Zappa's earliest influences were 1950s pop and rock (such as doo-wop and rhythm and blues), and 20th-century classical composers including Igor Stravinsky and Edgard Varèse. His output was divided between adventurous instrumental compositions and succinct, catchy rock songs with ribald, satirical, or comically absurd lyrics. On stage he demanded virtuosity and spontaneity from his musicians, and employed many performers who would later go on to achieve fame in their own rights. He directed and released a number of films featuring himself, his musicians and entourage, including 200 Motels and Baby Snakes.
His career started in 1955. His earliest recordings date from the mid-1960s, and include collaborations with his school friend Captain Beefheart. In 1965 he joined a bar-band called The Soul Giants, quickly dominating its musical direction and rechristening it The Mothers. Their first release (as The Mothers of Invention; the name alteration requested by their record company) was the 1966 double album Freak Out!. The line-up of the Mothers gradually expanded to accommodate Zappa's increasingly ambitious and avant-garde music, but by 1969 he decided to work outside the band structure, focusing on his solo career, and effectively disbanding the Mothers in 1971.
The beginnings of his solo career in the late sixties and early seventies was characterised by a strong free jazz influence, with albums containing little, if any, lyrical content, such as Hot Rats, Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo. Towards the mid-seventies his albums became more rock-orientated, with a combination of Jazz Fusion instrumentation and Rock song structures. This more accessible sound bore reasonable mainstream appeal, especially with the release of the well-advertised albums Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe (') (which both went Gold), but Zappa's unpredictably eclectic output never led to solid mainstream recognition. He received uniformly lukewarm reviews from popular music publications such as Rolling Stone throughout his career. In his late seventies' output, the gulf between his humorous songs and more lengthy, complex instrumental music widened, and albums, such as Zappa in New York, Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III, and Sleep Dirt displayed, by track, both sides firmly segregated.
Zappa saw a second run of success in the early eighties with the release of many albums with predominantly comedic rock songs, but later continued to experiment with virtually every style of music through the eighties, and was productive as ever until his death. His output in this later-career period included two albums of strikingly original classical music with the London Symphony Orchestra, an electronic take on 18th-century chamber music (written by the obscure Italian composer 'Francesco Zappa', no relation), an album of Synclavier compositions (misleadingly titled Jazz From Hell which garnered a Grammy award), a double-CD release of electric guitar instrumental music (the laconically titled Guitar) and a plenitude of official live releases, revisiting fan-favourites as well as showcasing Zappa's talent for reinventing the music of others; his version of Stairway to Heaven becoming a word-of-mouth favourite.
Zappa produced almost all of his own albums, spending many hours in the studio recording and manipulating tracks, and was always at the forefront of emerging technologies; from tape editing, collage, multitrack and overdubbing in the sixties to digital recording, electronic instruments and sampling in the eighties. Conversely, Zappa was also a obsessive self-archivist, recording virtually every one of his live performances, and often using live recordings of new material without needing to enter the studio. The archive of tapes at his family home in Los Angeles continues to be a source of posthumous releases for the Zappa Family Trust. He was also noted as a spotter of talent and his shifting line-up of musicians included Lowell George, Jean-Luc Ponty, Terry Bozzio, Chad Wackerman, George Duke, Mike Keneally, Adrian Belew and Steve Vai, as well as giving Alice Cooper his first break in music and working again with his old collaborator Captain Beefheart when his career was in decline.
In the late 1980s he became active in politics, campaigning against the PMRC's music censorship scheme and acting as culture and trade representative for Czechoslovakia in 1989; and considered running as an independent candidate for president of the US.
His death in Los Angeles, California, on 4th December 1993 came three years after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Wet T-Shirt Night
Frank Zappa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Warren cucurullo (rhythm guitar, vocals)
Denny walley (slide guitar, vocals)
Ike willis (lead vocals)
Peter wolf (keyboards)
Tommy mars (keyboards)
Arthur barrow (bass, vocals)
Ed mann (percussion)
Jeff (tenor saxophone)
Marginal chagrin (baritone saxophone)
Stumuk (bass saxophone)
Dale bozzio (vocals)
Al malkin (vocals)
Craig steward (harmonica)
After a few weeks on the bus, being porked by toad-os road crew, and being too exhausted to do their laundry on a regular basis, mary is dumped in miami. with no money (and no other famous rock
Ps due into the area for at least three weeks), she tries to pick up a few bucks by entering the wet t-shirt contest at the brasserie...
Ike:
Looks to me like something funny is going on around here people laughin n dancin n payin entirely too much for their beer and they all think they are clean outa-site and theyre ready to
cause the sign outside says its wet t-shirt nite n they all crave some hot delight well the girls are excited because in a minute theyre gonna get wet n the boys are delighted because al
Titties will get em upset n they all think they are reety-awright n theyre ready to boogie cause the sign outside says its wet t-shirt nite n they all crave some pink delight when the
R gets on em their ninnies get rigid n look pretty bold its a common reaction that makes an attraction whenever its cold n all of the fellas they wish they could bite on the cute little n
S the local girls are showin off tonite you know I think it serves em right you know I think it serves em right you know I think it serves em right you know I think it serves em right and i
Et t-shirt time again I know
You want someone to show you some tit! big ones! wet ones! big wet ones!
