10 Frank Zappa Quotes That Are Still Shockingly Relevant Today

Frank Zappa was renowned for his innovative music, as well as his insightful remarks about life and razor-sharp wit. Throughout his career, the musician’s comments provided a unique window into his bright mind. Decades later, Zappa’s words remain shockingly relevant, be it his opinions on politics or society. Check out these 10 Zappa gems that will leave you entertained, enlightened, and maybe a little bewildered.

Stupidity Being the Foundation

“Some scientists say hydrogen is the basic building block. I dispute that. There’s more stupidity, and that’s what holds it all together!” Zappa’s remarks sounded crass, but truthfully, there’s endless evidence to back up his argument, from social media meltdowns to political gaffes!

Source: Brainy Quote

Rock Journalists

“Rock journalism: people who can’t write, doing interviews with people who can’t think, in order to prepare articles for people who can’t read.” Considering how the media would do anything to paint artists in a bad light to sell some tabloids, it’s no wonder Frank Zappa wasn’t a big fan of your average rock journalist.

Source: Brainy Quote

Politics as Entertainment

“Politics? That’s just the entertainment division of big business.” Think about it—soundbites, scandals, elections. Zappa’s ideology was spot on; it’s a never-ending source of amusement for the public, albeit from the horror genre.

Source: Brainy Quote

Power of Music

“Music is sculpting the air. It takes the boring routine and turns it into something beautiful.” Zappa believed music was a powerful influencer of our time. Even today, the humdrum of daily existence becomes something beautiful, strange, or inspiring, depending on your preference.

Source: Brainy Quote

Computers Lacking Soul

“Computers can’t write a love song. They can analyze it, but they’ll never understand the raised eyebrow.” AI may be taking the music world by storm these days. Still, technology will not comprehend the subtle nuances and the unspoken emotion that makes music genuinely human.

Source: Brainy Quote

Essentials for a Real Country

“You can’t be a true country without beer and a plane. A football team or nukes are nice, but beer’s a must!” As far as we’re concerned, Zappa’s not wrong. It’s quite an interesting take, but it makes you wonder what qualifies as “essential” these days.

Source: Brainy Quote

Art of Creation

“Art is simple: make something from nothing, then sell it. Easy, right?” It’s a straightforward approach, although not everyone is as fortunate as Zappa. Many artists today struggle to sell their art, but they still do it anyway. 

Source: Brainy Quote

Importance of Voting

“Eighteen? Get that junk out of your nose, ditch the drugs, put down the beer, and go vote! It matters.” Elections have actual consequences, and teenagers and young adults have a considerable stake in the future, especially with the current political climate. 

Source: U Discover Music

Music as a Religion

“Music is the only religion that delivers the goods.” Strong emotions, a connection to something bigger than ourselves, and a spiritual experience are all possible with music. For many, it is a means of solace since it may provide happiness, healing, and a sense of spirituality. 

Source: Blinkist

Being Open-minded

“A mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work if it is not open.” This quote serves as a wonderful reminder of the value of flexibility, which applies to our minds and thought processes. Let go of dogmatic thinking and embrace fresh viewpoints in life!

Source: Blinkist