can someone explain his significance to me?
i've started listening to his stuff recently and i'm definitely enjoying it, but besides the immense discography and self-awareness i feel like i'm missing something
>>63648853
Frontrunner of jazz fusion, talented guitarist, fantastic composer, burned through several genres of music throughout his career, made one of the most significant rock albums of 1966 and one of the most significant social commentaries of 1967, spoke out for his beliefs thereby gaining the attention of the libertarian party which resulted in them asking him to be their nominee for president, made movies, wrote stage productions for Broadway, worked with esteemed modern classical composers like Pierre Boulez, etcetcetc
the dude was fucking everywhere and did so much in so little time, and not just in music. he's one of the most prolific songwriter in rock history and few if any artists ever worked as hard as him.
He makes weird music for normal people and normal music for weird people.
He bridged rock, classical, and jazz in a unique and innovative way. He was possibly the first experimental rock artist. A lot of the stuff he did in his early days acted as a precursor to many cutting edge experimental bands, and those bands were also very influential. He is so impressive, its overwhelming. He was a literal genius that made innovative music that no one else could have made.
>>63650020
>>63650132
thanks mates, i'm sure it'll give me some context and further appreciation when listening to his music
Zappa made some great songs, but just as important is what he did FOR music and freedom of speech, not to mention freedom of an artist's creativity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ5W897em5Y
He was essential in the fight to stop corporations from fucking over their musicians
>>63650020
Pretty much this but also keep in mind the times. He was a well spoken, well dressed man who deplored drug use (outside the goatee/ long hair); at the same time, he stood against censorship and made albums far outside the mainstream and advocated unrestrained creativity.
>>63650518
Whoops that link isn't really relevant but 2bh I'm a little drunk so bear with me, I thought that link was the interview where he was debating against some Christian Concerned Mother For Children re: his explicit lyrics or something
One of these should be more related to whatever the fuck I was talking about
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ISil7IHzxc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxB-ZePpS7E
Literally the most gifted composer of the 20th century. "Gifted" being the operative word.
Frank is THE Rock genius of the 1900's. His sheer musical ambition was something to be reckoned with, honestly. He was nothing short of a miracle.
Inventor/co-inventor of:
Progressive Rock
The Concept Album
The Rock Opera
The Double Album (planned it before Dylan, Dylan released his first)
First artist to use the studio as an instrument
Read Scaruffi's page on him. It's amazing: http://www.scaruffi.com/vol1/zappa.html
>a 9
>SIX 8s
>NINE 7s
If you look at Scaruffi with math in mind, he's the best artist ever.