Frank Zappa Reaction: Classical Guitarist react to Frank Zappa Watermelon

[@JoneRuiz]

Want to see the latest guitar accessories that are popular right now? Just click here! amzn.to/3QMB2om

[@timfeeley714-25]

This song always leaves me with the feeling that I've just had one of the best days of my life with good friends and family.

[@acemodez3169]

Zappa is a genre all his own, with sub-genres within itself

[@theccpisaparasite8813]

Couldn't have said it better ...

[@markphillips1824]

Exactly

[@pbwbrian53]

I never thought Zappa could make my eyes water.

[@cykratzer3463]

This, is a rare song in the Zappa catalog. He typically avoided letting anything "classically beautiful" exist very long before inserting oblique tangents and changes of time. example is Inca Roads

[@jeffmartin1026]

I have been listening to Frank for almost 60 years and for me this is Frank's masterpiece.

[@gavindavis1340]

I love Regyptian strut also. Another masterpiece. My funeral will start with that & end with watermelon in Easter hay

[@tixximmi1]

One of Frank's best. There are so many. From Sleep Dirt to Stucco Homes.

[@luisfaria62]

Same here my friend. But only 50 years....

[@andyhampsten4252]

Nah, it's not real Frank. It's boring.

[@BrandonOrlosky]

In the context of the entire album, this song is absolutely soul crushing

[@sjbang5764]

I have loved and admired this solo for over 25 years, and I never tire of it. At the time I considered it one of the most beautiful pieces of music I had ever head, and that still applies. Thanks for taking a listen, and I'm happy you enjoyed it. Watermelon in Easter Hay.

[@zappafrank1]

Frank Zappa music is like a movie for your ears.

[@Remshmuck]

And leaves our minds to create the picture, which is why I listen to music so much more than watch any kind of television or movie

[@pascalsimon9780]

The best music for a baby ! And for anyone who loves music ! Viva Zappa

[@chaosmos24]

That note he hits at 6:03 is a shiver down the spine. Sublime.

[@SPKdesign1]

Zappa has done most genres over the years and worked with some of the best Musicians Live and in the Studio.

[@somersetcace1]

I love the way he very slowly adds more accompaniment throughout the piece. The percussion at the end is sublime.

[@waltercrain2910]

you've uncovered a gem. i'm so happy for you!

[@robertst.hilaire7]

This brings me back to discovering Zappa and listening to him on acid!

[@ulgn1964]

One of the top 5 zappa songs for me.

[@robertfenton934]

Love this Frank Zappa was an amazing all round musician but this always gives me the chills

[@ManuMasson]

The 1st guitar is a Stratocaster plugged directly into the board, the solo was played on a Les Paul through a Boogie amp. (Source : The Big Note)

[@Civilizashum]

"I left the world for a little bit"

[@donkraus1991]

Its a transfixing song with a soulful spiritual journey! RIP Frank! Thanks for putting this one out there!

[@lw1zfog]

check out ‘Nine Types of Industrial Pollution’, ‘Holiday In Berlin Full Blown’, Sleep Dirt’ & ‘St Etienne’

[@thomasmoroney1079]

Frank!!! Please listen to the right introductory Zappa! I’ve frightened quite a few of my friends with some crazy Frank.✌️❤

[@bigswifty9941]

Such an emotional song. Just beautiful.

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

This is a rare thing for Frank. A "written" guitar solo. Frank always improvised his guitar solos, especially in concert. Frank would take the live solos and incorporate them into completely different songs in the studio, or just release them as stand-alone songs now and then, but they were always improvised. He was a genius at editing, and having passed in 1993, didn't have all this fancy computer software to do it with. Razor blade to tape to do his editing. He would take the raw guitar solo and edit it in places to tighten it up, removing bum notes if they happened and just tightening it up for smoother flow. Then there's this track. This was completely recorded in the studio and was well thought out ahead of time. Frank considered this his signature guitar solo and gave instructions that nobody else is allowed to record it.

[@robperry5293]

Nice hearing a song that is "just" Frank playing his guitar, not that there isn't much going on in the background, Ruth on the Xylophone always adds a nice touch.

[@TheUtke]

This is Ed Mann on marimba, though.

[@francoisathome5979]

@@TheUtke And the amazing Vinnie Colaiuta on drums.