At this point, father riley (who had been recently de-frocked for not meeting his quota, and has grown his hair out and bought a groovy sport coat and moved to miami and changed his name to budd
Es) steps onto the crowded bandstand in his exciting new role as a wet t-shirt contest emcee...
Buddy jones:
Ah, thanks, ike... yes, its wet t-shirt time again here at the brasserie... home of the tits...huh huh... and its the charming mary from canoga park up next in her bid for the semi-finals... h
Ry...howya doin?
Having been fucked senseless by the boys in the crew, mary does not recognize the former religious personage from her nights in the rectory basement during which she acquired her basic manual sk
..confounded by his sport coat, she replies...
Mary:
Hi!
Realizing that she no longer recognizes him...or even appreciates the patient religious training he had given her in the past, buddy jones, like a true wet t-shirt emcee type person, proceeds to
Various stupid things to waste time, making the contest itself take longer, thereby giving the mongoloids squatting on the dance floor an opportunity to buy more exciting beverages...liquid prod
That will expand their consciousnesses to the point whereby they might more fully enjoy the ambiance of miami by night...
Buddy jones:
Where ya from?
Mary:
Ah, the bus...
Buddy jones:
Which one?
Mary:
You know...the last tour... you know...leather
Buddy jones:
Oh...you were the girl stuck to seat 38 phydeaux iii... why dont you get in position and take a deep breath, because this water is very, very cold, but its goin to be so stimulating. and mary
E kind of red- blooded american girl wholl do anything...
Mary:
Anything...
Buddy jones:
I said anything...for fifty bucks thats right!
Mary:
I really need the fifty bucks you know I gotta get home!
Buddy jones:
Yeh, I know, your father is waiting for you in the tool shed...thats right, you heard right...our big prize tonite is fifty american dollars to the girl with the most exciting mammalian protube
S...
Mary:
Here I am!
Buddy jones:
...as viewed through a thoroughly soaked, stupid looking white sort of male persons conservative kind of middle-of-the-road cotton undergarment! whoopee! and here comes the water!
Mary:
Eeek!
Buddy jones:
No, youd squeak more if the water got on you...sounds like you just got an ice pick in the forehead...and here comes the ice pick in the forehead ...a million laughs, mary! anyway; good golly,
A mess...shes totally soaked...yeh, totally committed to the fifty bucks...thats it just step into the spotlight...let the guys get a good look at ya honey!
Mary:
Here I am!
Buddy jones:
Whaddya say, fellas? nice setta jugs? now mary, hows about shakin it around a little...
Mary:
Ooooh!
Buddy jones:
Oh my goodness, look at her go!
Mary:
Oooh! Im dancing! Im dancing!
Buddy jones:
Aint this what living is really all about! heres your fifty bucks mary...
Mary:
Oh great! now I can go home!
Buddy jones:
Home is where the heart is.
Mary:
On the bus.
The song "Wet T-Shirt Night" by Frank Zappa is a satirical piece that dissects the excessive drinking and rowdiness that goes on in bars during wet t-shirt contests. The song describes how the men watch as the women dance and get wet, with the hope of seeing something erotic, before wasting more money on beer. Mary, the singer of the song, is introduced as a victim of the misogynistic road crew of Toad-O, which led to her ending up in Miami, penniless and forced to enter a wet t-shirt contest in the Brasserie club. Father Riley, who was defrocked, has now become the emcee of the contest under the name "Buddy Jones." Mary, who is desperate for cash, joins the contest and wins, earning $50, and ultimately, Buddy Jones sends her home.
One interpretation of "Wet T-Shirt Night" is that it's a commentary on the exploitative nature of the entertainment industry, which sells sex and degrades women to create a spectacle for men who do not respect or treat women as equals. It is a reflection of how women have been objectified by society, and how men are allowed to abuse them without any consequences, leading to the loss of self-respect and dignity. The song's story is both tragic and comical, highlighting the absurdity of the situation and the humiliation of the women participating in such contests. Frank Zappa's song is a biting critique of the objectification of women and the exploitation in entertainment.
Line by Line Meaning
Looks to me like something funny is going on around here people laughin n dancin n payin entirely too much for their beer and they all think they are clean outa-site and theyre ready to cause the sign outside says its wet t-shirt nite n they all crave some hot delight well the girls are excited because in a minute theyre gonna get wet n the boys are delighted because al
People think they're clean and ready to have fun because it's wet t-shirt night, but the prices are too high. The girls are excited because they'll get wet, and the boys are excited because they'll get to see some titties and they all think they're alright.
