Zappa.com

Since the FZ catalogue offers such a great
opportunity for enterprising individuals to spread
his great lyrics + music, permission granted
via the FZ Trust, of course, would you hate or love to
hear commercial artists covering FZ's work?

For instance, if a 50Cent version of 'I am the Slime'
or a Timberlake rendition of 'Lucille' did hit FM radio, would
you enjoy the moment as an FZ honourary nod or
recoil in abject revolt?

Is FZ's music best kept personal or should new
voices attempt to honour his work?

(I ain't talkin' about anyone ever delivering a Roxy type
masterpiece, just an inspired hook and riff, from the FZ
genius, credibly produced to entertain the masses).

It would be interesting, I'd give it a listen. I have really enjoyed hearing Frank cover other songs, such as Whipping Post.
Bruce

New voice should always be allowed to attempt it, even if we risk puke versions. Why should FZ be any different from the Rolling Stones, Beatles, or for that matter, Mozart or Beethoven?

Like it, well: that would depend on the version. Though to be honest I can't really picture any mainstream musicians playing Zappa.

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Join the PackardGoose forum! Send me a PM!

I would probably hate it. I think Frank took great care in choosing his band members, and their performances (in addition to his own) were integral in how well the music came across (despite what some people think ). Mainstream musicians? Nah. Don't think so.

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Everytime we picked a booger we'd flip it on this one winduh. Every night we'd contribute, 2, 3, 4 boogers. We had to use a putty knife, man, to get them damn things off the winduh. There was some goober ones that weren't even hard...

I'd puke my fucking guts out. 50 Cent is one of the worst rappers in the industry.

I'm really vague on most mainstream music. I tend to like Zappa-influenced musicians like Primus and System of a Down.

Isaac

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I want dis little pussy
Baby wants some o' dis
And some o' dat
Don't treat me, baby, like your
Any old Alley Cat
Alley Cat, Alley Cat

Jimmie D Fan

If a Beefheart tribute can be done well, why not Zappa? "Fast & Bulbous" was an entertaining sojourn into Don's music and I think it did his work some justice. XTCs carbon copy cover of 'Ella Guru' alone is worth the price, but there are some real gems on that release.

I don't doubt that there are enough well-known artists who would love to be a part of such a tribute to Zappa's music.

Hello....... ED PALERMO

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Confusion will be my epitaph

well I know one Croatian hip hop artist songwriter and producer, who used peaches for a main beat in one of his song, here's the link, you wont understand a word but...
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?wzmjlzo4nwt
it's a song about crazy scientist who modifies your DNA, face, sperm etc, basicly anti plastic surgery song, very funny lyrics
CHOURS
"you have to be faster
prettier and better
i'm infiltrating to core
fixing how I like
you have to be first
cause life's a race
operation's a sucess (la-la)
patient's a carrot"

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I'm all for bands/artists who have made their own mark in music covering Zappa. For example the band Qui featuring David Yow(The Jesus Lizard, Scratch Acid) covered "Willie The Pimp" on their album "Love's Miracle" and it's fucking awesome.
Do I want to hear some Top 40, auto-tuned American Idol-style douchebags cover Zappa? HELL NO.

I can't imagine anyone taking Zappa's music through the modern top 40 ringer. I just can't. But if anyone were to try, I'd listen at least once before judging.

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NJP

A couple years ago, Joe Jackson was doing a credible version of "Dirty Love" in concert, and The Tubes occasionally play "Trouble Every Day." And the late Michael Hedges did a beautiful rendition of "Sofa."

I don't think most popular musicians are either capable of or interested in playing Frank Zappa's music. It takes a lot of work to learn just about any Zappa piece; and most musicians won't put that much work into their own music, much less Frank's...

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Perhaps Kelly Clarkson could sing "Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?". Not that I think she has a reason to sing that particular lyric - just love the idea of her HUGE voice singing that last high A at the end. She could probably nail it.

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NJP

Suggested Zappa tribute titles and the artist performing them:

Don't Eat Yellow Snow -Tom Waits
Why Does It Hurt When I Pee -Ozzy Ozbourne
I'm The Slime -Alice Cooper
Trouble Every Day -Red Hot Chili Peppers
Cosmik Debris -Beck
Let Me Take You To The Beach -B52s
Zombie Wolf -Foo Fighters
Broken Hearts Are For Assholes -Green Day
Mystery Roach -The Residents
San Ber'dino -Robert Randolph & The Family Band
City of Tiny Lights -David Byrne
Sharleena -Eric Clapton
Watermelon In Easter Hay -Jeff Beck

..Why not?

..Other suggestions?

Some good suggestions there! I especially like the idea of the B52's doing Let Me Take You To The Beach. On the flip side, there is a bootleg with Frank teaching the band to play Rock Lobster. I thought that was cool, too.

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Country music + Black music = Rock and Roll

Manx Needs Women - Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
Sleep Dirt - Allan Holdsworth

Oh wait, we're not really making the music any easier to be heard by the masses with these selections.

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NJP

Tryin' to grown me a chin - The Mars Volta

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"Peaches En Regalia" -- Steve Hackett (with his brother on flute)

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Stay with me flagrantly and we'll have ecstasy for all eternity.

Teenage Prostitute - Fallout Boy

(c'mon, you know it would be HILARIOUS!)

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NJP

I dunno, they don't have to be big-name stars.
I think it's still pretty fun to think of Zappa tunes and a great band to cover them. Especially if you can see them putting their own spin on it. For instance, I actually think 'Trouble Every Day' could be covered well by Chris Issak. Think about it for a few seconds. It could work.

Be obscure, if it's a great match it's still great.
I love the idea of The Residents covering 'Mystery Roach'. Do they rank in popularity with Eric Clapton? Nah. But fuck it, let's hear Nick Cave do a cover of 'Trouble Every Day'.
(..incidentally; I hear John Zorn sitting in on sax for The Residents' cover of Mystery Roach. Amiright?).

I guess it's an extra challenge to imagine really hugely popular bands covering specific Zappa songs.
It's funnier, if anything.

Really, what Zappa song should U2 cover? What song should Springsteen cover?

Trouble Every Day could work for Springsteen.

U2..............um..............should break up.

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NJP

Great call! That would be awesome!

I once covered Bobby Brown at an open stage. I call it the acoustic folk song version. I don't think anyone in the crowd recognized it, and I got some funny looks. Did get a few laughs, though.

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Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.

Came close to working in "Harder Than Your Husband" into a country set with some friends of mine, but they couldn't work out the harmonies and took issue with the lyrics.

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NJP