For "The Torture Never Stops," Frank Zappa traded complex meters and quirky arrangement for one of the most twisted, demented atmospheres in rock history. He released versions of it on six albums (plus a couple more on official bootlegs). The first to appear was included on the 1976 LP Zoot Allures and remains the best one, because of its studio setting. The story of "The Torture Never Stops" begins in early 1975, when it was probably first sketched. This working version was based on a blues motif and the lyrics were to be recited. It was devised for the Mothers of Invention's tour in April/May 1975 with Captain Beefheart, who sang it (a recording appears on You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4). Premiered April 11, 1975, apparently under the title "Why Doesn't Somebody Get Him a Pepsi?," it had very little to do with the studio version recorded after the tour. Zappa kept the same set of lyrics but ditched the riff, wrote a creepy melody, slowed the piece down to a crawl, and chose bare-boned arrangements; suddenly, what first appeared as a lunatic rant became a profoundly sadistic torture session happening deep inside a sinister dungeon. The sparse drumming, twangy guitar, up-close recording of Zappa's personification of an insanely calm mad scientist (you can hear him salivate), and of course those loud female cries filled with double entendre (pain or pleasure?) all contributed to the song's unforgettable mood. On-stage, the piece could not reach the same heights (or depths, if you prefer) and Zappa aimed instead at social commentary and flashy guitar solos. It was performed regularly from 1975 to 1978, and again in 1988 where it was rearranged as a medley also including the themes from Mission: Impossible and Bonanza, and "Lonesome Cowboy Burt." The song was also included in Zappa's album/intended stage production Thing Fish as "The Torchum Never Stops" -- it's basically the same studio tracks with re-recorded vocals by Ike Willis, updated lyrics to fit the plot, and, most importantly, a beautiful stand-alone piece, "The Evil Prince," slapped in the middle of it (see that song's entry for more details).
"The Torture Never Stops" is a song by Frank Zappa from the 1976 album Zoot Allures. Other versions appear on Zappa in New York, Thing-Fish, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4, The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life, Cheap Thrills, Buffalo, Philly '76, and Hammersmith Odeon. Zappa played "The Torture Never Stops" in concert from 1975 to 1978, in 1981 and again in 1988. The song debuted in 1975 as "Why Doesn't Somebody Get Him a Pepsi?" though few of the instrument parts were similar to the album version. Critics have written that while performing the song, Zappa comes off as calm yet passive-aggressive. Michel Delville, in his essay Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and the Secret History of Maximalism contrasted the tone of "The Torture Never Stops" with Brian Eno's album Ambient 1: Music for Airports. A live solo from the song, called "Rat Tomago", was put on the 1979 album Sheik Yerbouti. Like "The Torture Never Stops", it contains the same basic structure, bass line, and female moaning. "Rat Tomago" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1979, but lost.
Moscas todas verdes y zumbando, en su mazmorra de desesperación. Los presos se quejan y mean la ropa y se rascan el pelo enmarañado. Una pequeña luz de un agujero de ventana a cien metros de distancia es todo lo que llegarán a conocer sobre la vida normal fuera de allí. Y apesta tan mal que las piedras han estado asfixiándose. Y gotas verdosas caen en la sala donde la bomba de fuego gigante funciona Y la tortura nunca se detiene La tortura nunca se detiene
Baba y podredumbre, ratas, moco y vómito en el suelo. Cincuenta soldados feos, sosteniendo lanzas en la puerta de hierro. Cuchillos y clavos y armas y cosas para todos los gustos de cada herramienta de dolor. Un enano siniestro con un balde y un trapeador donde la sangre baja por el desagüe.
Y apesta tan mal que las piedras han estado asfixiándose. Y gotas verdosas caen en la sala donde la bomba de fuego gigante funciona. Y la tortura nunca se detiene La tortura nunca se detiene La tortura La tortura La tortura nunca se detiene.
Moscas todas verdes y zumbando, en su mazmorra de desesperación. Un príncipe malvado come un cerdo humeante en una cámara cerca de allí. Se come los hocicos y las patas primero. El lomo y la ingle se encuentran dispersados rápidamente. Su estilo de cortar está bien ensayado. Se pone de pie y grita “Todos los hombres sean maldecidos” “Todos los hombres sean maldecidos” “Todos los hombres sean maldecidos” “Todos los hombres sean maldecidos” Y estar en desacuerdo, nadie se atreve. Claro, él es el mejor entre todos los peores. Algunos males se han hecho, él los hizo primero.
(Bueno, bueno) Y él apesta tan mal, que sus huesos han estado asfixiándose. (Sí) Y gotas verdosas caen (Bueno) en la noche de la salchicha de hierro. (Bien) Donde la tortura nunca se detiene La tortura nunca se detiene La tortura La tortura La tortura nunca se detiene.