[@bubbeltwist]

Got tears in my eyes when you just closed your eyes and nodded as the second guitar came in at 5:30ish in vid. Beautiful ❤️👍

[@Joe-st8rp]

You are the only Zappa reaction to which I strongly offer a thumbs up. Please stay with it. Good luck Jone.

[@jowsmith1904]

this is the first zappa album i ever bought...acts 1-2.

[@mikesmyth8139]

Beautiful song. Great reaction.

[@drkmriggs]

Beautiful sums it up! Love the way you got drawn into it. That’s Ruth Underwood on the vibes.

[@agricolaurbanus6209]

This album is, long story short, about a musician's journey.

[@distressor6770]

Frank was a musical genius

[@kosta380]

Genius of boring assholes 😂😂

[@alldayadventures5418]

Zappa has some long ballads that are truly amazing. Try "WAKA-JAWAKA, or The Ocean is the Ultimate Solution. Either of those tunes should get you squarely hooked. With 60+ Released Albums, and over 1000 composed tunes, his library is very vast.

[@Mr.Batsu12]

This album is a concept album (rock opera) and most of the songs are connected, it's why there's narration at the start of it. It can confuse you if you aren't used to the album as a whole. 😊

[@danielduesentriebjunior]

Yes Zappa was amazing.

[@Wizardofgosz]

I've seen Dweezil play this with his Zappa Plays Zappa band, and he just can't keep from crying during the performance. I saw Frank a few times in the 80s but I don't remember if he played it.

[@swirll360]

Jone, I don't think you fully understand the rabbit hole you've just opened up. I think you're going to find Frank Zappa the most unique & talented musician/composer of contemporary music of the 20th century. This particular album is a rare concept album where Frank explores a world where music is banned. The entire album is narrated by what Frank calls "The Central Scrutinizer" which is the voice you heard before the song. Frank was extremely bright, eccentric (ohh boy you'll find that out very fast), and a musical genre unto himself. In my view and many others including Steve Vai (who got his start with Zappa), Mr. Frank Zappa is the Mozart & Beethoven of the 20th century, the only difference is Zappa uses modern instruments (of all kinds) to play classically constructed musical pieces played by some of the best musicians in the field of rock and jazz. Be prepared for some of the most creative, quirky, and beautiful music you've ever experienced. PS: Zappa is no slouch on the guitar either, he can do it all. I hope you do more on here of Frank because I think he will challenge your understanding of music and open a completely new world of music for you, as it did me.

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

This album came out 6 years before the Senate hearings on music and its effect. This was just Frank's imagination.

[@davidblake5415]

It was a response to the banning If music in Iran when the Shah was deposed and the clerics took over

[@alvillanueva2525]

Al and Tipper Gore were not conservative lawmakers.

[@swirll360]

I stand corrected, thank you@@Royale_with_Cheeze

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

@@swirll360 Best to go back and edit your original post accordingly.

[@BrianAsvestas]

Such an underated guitar player. The man who taught Steve Vai how to become a master. He hired Vai when Vai was like 20. Watch a vid on Vai talking about Frank

[@swirll360]

One thing to add to my last comment. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE listen to Frank's music from 2 different angles. Don't get caught up in the lyrics to his songs because (for the most part) your mind will be centered on his lyrics and vocal delivery and not focus on the complex musical structures going on behind it. I love his lyrics. They are filled with sarcasm, dark humor, utter lunacy that will make you laugh hysterically (the song Montana comes to mind among many others), and sometimes dark political satire (IE: Joe's Garage). You have to train yourself to separate the music from the lyrics. I often think the wild lyrics are there to amuse Frank himself and to draw attention to his music so a wider group of people who normally would never give his music any consideration would. Lastly Frank Zappa in approximately 30 years released 62 albums...roll that around your brain for a while.

[@DoctorInsomnia-qw7us]

Not just 62 albums released in his lifetime, though that's mind boggling enough, remember this: a lot of his albums were 2 disc sets, even a few 3 disc sets, so you can add at least another 20 discs to that total for a grand overwhelming total of eighty-something discs in 27 years, that's an average of 3 albums a year. Add the amount of postumous albums to that lifetime total, and you have more than 120 albums, many of them 2, 3, or 4 disc sets. Nobody comes close, he makes every other artist seem like slackers in comparison. There will never be another Zappa....

[@umbertocandiolo2479]

That's right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@erikahlander3489]

As a classical guitarist it might be of interest that, to my knowledge, he released only a single song with only acoustic guitar: a duet with FZ and James Youman. It is named "Sleep dirt" from the album with the same name. It was released in 1978 but I am not able to find out when it was recorded.

