i dont think ive ever seen someone change their opinions so much in one thread. hahaha.
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Posted By: Biggles
Date Posted: September 24 2005 at 19:20
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I personally think that Ofur is from an alternate universe wherein people show their appreciation for art by violently criticizing it. It is the only logical conclusion I could come to. ------------- The crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe. http://www.last.fm/user/sbonfiglioli/?chartstyle=red"> 
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Posted By: FragileDT
Date Posted: September 24 2005 at 19:23
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Watching this topic develop is hilarious. I cant even believe Ofur is content with contradicting himself 200 times. At least there are people like Ofur in the world that give us all a good laugh. ------------- One likes to believe In the freedom of music But glittering prizes And endless Compromises Shatter the illusion Of integrity |
Posted By: Biggles
Date Posted: September 24 2005 at 19:34
Wait, so first you complain that he didn't make serious music, and then you'd say that you'd much rather he hadn't made serious music? You've lost me. ------------- The crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe. http://www.last.fm/user/sbonfiglioli/?chartstyle=red">
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Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: September 24 2005 at 22:31
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Wow... Ofur gets the Special Progarchives Award for Best Contradiction of Opinions! Everyone, let's give Ofur a cheer! -------------
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Posted By: Ofur
Date Posted: September 24 2005 at 22:55
| Look, for every 20 humorous songs Zappa makes he makes one serious, or something like that and they are usually only serious because they are instrumental. Clearly he was as good as incapable of being serious. Thus no contradiction in anything I ever said! |
Posted By: Ofur
Date Posted: September 25 2005 at 02:51
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Here is a photo that says more than words ever could. http://www.whocollection.com/ZappaOA304.JPG - http://www.whocollection.com/ZappaOA304.JPG |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: September 25 2005 at 02:53
overused photo ------------- 
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Posted By: Ofur
Date Posted: September 25 2005 at 02:59
| Overused? Are the walls in your home covered with this photo or maybe just the bathroom? |
Posted By: Odd24
Date Posted: September 25 2005 at 03:35
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We're only in it for the money is Frank Zappa to it's full potential. I just wished he made more albums like that. He has a conceptual view of folk, prog and classical influences (WOIIFTM proofs it, it's full of it) and still he made albums full of jams after WOIIFTM. I don't say jams are bad, but on some albums the jams are too long. And that is something I don't understand...most bands make jams too long if they don't have a conceptual view on folk, prog and classical influences so they cannot come up with something different then a long jam... But I must say that "Son of Mr. Green Genes" is an example of a long jam that is good. That song contains enough dynamics to make it interesting for a listener. ------------- Right down the line |
Posted By: S Lang
Date Posted: September 25 2005 at 04:33
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I'd say Zappa was serious enough about the shallowness of humans, enough to take him to the grave with understandable disgust. The man was the greatest humanitarian in our lifetimes, expressing himself in a humorous, crazy, upsetting manner that alienated 99% of his potential admirers. He took no prisoners and paid the price for his courage. In my perception, he put a mirror in front of many of us, asking the question - Is this what you really are? Shallow and a piece of excrement? He took no prisoners and didn't spare my idols either for an understandable reason. HE LET GO OF EGO by then. The man is a legend and whilst it's somewhat sad, he had to forego words and express feelings in music instead. For that, we all are better off - without having to find a mirror.....
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Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: September 25 2005 at 12:10
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what a dumb thread ------------- 
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