Titties will get em upset n they all think they are reety-awright n they're ready to boogie cause the sign outside says its wet t-shirt nite n they all crave some pink delight when theR gets on em their ninnies get rigid n look pretty bold its a common reaction that makes an attraction whenever its cold n all of the fellas they wish they could bite on the cute little n
The boys are excited for titties, and when their ninnies get hard they feel more attractive. It's common for this to happen when it's cold outside, and the boys wish they could bite on the girls' cute nips.
S the local girls are showin off tonite you know I think it serves em right you know I think it serves em right you know I think it serves em right you know I think it serves em right and iEt t-shirt time again I knowYou want someone to show you some tit! big ones! wet ones! big wet ones!
The local girls showing off is serving them right, and since it's wet t-shirt time, everyone wants to see some big, wet titties.
Ah, thanks, ike... yes, its wet t-shirt time again here at the brasserie... home of the tits...huh huh... and its the charming mary from canoga park up next in her bid for the semi-finals... hRy...howya doin?
Buddy Jones introduces Mary, the next contestant in the wet t-shirt contest at the Brasserie, making inappropriate jokes about the home of the tits and greeting her flippantly.
Hi!
Mary responds to the emcee, Buddy Jones, with a simple greeting.
Where ya from?
Buddy Jones asks Mary where she's from.
Ah, the bus...
Mary responds with the fact that she's been living on the bus.
Oh...you were the girl stuck to seat 38 phydeaux iii... why dont you get in position and take a deep breath, because this water is very, very cold, but its goin to be so stimulating. and maryE kind of red- blooded american girl wholl do anything...
Buddy Jones comments on Mary's previous bus experience and instructs her to get ready for the wet t-shirt contest, making more inappropriate comments along the way.
Anything...
Mary agrees that she'll do anything for the fifty dollar prize.
I said anything...for fifty bucks thats right!
Buddy Jones confirms the prize and states that Mary is willing to do anything for it.
I really need the fifty bucks you know I gotta get home!
Mary explains to Buddy Jones that she needs the prize money to go home.
Yeh, I know, your father is waiting for you in the tool shed...thats right, you heard right...our big prize tonite is fifty american dollars to the girl with the most exciting mammalian protubeS...
Buddy Jones makes yet another inappropriate comment about Mary's father waiting for her in the tool shed and refers to breasts as mammalian protuberances.
Here I am!
Mary gets in position to participate in the wet t-shirt contest.
...as viewed through a thoroughly soaked, stupid looking white sort of male persons conservative kind of middle-of-the-road cotton undergarment! whoopee! and here comes the water!
Buddy Jones describes the contest and that the contest t-shirts are thoroughly soaked and will show the girls' breasts as viewed through the wet shirts.
No, youd squeak more if the water got on you...sounds like you just got an ice pick in the forehead...and here comes the ice pick in the forehead ...a million laughs, mary! anyway; good golly,A mess...shes totally soaked...yeh, totally committed to the fifty bucks...thats it just step into the spotlight...let the guys get a good look at ya honey!
Buddy Jones continues to make jokes and laugh at Mary's expense, as she gets completely soaked and shows herself to the crowd.
Whaddya say, fellas? nice setta jugs? now mary, hows about shakin it around a little...
Buddy Jones asks the crowd of men if they like what they see and instructs Mary to shake her breasts.
Oh my goodness, look at her go!
Buddy Jones comments on Mary's performance, as she shakes her wet t-shirt around.
Oooh! Im dancing! Im dancing!
Mary continues to perform and dance in the wet t-shirt contest.
Aint this what living is really all about! heres your fifty bucks mary...
Buddy Jones gives Mary the fifty dollar prize and makes a comment about living life to the fullest.
Oh great! now I can go home!
Mary is happy to have won the prize so she can finally go home.
Home is where the heart is.
Buddy Jones responds to Mary, that home is where the heart is.
On the bus.
Mary informs Buddy Jones that her situation hasn't changed and she is still living on the bus.
Contributed by Riley R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jack ale
I love this because back in the 70's I was a bartender at a rock n' roll club that had a wet tee shirt night on Sundays. This song depicts the cheeseyness of the whole thing. Great stuff FZ as always.RIP.
Puppy 1975
Cheesiness is good.
Steacy783
back then girls were proud to be acting like it was a zappa TEE shirt time so the cheezy-ness was real life :)
Eddie Baker
Frank Zappa a true genius gone too soon. What a composer & writer.
Daniel Durham
@James Tuck pl
James Tuck
Eddie Baker I hope they never perfect human cloning. One Frank is unique and fantastic. Two is just another cheesy rock-and-roll wannabe.
Blanche Hudson
My dad would let us listen to Frank when my mom wasn’t home. I love they lyrics and the some amazing vocals.
Troy B
Best "rock" album of the 20th century.
Only reason it didn't hit #1 is because the people calling the shots didn't like what this genius had to say.
TeenageWind
Zappa might have been the ultimate intersection of artistic talent and social commentary. Just about the best satire you could ever get.
brendo tremindo
I fucking die when frank says "oh my goodness look at her goooo"