[@alldayadventures5418]

Sleep Dirt is one of Zappa's top compositions. Not a bad tune on it. Love the Godzilla "Smog Monster" on the front cover too...!

[@HakanTunaMuzik]

he used acoustic guitar a few times, the solo on my guitar, he used it on the uncle meat album, also the guitar solo on stink foot is acoustic.

[@erikahlander3489]

@@HakanTunaMuzik OK! True.

[@DWHarper62]

Also, Stucco Homes from SUNPYG...

[@erikahlander3489]

@@DWHarper62 I have the album but forgotten this one! Its a nice track!

[@AndyMmusic]

I count it as 5/4. Frank Zappa was quite fond of 5/4

[@sea6bear]

His son tours, he often tears up when he chooses to play this tune .

[@jacobreisser8034]

Frank was the Cultural Attache to Czechoslovakia back in the nineties. He was one of the best musicians in the world.

[@Wizardofgosz]

The full name is Watermelon in Easter Hay.

[@jonncockrell3606]

Zappa - everyone says he is a genius....and they are correct. Years ago back when I was younger I didn't like this tune. Then, decades later I listened again and Zappa was still waiting for me to catch up. I get it now but am amazed at how far ahead he was so long ago . I was a teenager in the 70s and thought "Apostrophe" or "Montana" was all he did. Boy was I wrong!

[@ATLANTABOY527]

Never met a Zappa tune I didn't like but I can say honestly I am still trying to catch up after 50 years of listening

[@arthurmc3929]

The Guitar speaks it self in the imaginary mind of us

[@Mr.MsSoundFactory-k6m]

So much music it is ridiculous Zappa was an innovator for all genres and for all era's did thing before The Beatles, Hendrix and Floyd hands down the greatest ..... Fact Check and my opinion... Thank You .... for your reaction....

[@karennewell8085]

He worm has turned for you my man.

[@jowsmith1904]

muffin man is great too

[@Kram62]

E-Dorian if not mistaken.

[@gerryk3114]

There are 127 official release Titles !!! YOU CAN NOT PUT HIS MUSIC NOR GUITAR INTO ANY CATEGORY OF MUSIC, HIS INFLUENCES ARE FROM ALL TYPES OF MUSIC & HE IS NOT AFRAID THE SWITCH IT ON THE FLY !!! FRANK CREATES MOOD & FEELING !! HE TAKES YOU ON A JOURNEY !! OR TELLS A STORY !!!

[@LarryHelmeczy]

You kept saying that you were expecting something different. With Zappa, you will get something different. He didn't compose/play many songs like this though. He did sappy '50's doo-wop love songs, social commentary, satirical/sexual rock, jazz, 20th Cent classical; sometimes all within the same song. He was incredibly creative but he wasn't everyone's cup of tea.

[@HisboiLRoi]

Zappa utilized 5/4 a lot.

[@45Lonewolf45]

Zappa is a musical genius but you should watch live, I like him better before 76 when Ruth Underwood was with him

[@Big_Gords]

React to Ice cream for crow

[@PaulPadoan]

Try Pink Napkins, I like it much better, Watermelon, has always rubbed me the wrong way and I think it is to repatative for me.

[@2porangi]

Reminds me a bit of Albatross Fleetwoodmac.

[@richardphilpott1225]

Frank sits at the right hand of God. Jimi of course sits to the left.

[@voxmagnetic6177]

XXX

[@DWHarper62]

Your music feed is in mono... makes the production sound boring... You should look into your recording chain to make sure the music is in stereo...

[@fzmoifzmoi2575]

Or with Zappa's music, "surround sound". LOL

[@kosta380]

Zappas shit music without sense sounds like diarrhea 😂😂

[@eljayr517]

Stop talking over it and listen, bad manners !

[@francoisathome5979]

If you want to listen, use Spotify or buy the record. Don't whine while listening to a R E A C T I O N video.

[@kosta380]

How long did it take you to memorize your fake Analysis? 😂

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

Hi Marlon. Merry Christmas.

[@kosta380]

@@Royale_with_Cheeze is that meant to be sarcastic? If so ,thats not bad,hahahaha

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

@@kosta380 And wishes for a Happy Healthy New Year to you and yours. I hope 2024 is a good year for all.