"You Are What You Is" is a single which Frank Zappa released from his 1981 album of the same title. The song is known for going out of its way to use improper English, basically mocking the rest of its context. It was the B-side for 1982 single "Valley Girl". This song was also remixed for the 1984 album Thing-Fish.[1]
The lyrics, which essentially tell the listener to be themselves and embrace their culture, tell the stories of two young men, both of whom Zappa describes as "foolish". The first man is from a middle class family who has a great life, but he pretends to come from a culture of hardship and sings the blues to be manly. Then the song refers to him as even trying to eat like someone going through hardship. He begins to talk like the character Kingfish, from the radio show Amos and Andy, who was known for being a heavily stereotypical black character. These themes overall relate to Zappa's dislike of poseurs. The second young man "of the negro persuasion, devoted his life to become a caucasian". Like the first man, he changes his diet to fit in with the culture he is looking to join. It goes over the stereotype of African-Americans eating pork and collard greens. His story is a commentary on African-Americans who are not proud of their heritage and feel following the Caucasian culture would bring them more acceptance. Eventually the song goes into a frenzy of racial stereotyped one-liners including involving a loose story about working at the post office and referencing lyrics in the next song that serves as a segue until it transitions into the next song, "Mudd Club".[2]
Music videoedit
In 1984, Zappa released a music video. Although the film clip used advanced color graphics on normal dance and singing type footage, its circulation was restricted due to parts of it where an actor, who was made to look like Ronald Reagan, was sitting in what looked like an electric chair whilst applying hair pomade. It is also notable for being the only conventional music video that Zappa ever made. The lyrics also contain the sentence "I ain't no nigger no more", which likely also had an effect on its broadcast. The video was banned from ever being aired on MTV. This didn't prevent it from being featured on "Canoe", a 1993 episode of the American television show Beavis and Butt-Head, also aired on MTV (though the show abruptly switches to "The Animal Song" by The Europeans early on, then returns to Zappa for the tail end of "You Are What You Is", to which Butt-Head replies, "This is still on? That pisses me off!").
References to other songsedit
"You Are What You Is" contains references to other songs throughout his career and on the album itself, commonly referred as Zappa's "Conceptual Continuity". References include "Gimme a five dollar bill and an overcoat too" from "Wonderful Wino" on Zoot Allures, "Lonesome Cowboy Burt" from "200 Motels"', with the lyric "Where's my waitress?", and the song "Harder Than Your Husband", which is the 2nd song on the album. Another reference is "Robbie, take me to Greek Town", more prominent in "Jumbo Go Away", and "I'm goin' down 'n' work the wall 'n' work the floor" from "Mudd Club."[3]
^"Frank* & Moon Zappa - Valley Girl". Discogs. 1982.
^"You Are What You Is - Frank Zappa | Song Info | AllMusic". from the original on 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2021-12-19 – via www.allmusic.com.
^. Archived from the original on June 19, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
^"Frank Zappa – You Are What You Is (1981, Vinyl)". 1981 – via www.discogs.com.
^"Frank Zappa – You Are What You Is (1981, Vinyl)". 1981 – via www.discogs.com.
December 15, 2023
what, song, what, single, which, frank, zappa, released, from, 1981, album, same, title, song, known, going, improper, english, basically, mocking, rest, context, side, 1982, single, valley, girl, this, song, also, remixed, 1984, album, thing, fish, what, sing. You Are What You Is is a single which Frank Zappa released from his 1981 album of the same title The song is known for going out of its way to use improper English basically mocking the rest of its context It was the B side for 1982 single Valley Girl This song was also remixed for the 1984 album Thing Fish 1 You Are What You Is Single by Frank Zappafrom the album You Are What You IsB side Pink Napkins Harder Than Your Husband Soup N Old Clothes Released1981RecordedMay 9 1981Length4 23LabelBarking PumpkinSongwriter s Frank ZappaProducer s Frank ZappaFrank Zappa singles chronology Harder Than Your Husband 1980 You Are What You Is 1981 Goblin Girl 1981 Contents 1 Meaning 2 Music video 3 References to other songs 4 Covers 5 Track list 6 ReferencesMeaning editThe lyrics which essentially tell the listener to be themselves and embrace their culture tell the stories of two young men both of whom Zappa describes as foolish The first man is from a middle class family who has a great life but he pretends to come from a culture of hardship and sings the blues to be manly Then the song refers to him as even trying to eat like someone going through hardship He begins to talk like the character Kingfish from the radio show Amos and Andy who was known for being a heavily stereotypical black character These themes overall relate to Zappa s dislike of poseurs The second young man of the negro persuasion devoted his life to become a caucasian Like the first man he changes his diet to fit in with the culture he is looking to join It goes over the stereotype of African Americans eating pork and collard greens His story is a commentary on African Americans who are not proud of their heritage and feel following the Caucasian culture would bring them more acceptance Eventually the song goes into a frenzy of racial stereotyped one liners including involving a loose story about working at the post office and referencing lyrics in the next song that serves as a segue until it transitions into the next song Mudd Club 2 Music video editIn 1984 Zappa released a music video Although the film clip used advanced color graphics on normal dance and singing type footage its circulation was restricted due to parts of it where an actor who was made to look like Ronald Reagan was sitting in what looked like an electric chair whilst applying hair pomade It is also notable for being the only conventional music video that Zappa ever made The lyrics also contain the sentence I ain t no nigger no more which likely also had an effect on its broadcast The video was banned from ever being aired on MTV This didn t prevent it from being featured on Canoe a 1993 episode of the American television show Beavis and Butt Head also aired on MTV though the show abruptly switches to The Animal Song by The Europeans early on then returns to Zappa for the tail end of You Are What You Is to which Butt Head replies This is still on That pisses me off References to other songs edit You Are What You Is contains references to other songs throughout his career and on the album itself commonly referred as Zappa s Conceptual Continuity References include Gimme a five dollar bill and an overcoat too from Wonderful Wino on Zoot Allures Lonesome Cowboy Burt from 200 Motels with the lyric Where s my waitress and the song Harder Than Your Husband which is the 2nd song on the album Another reference is Robbie take me to Greek Town more prominent in Jumbo Go Away and I m goin down n work the wall n work the floor from Mudd Club 3 Covers editThe a cappella group The Persuasions covered You Are What You Is on their album Frankly a Cappella Track list edit7 A You Are What You Is 4 22 B Pink Napkins 4 32 4 12 A1 You Are What You Is 4 22 A2 Pink Napkins 4 32 B1 Harder Than Your Husband 2 29 B2 Soup N Old Clothes 7 50 5 References edit Frank amp Moon Zappa Valley Girl Discogs 1982 You Are What You Is Frank Zappa Song Info AllMusic Archived from the original on 2021 11 08 Retrieved 2021 12 19 via www allmusic com Zappa Frank You Are What You is Lyrics Archived from the original on June 19 2012 Retrieved September 14 2012 Frank Zappa You Are What You Is 1981 Vinyl 1981 via www discogs com Frank Zappa You Are What You Is 1981 Vinyl 1981 via www discogs com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title You Are What You Is song amp oldid 1155080488, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
