Bobby Brown (song)
"Bobby Brown" | ||||
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Single by Frank Zappa | ||||
from the album Sheik Yerbouti | ||||
Released | March 3, 1979 | |||
Recorded | 1978 | |||
Genre |
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Length | 2:49 | |||
Label | CBS | |||
Songwriter(s) | Frank Zappa | |||
Producer(s) | Frank Zappa | |||
Frank Zappa singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
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"Bobby Brown (Goes Down)" is a song by American musician Frank Zappa released on his double album Sheik Yerbouti (1979). The song was successful in Europe, where it was a number-one-hit in Norway and Sweden, number 4 in Germany, and was featured on the vinyl and European CD version of Zappa's best of compilation, Strictly Commercial (1995).[2]
Synopsis
The song describes a wealthy, misogynistic student named Bobby Brown, "the cutest boy in town", whose life is the archetypal American Dream until a traumatic sexual encounter with "Freddie", a dyke involved in the women's liberation movement, leaves him questioning his sexuality. Bobby transforms into a leisure suit-wearing closeted homosexual working in radio promotions; by the end of the song, he and "a friend" (later implied to be his boss, as he will "do anything to get ahead", which also has a double meaning, i.e. getting head) have become self-described "sexual spastic(s)" involved in golden showers and S&M, for which he thanks Freddie.
Track listing
Version 1:
- A. "Bobby Brown" – 2:43[3]
- B. "Baby Snakes" – 1:50
Version 2:
- A. "Bobby Brown" – 2:43[4]
- B. "Stick It Out" – 4:33
Chart positions
Weekly charts
Chart (1979–1991) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] | 2 |
Norway (VG-lista)[6] | 1 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[7] | 1 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[8] | 5 |
West Germany (Official German Charts)[9] | 4 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1980) | Position |
---|---|
West Germany (Official German Charts)[10] | 6 |
Chart (1991) | Position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] | 7 |
Decade-end charts
Chart (1990–1999) | Position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] | 34 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Austria (IFPI Austria)[13] | Gold | 50,000* |
Norway (IFPI Norway)[14] | Gold | 5,000* |
Sweden (GLF)[15] | Gold | 25,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[16] | Gold | 25,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ Wiebe, David Andrew (March 30, 2022). "Music Genres List - 67 Top Music Styles With Examples". Music Industry How To. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
- ^ "Zappa interviews". home.swipnet.se. Archived from the original on 2013-05-09. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
- ^ Bobby Brown at Discogs (list of releases)
- ^ Frank-Zappa-Bobby-Brown at Discogs (list of releases)
- ^ "Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ "Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown". VG-lista. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ "Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ "Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts". Offizielle Deutsche Charts (in German). Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1991". Hung Medien Austrian Charts Portal (in German). Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- ^ "Bestenlisten – Singles 1990er". Hung Medien Austrian Charts Portal (in German). Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- ^ "Austrian single certifications – Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown Goes Down (Si)" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ "Norwegian single certifications – Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown Goes Down" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ "Swedish single certifications – Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown" (in Swedish). Swedish Recording Industry Association. Search for "Frank Zappa", then press "Sök" to see the search results. Select "Bobby Brown Download" and press "Visa" to see the charting positions and certification awards. Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ "Swiss single certifications – Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown" (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
External links
- "Bobby Brown" at Discogs (list of releases)
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- Frank Zappa
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(1966–1993)
official releases
- Lumpy Gravy (Primordial)
- The Guitar World According to Frank Zappa
- Beat the Boots!
- Beat the Boots! II
Compilations |
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Birthday Bundle series |
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- "Trouble Comin' Every Day"
- "Who Are the Brain Police?"
- "WPLJ"
- "My Guitar"
- "Peaches en Regalia"
- "I'm the Slime"
- "Cosmik Debris"
- "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow"
- "Du Bist Mein Sofa"
- "Find Her Finer"
- "Disco Boy"
- "Dancin' Fool"
- "Bobby Brown"
- "Joe's Garage"
- "I Don't Wanna Get Drafted"
- "You Are What You Is"
- "Valley Girl"
- "Cocaine Decisions"
- "Stairway to Heaven"
compositions
- "Absolutely Free"
- "Advance Romance"
- "The Adventures of Greggery Peccary"
- "America Drinks & Goes Home"
- "Are You Hung Up?"
- "Billy the Mountain"
- "The Black Page"
- "Brown Shoes Don't Make It"
- "Camarillo Brillo"
- "Cheepnis"
- "Duodenum"
- "Father O'Blivion"
- "Help, I'm a Rock"
- "G-Spot Tornado"
- "I Have Been in You"
- "Inca Roads"
- "Jewish Princess"
- "Let's Make the Water Turn Black"
- "A Little Green Rosetta"
- "Memories of El Monte"
- "Montana"
- "Muffin Man"
- "Nanook Rubs It"
- "Plastic People"
- "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet"
- "Rollo"
- "Sleep Dirt"
- "St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast"
- "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance"
- "A Token of My Extreme"
- "The Torture Never Stops"
- "Uncle Remus"
- "Watermelon in Easter Hay"
- "Who Needs the Peace Corps?"
- "Willie the Pimp"
- "Wind Up Workin' in a Gas Station"
- 200 Motels
- Baby Snakes
- The Dub Room Special
- Does Humor Belong in Music?
- Video from Hell
- Uncle Meat
- The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels
- The Amazing Mr. Bickford
- In popular culture
- Zappa Plays Zappa
- Pachygnatha zappa
- Phialella zappai
- Zappa confluentus
- 3834 Zappafrank
- Frankly a Cappella
- King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa
- Zappa's Universe
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