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Who Are the Brain Police?
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Wikipedia article
"'Who Are the Brain Police?'" is a Frank Zappa song, performed by The Mothers of Invention, released on the Mothers' debut album, 'Freak Out!'. It was released by Verve Records as a single in 1966. Zappa stated that the song was one of religious theme.
Zappa wrote about the song on the 'Freak Out!' liner notes: "At five oclock in the morning someone kept singing this in my mind and made me write it down. I will admit to being frightened when I finally played it out loud and sang the words."
In a 1988 interview, Zappa added:
Song structure
The song's structure was described in detail by AllMusic:
{{quote|Simply put, it is weird and creepy. A chorus of living-dead voices supports a slow and sloppy waltz beat. Lyrics make numerous references to melting plastic and chromium and repeatedly ask the question found in the song's title (answered by the brainless chorus). Halfway through, the song breaks into a fast-paced bridge; the same happens in the coda, which includes a kazoo solo.}}
Critical reception
The song was stated to be a "direct defiance of top 40 radio". Repetitive lyrics were noted as part of this "defiance". The song was also cited by Mojo magazine as "one of the scariest songs to ever emerge from the rock psyche". While comparing it to Kafka, 'Mojo' described the song as "a vision of contemporary America where personal identity and individuality is erased".
Personnel
*Frank Zappa guitar, vocals
*Ray Collins vocals
*Jimmy Carl Black drums
*Roy Estrada bass guitar
*Elliot Ingber guitar
with:
*Eugene Di Novi piano
*Gene Estes percussion
*Neil Le Vang guitar
Covers
* Camper Van Beethoven 2000 rarities compilation, 'Camper Van Beethoven Is Dead. Long Live Camper Van Beethoven'.
* Mark Nauseef Snake Music
* Monks of Doom 'The Insect God'. EP
* The Molecules 'Bootleg or Rootleg'
* The Ed Palermo Big Band tribute album, 'The Ed Palermo Big Band Plays the Music of Frank Zappa'
* Jon Poole 'What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?'
References
Category:Frank Zappa songs
Category:1966 songs
Category:Songs written by Frank Zappa
Category:Song recordings produced by Tom Wilson (record producer)
Category:1966 singles
Category:Verve Records singles
Category:Songs critical of religion
Category:Political songs
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