BROADWAY THE HARD WAY: PARODIES AND CONVENTIONS

After the 1984 tour Zappa stopped touring each year, which he had by then done for twenty years. 1988 saw what would become his last "Broadway the hard way" tour. In 1990 it was already a public secret that he had cancer, and when it's irrevocability had become clear, it was officially made public in 1991. The 1988 tour had a large band as well as a large program. The new material with politically inspired lyrics appeared on the "Broadway the hard way" CD from 1989; most of the other "cover" material of his known compositions from the tour appeared on two 2 CD releases, "The best band you've never heard before" and "Make a jazz noise here". To the right the five piece brass section of the 1988 band (still from the RTVE Barcelona live registration).

It's sometimes said that Zappa's music contains parodies. It's difficult to say when something becomes a parody and when it's sincere. On "Cruising with rubin and the jets" the parody effect on doo-wop lies in the outspoken simplicity of the songs and the use of higher voices as of young teenagers. Zappa calls these songs parodies in "The real Frank Zappa book", but on the other hand, as he writes in the album liner notes, he really likes them. The parody effect is stronger when certain clichés are used out of context, as the traditional waltz motif at the end of the atonal composition "Pedro's dowry" on "Orchestral favorites" and "The London Symphony Orchestra". It sounds as a joke at this place. This effect is also present after the orchestral "Tuna sandwich" block on "200 motels", when "Lonesome cowboy Burt" starts with a country and western cliché. The lyrics of "Lonesome cowboy Burt" confirm the parody intention: they let Burt sing his about his unmannered and down to earth life. Zappa liked the brief use of clichés for their comic effect. "Lumpy gravy" contains some of them, like the stereotype parallel fourths chinese tune included in that section.

Next is a section of another country and western song, "Rhymin' man" from "Broadway the hard way". This comic song is all about the use of clichés. It's first theme is a typical country and western tune. The second theme is a melody beginning with a motif comparable to the opening of "Lonesome cowboy Burt". Every two bars the melody gets interrupted by two bars, that each time contain another familiar sounding tune remindful of the showbusiness world. The song includes three of such blocks. Showbusiness is also the subject of "Any kind of pain" and maybe the reason for the title of the CD.

Rhymin' man, section (midi file)

Rhymin' man, section (transcription).

The last musical trend Zappa payed attention to was rap. Because of it's speach influence, rap has some stylistic characteristics of its own. The singers are arguing as in a sort of indictment, using only small intervals and keeping pace with a severe steady beat. Zappa contributed with "Promiscuous" on "Broadway the hard way", having Ike Willis arguing against the Aids speculations of Surgeon General Dr. Koop. It's entirely following the conventions of this style, but without a parody intent.

Promiscuous, opening (midi file)

Promiscuous, opening (transcription).

Many songs on "Broadway the hard way" have little parody effects in them. Like "the big old cadenza" in "Planet of the bariton women"; the parade music that follows upon "Do you believe in the invisible army?" in "When the lie is so big"; the striptease music that introduces "What kind of girl?", etc. "Any kind of pain" however is about all conventional and has none of these effects. It's the most commercial song on the CD, but still has some complexities as changing keys and the adding in of two 7/8 bars. The song opens with a II 7th - I progression in F Lydian. In bar 15-16 it has arrived at B flat minor. The 7/8 bars cause an acceleration effect, a little stretto they would say in classical music.

Any kind of pain, theme (midi file)

Any kind of pain, theme (transcription).