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| studio =
| studio =
| venue =
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| genre = [[Instrumental rock]], [[hard rock]], [[progressive rock]]
| genre =
| length = 9:08
| length = 9:08
| label = [[Zappa Records]]
| label = [[Zappa Records]]
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"'''Watermelon in Easter Hay'''", full name "'''Playing a Guitar Solo With This Band is Like Trying To Grow a Watermelon in Easter Hay'''"<ref name="watermelon">{{cite web | url = http://wiki.killuglyradio.com/wiki/Star_Special | title = Star Special radio transcript| accessdate=14 October 2017 }}</ref>, by [[Frank Zappa]], is the penultimate song on the 1979 [[concept album]] ''[[Joe's Garage Acts II & III]]''. The main character from this triple-album [[rock opera]] is faced with the banning of all music after being repeatedly raped in prison and copes after his release by imagining guitar solos in his head for the entire third act of the album. As he "begins to feel depressed now, he knows the end is near" <ref>http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/lyrics/Joe's_Garage.html#Watermelon</ref>, this song acts as the character's final goodbye to music as he moves on with his life, detailed in "[[A Little Green Rosetta]]", the next and final song of the album.
"'''Watermelon in Easter Hay'''", full name "'''Playing a Guitar Solo With This Band is Like Trying To Grow a Watermelon in Easter Hay'''",<ref name="watermelon">{{cite web | url = http://wiki.killuglyradio.com/wiki/Star_Special | title = Star Special radio transcript| accessdate=14 October 2017 }}</ref> by [[Frank Zappa]], is the penultimate song on the 1979 [[concept album]] ''[[Joe's Garage]].'' The main character from this three-part [[rock opera]] is faced with the banning of all music after being repeatedly raped in prison, and copes after his release by imagining guitar solos in his head for the entire third act of the album. As he "begins to feel depressed now, he knows the end is near",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/lyrics/Joe's_Garage.html#Watermelon|title=Joe's Garage Acts I, II & III}}</ref> this song acts as the character's final goodbye to music as he moves on with his life, detailed in "[[A Little Green Rosetta]]", the next and final song of the album.


The song is introduced by opening narration by Zappa as the Central Scrutnizer, which then gives way to a guitar solo. This guitar solo is the only guitar solo specifically recorded for the album, as every other guitar solo was [[xenochrony|xenochronous]]—overdubbed from older live recordings.<ref name=Lowe />{{rp|154|date=December 2012}}<ref name=Lowe>{{cite book|last=Lowe|first=Kelly Fisher|year=2007|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uAYfqgGf4yYC|title=The Words and Music of Frank Zappa|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|isbn=978-0-8032-6005-4}}</ref>{{rp|381|date=December 2012}} The entire song consists of two alternating harmonies: A and E. That simplicity is complicated by the emphasis in the solo on the first pitch, D#, a tritone above the bass A, making the harmony A(#11). Phrase lengths are irregular as well, with the 4+5 rhythm sounding like an extra measure is added at the end.
The song is introduced by opening narration by Zappa as the Central Scrutinizer, which then gives way to a guitar solo. This guitar solo is the only guitar solo specifically recorded for the album, as every other guitar solo was [[xenochrony|xenochronous]]—overdubbed from older live recordings.<ref name=Lowe />{{rp|154|date=December 2012}}<ref name=Lowe>{{cite book|last=Lowe|first=Kelly Fisher|year=2007|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uAYfqgGf4yYC|title=The Words and Music of Frank Zappa|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|isbn=978-0-8032-6005-4}}</ref>{{rp|381|date=December 2012}} The entire song consists of two alternating harmonies: A and B / E (This could also be thought of as an E major 7th sus 2), linked by a G#. This simplicity is made more interesting by the emphasis in the solo on the note D#, a tritone above the bass A, which conveys the harmony A#11. The 9/4 time signature keeps the two-chord harmonic structure sounding fresh.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://johnirvine.co.uk/2020/03/21/the-watermelon-in-easter-hay-paradigm-analysis/comment-page-1/ | title=The 'Watermelon in Easter Hay' Paradigm Analysis | date=21 March 2020 }}</ref>


==Reception and legacy==
==Reception and legacy==
In their review of the album, ''Down Beat'' magazine criticized the song,<ref name=Slaven>{{cite book|last=Slaven|first=Niel|year=1997|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4lNRIZm_baQC|title=Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story Of Frank Zappa|publisher=Music Sales Group|isbn=0-85712-043-3}}</ref>{{rp|376|date=December 2012}} but subsequent reviewers have championed the song as Zappa's masterpiece. Lowe called it the "crowning achievement of the album" and "one of the most gorgeous pieces of music ever produced".<ref name=Lowe />{{rp|159|date=December 2012}} Zappa told Neil Slaven that he thought it was "the best song on the album".<ref name=Slaven />{{rp|376|date=December 2012}} The song's title is thought to have come from a saying used by Zappa while recording the album: "Playing a guitar solo with this band is like trying to grow a watermelon in Easter hay".<ref name="watermelon"/> After Zappa died, "Watermelon in Easter Hay" became known as one of his [[signature song]]s, and his son [[Dweezil Zappa]] later referred to it as "the best solo Zappa ever played".<ref name=Drenching>{{cite book|last=Drenching|first=T.H.F.|year=2005|chapter='Watermelon In Easter Hay': The Function of the Reverb Unit & the Poverty of the Individual Spirit|title=Academy Zappa: Proceedings of the First International Conference of Esemplastic Zappology|editors=Watson, Ben; Leslie, Esther|publisher=SAF Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-0-946719-79-2}}</ref>{{rp|90–91|date=December 2012}}
In their review of the album, ''Down Beat'' magazine criticized the song,<ref name=Slaven>{{cite book|last=Slaven|first=Niel|year=1997|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4lNRIZm_baQC|title=Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story Of Frank Zappa|publisher=Music Sales Group|isbn=0-85712-043-3}}</ref>{{rp|376|date=December 2012}} but subsequent reviewers have championed the song as Zappa's masterpiece. Kelly Fisher Lowe called it the "crowning achievement of the album" and "one of the most gorgeous pieces of music ever produced".<ref name=Lowe />{{rp|159|date=December 2012}} Zappa told Neil Slaven that he thought it was "the best song on the album".<ref name=Slaven />{{rp|376|date=December 2012}} The song's title is thought to have come from a saying used by Zappa while recording the album: "Playing a guitar solo with this band is like trying to grow a watermelon in Easter hay".<ref name="watermelon"/> After Zappa died, "Watermelon in Easter Hay" became known as one of his [[signature song]]s, and his son [[Dweezil Zappa]] later referred to it as "the best solo Zappa ever played".<ref name=Drenching>{{cite book|last=Drenching|first=T.H.F.|year=2005|chapter='Watermelon In Easter Hay': The Function of the Reverb Unit & the Poverty of the Individual Spirit|title=Academy Zappa: Proceedings of the First International Conference of Esemplastic Zappology|editor1=Watson, Ben |editor2=Leslie, Esther|publisher=SAF Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-0-946719-79-2}}</ref>{{rp|90–91|date=December 2012}}