Moscas todas verdes y zumbando, en su mazmorra de desesperación. ¿Quiénes son todas esas personas a las que está encerrando allí? ¿Están locos?, ¿Son santas? ¿Son ceros pintados?, Nunca se ha explicado desde su comienzo. Pero una mazmorra como un pecado no requiere nada más que ser encerrado. De todo lo que ha sido Mira la suya Míralo Ése es el trato que estamos tratando Ése es el trato que estamos tratando Ése es el trato que estamos tratando Ése es el trato que estamos tratando
For "The Torture Never Stops," Frank Zappa traded complex meters and quirky arrangement for one of the most twisted, demented atmospheres in rock history. He released versions of it on six albums (plus a couple more on official bootlegs). The first to appear was included on the 1976 LP Zoot Allures and remains the best one, because of its studio setting. The story of "The Torture Never Stops" begins in early 1975, when it was probably first sketched. This working version was based on a blues motif and the lyrics were to be recited. It was devised for the Mothers of Invention's tour in April/May 1975 with Captain Beefheart, who sang it (a recording appears on You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4). Premiered April 11, 1975, apparently under the title "Why Doesn't Somebody Get Him a Pepsi?," it had very little to do with the studio version recorded after the tour. Zappa kept the same set of lyrics but ditched the riff, wrote a creepy melody, slowed the piece down to a crawl, and chose bare-boned arrangements; suddenly, what first appeared as a lunatic rant became a profoundly sadistic torture session happening deep inside a sinister dungeon. The sparse drumming, twangy guitar, up-close recording of Zappa's personification of an insanely calm mad scientist (you can hear him salivate), and of course those loud female cries filled with double entendre (pain or pleasure?) all contributed to the song's unforgettable mood. On-stage, the piece could not reach the same heights (or depths, if you prefer) and Zappa aimed instead at social commentary and flashy guitar solos. It was performed regularly from 1975 to 1978, and again in 1988 where it was rearranged as a medley also including the themes from Mission: Impossible and Bonanza, and "Lonesome Cowboy Burt." The song was also included in Zappa's album/intended stage production Thing Fish as "The Torchum Never Stops" -- it's basically the same studio tracks with re-recorded vocals by Ike Willis, updated lyrics to fit the plot, and, most importantly, a beautiful stand-alone piece, "The Evil Prince," slapped in the middle of it (see that song's entry for more details).
ResponderEliminar"The Torture Never Stops" is a song by Frank Zappa from the 1976 album Zoot Allures. Other versions appear on Zappa in New York, Thing-Fish, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4, The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life, Cheap Thrills, Buffalo, Philly '76, and Hammersmith Odeon.
ResponderEliminarZappa played "The Torture Never Stops" in concert from 1975 to 1978, in 1981 and again in 1988.
The song debuted in 1975 as "Why Doesn't Somebody Get Him a Pepsi?" though few of the instrument parts were similar to the album version. Critics have written that while performing the song, Zappa comes off as calm yet passive-aggressive. Michel Delville, in his essay Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and the Secret History of Maximalism contrasted the tone of "The Torture Never Stops" with Brian Eno's album Ambient 1: Music for Airports.
A live solo from the song, called "Rat Tomago", was put on the 1979 album Sheik Yerbouti. Like "The Torture Never Stops", it contains the same basic structure, bass line, and female moaning. "Rat Tomago" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1979, but lost.
ResponderEliminarMoscas todas verdes y zumbando, en su mazmorra de desesperación.
Los presos se quejan y mean la ropa y se rascan el pelo enmarañado.
Una pequeña luz de un agujero de ventana a cien metros de distancia
es todo lo que llegarán a conocer sobre la vida normal fuera de allí.
Y apesta tan mal que las piedras han estado asfixiándose.
Y gotas verdosas caen
en la sala donde la bomba de fuego gigante funciona
Y la tortura nunca se detiene
La tortura nunca se detiene
Baba y podredumbre, ratas, moco y vómito en el suelo.
Cincuenta soldados feos, sosteniendo lanzas en la puerta de hierro.
Cuchillos y clavos y armas y cosas para todos los gustos de cada herramienta de dolor.
Un enano siniestro con un balde y un trapeador donde la sangre baja por el desagüe.
Y apesta tan mal que las piedras han estado asfixiándose.
Y gotas verdosas caen
en la sala donde la bomba de fuego gigante funciona.
Y la tortura nunca se detiene
La tortura nunca se detiene
La tortura
La tortura
La tortura nunca se detiene.
Moscas todas verdes y zumbando, en su mazmorra de desesperación.
Un príncipe malvado come un cerdo humeante en una cámara cerca de allí.
Se come los hocicos y las patas primero.
El lomo y la ingle se encuentran dispersados rápidamente.
Su estilo de cortar está bien ensayado.
Se pone de pie y grita
“Todos los hombres sean maldecidos”
“Todos los hombres sean maldecidos”
“Todos los hombres sean maldecidos”
“Todos los hombres sean maldecidos”
Y estar en desacuerdo, nadie se atreve.
Claro, él es el mejor entre todos los peores.
Algunos males se han hecho, él los hizo primero.
(Bueno, bueno) Y él apesta tan mal, que sus huesos han estado asfixiándose.
(Sí) Y gotas verdosas caen
(Bueno) en la noche de la salchicha de hierro.
(Bien) Donde la tortura nunca se detiene
La tortura nunca se detiene
La tortura
La tortura
La tortura nunca se detiene.
Moscas todas verdes y zumbando, en su mazmorra de desesperación.
¿Quiénes son todas esas personas a las que está encerrando allí?
¿Están locos?,
¿Son santas?
¿Son ceros pintados?,
Nunca se ha explicado desde su comienzo.
Pero una mazmorra como un pecado
no requiere nada más que ser encerrado.
De todo lo que ha sido
Mira la suya
Míralo
Ése es el trato que estamos tratando
Ése es el trato que estamos tratando
Ése es el trato que estamos tratando
Ése es el trato que estamos tratando