Frank Zappa: Quotes about thinking

Frank Zappa was American musician, songwriter, composer, and record and film producer. Explore interesting quotes on thinking.
Frank Zappa: 258   quotes 208   likes

“I think that people are entitled to be amused, and entertained. If they see deviations from this classical norm, it's probably good for their mental health.”

Frank Zappa

Cocaine Decisions (1983) http://youtube.com/watch?v=RDEwJ2xlSXk
Context: I'll tell you what classical music is, for those of you who don't know. Classical music is this music that was written by a bunch of dead people a long time ago. And it's formula music, the same as top forty music is formula music. In order to have a piece be classical, it has to conform to academic standards that were the current norms of that day and age … I think that people are entitled to be amused, and entertained. If they see deviations from this classical norm, it's probably good for their mental health.

People , Health , Thinking

“I think that if you use the so-called "strong words" you'll get your point across faster and you can save a lot of beating around the bush.”

Frank Zappa

Crossfire debate on censorship (1986)
Context: I think that if you use the so-called "strong words" you'll get your point across faster and you can save a lot of beating around the bush. Why are people afraid of words? Sometimes the dumbest thing that gets said makes the point for you.

Thinking , Strong

“I think the music of the Fifties is really good. I suspect it’s much better musically than much of what’s available now. Not in terms of production, but in terms of content. One good believable song about some guy’s girlfriend and how they broke up — a sincere one — is better than twenty albums of English rock that’s ever been produced.”

Frank Zappa

Oui interview (1979)

Music , Guy , Thinking , Sincerity

“I think it's really tragic when people get serious about stuff. It's such an absurdity to take anything really seriously … I make an honest attempt not to take anything seriously: I worked that attitude out about the time I was eighteen, I mean, what does it all mean when you get right down to it, what's the story here? Being alive is so weird.”

Frank Zappa

As quoted in No Commercial Potential : The Saga of Frank Zappa (1972) by David Walley, p. 4.

People , Thinking , Time

“Do you think you are protecting somebody by taking away seven words?”

Frank Zappa

Crossfire debate on censorship (1986)

Thinking

“On a personal level, Freaking Out is a process whereby an individual casts off outmoded and restricting standards of thinking, dress, and social etiquette in order to express creatively his relationship to his immediate environment and the social structure as a whole.”

Frank Zappa

Liner notes for the album Freak Out! (27 June 1966).

Thinking , Personality

“My solos are speech-influenced rhythmically; and harmonically, they're either pentatonic, or poly-scale oriented. And there's the mixolydian mode that I also use a lot…But I'm more interested in melodic things I think the biggest challenge when you go to play a solo is trying to invent a melody on the spot.”

Frank Zappa

As quoted in The Guitar Handbook (2002) by Ralph Denyer, p. 102

Thinking

“So I'm watchin' and I'm waitin'
Hopin' for the best
Even think I'll go to prayin'
Every time I hear 'em sayin'
That there's no way to delay
That trouble comin' every day
No way to delay
That trouble comin' every day”

Frank Zappa

"Trouble Every Day".
Freak Out! (1966)

Way , Thinking , Time

“The biggest threat to America today is not communism. It's moving America toward a fascist theocracy, and everything that's happened during the Reagan administration is steering us right down that pipe … I really think that. … When you have a government that prefers a certain moral code derived from a certain religion and that moral code turns into legislation to suit one certain religious point of view, and if that code happens to be very, very right wing, almost toward Attila the Hun…”

Frank Zappa

Crossfire debate on censorship (1986)

Religion , Communication , Thinking

“I may be vile and pernicious
But you can't look away
I make you think I'm delicious
With the stuff that I say
I'm the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I'm the slime oozin' out
From your TV set.”

Frank Zappa

"I'm the Slime"
Over-Nite Sensation (1973)

Thinking

“The U. S. is a mere pup tent of a civilization. We’ve got two hundred years of stupidity behind us and we think we’re right up there with everyone else who’s been doing it for thousands of years.”

Frank Zappa

Oui interview (1979)

Stupidity , Thinking

“Most people don’t think I’m rational. They’re too busy featuring their hurt. They find it irrational not to feature your hurt. That’s how fucked up they are.”

Frank Zappa

Oui interview (1979)

Business , Hurt , Thinking , People