== Personnel ==
== Personnel ==
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=== Film ===
=== Film ===
"Watermelon in Easter Hay" was the ending credit song in Alfonso Cuarón's 2001 drama [[Y Tu Mamá También]].
* "Watermelon in Easter Hay" was the ending credit song in Alfonso Cuarón's 2001 road film [[Y Tu Mamá También]].
* "Watermelon in Easter Hay" was used in Deathwish Skateboards full length video "UNCROSSED" as the featured track during skateboarder Jamie Foy's skate part in the film. <ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211208/gqNYHpUzLw4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210208102500/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqNYHpUzLw4 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqNYHpUzLw4| title = Deathwish Skateboards' "UNCROSSED" Full Length Video | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 21:02, 9 December 2023

"Watermelon in Easter Hay"
Song by Frank Zappa
from the album Joe's Garage Acts II & III
ReleasedNovember 19, 1979
RecordedVillage Recorders, LA
Spring 1979
GenreInstrumental rock, hard rock, progressive rock
Length9:08
LabelZappa Records
Songwriter(s)Frank Zappa
Producer(s)Frank Zappa

"Watermelon in Easter Hay", full name "Playing a Guitar Solo With This Band is Like Trying To Grow a Watermelon in Easter Hay",[1] by Frank Zappa, is the penultimate song on the 1979 concept album Joe's Garage. The main character from this three-part rock opera is faced with the banning of all music after being repeatedly raped in prison, and copes after his release by imagining guitar solos in his head for the entire third act of the album. As he "begins to feel depressed now, he knows the end is near",[2] this song acts as the character's final goodbye to music as he moves on with his life, detailed in "A Little Green Rosetta", the next and final song of the album.

The song is introduced by opening narration by Zappa as the Central Scrutinizer, which then gives way to a guitar solo. This guitar solo is the only guitar solo specifically recorded for the album, as every other guitar solo was xenochronous—overdubbed from older live recordings.[3]: 154 [3]: 381  The entire song consists of two alternating harmonies: A and B / E (This could also be thought of as an E major 7th sus 2), linked by a G#. This simplicity is made more interesting by the emphasis in the solo on the note D#, a tritone above the bass A, which conveys the harmony A#11. The 9/4 time signature keeps the two-chord harmonic structure sounding fresh.[4]

Reception and legacy

[edit]

In their review of the album, Down Beat magazine criticized the song,[5]: 376  but subsequent reviewers have championed the song as Zappa's masterpiece. Kelly Fisher Lowe called it the "crowning achievement of the album" and "one of the most gorgeous pieces of music ever produced".[3]: 159  Zappa told Neil Slaven that he thought it was "the best song on the album".[5]: 376  The song's title is thought to have come from a saying used by Zappa while recording the album: "Playing a guitar solo with this band is like trying to grow a watermelon in Easter hay".[1] After Zappa died, "Watermelon in Easter Hay" became known as one of his signature songs, and his son Dweezil Zappa later referred to it as "the best solo Zappa ever played".[6]: 90–91 

Personnel

[edit]
[edit]

Film

[edit]
  • "Watermelon in Easter Hay" was the ending credit song in Alfonso Cuarón's 2001 road film Y Tu Mamá También.
  • "Watermelon in Easter Hay" was used in Deathwish Skateboards full length video "UNCROSSED" as the featured track during skateboarder Jamie Foy's skate part in the film. [7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Star Special radio transcript". Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Joe's Garage Acts I, II & III".
  3. ^ a b c Lowe, Kelly Fisher (2007). The Words and Music of Frank Zappa. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-6005-4.
  4. ^ "The 'Watermelon in Easter Hay' Paradigm Analysis". 21 March 2020.
  5. ^ a b Slaven, Niel (1997). Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story Of Frank Zappa. Music Sales Group. ISBN 0-85712-043-3.
  6. ^ Drenching, T.H.F. (2005). "'Watermelon In Easter Hay': The Function of the Reverb Unit & the Poverty of the Individual Spirit". In Watson, Ben; Leslie, Esther (eds.). Academy Zappa: Proceedings of the First International Conference of Esemplastic Zappology. SAF Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-946719-79-2.
  7. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Deathwish Skateboards' "UNCROSSED" Full Length Video. YouTube.
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