When I was in college, I encountered 200 Motels for the first time via an obsessed friend. I never got that familiar with it, but some of it made a lasting impression on me. Roger blogged about it a few weeks ago, and I was more recently reminded of it for other reasons.

What I’m currently listening to over and over again is the song “Strictly Genteel”, an overblown pop anthem that serves as the finale of the movie. Having not listened to this stuff in many, many years, I’m more keenly aware of Zappa as an orchestral composer. We all know that he was good at aping Varèse and Webern, but this song shows his more transparent and lyrical side. I like the way he moves back and forth between the two worlds.

Let me walk you through some of “Strictly Genteel”. Here’s the opening, just to get oriented. The lyrics are, of course, hilarious (to me, anyway).

Lord, Have mercy on the people in England
For the terrible food these people must eat
Etc.

(This is Theodore Bikel singing, by the way. Not one of the more prominent things on his bio, I’ll bet.)

genteel1.mp3

A bit later, after one of several odd transitions, we get to hear the full-blown anthem theme in its over-the-top splendor. Again, pretty funny lyrics.

God help the winos, the junkies and the weirdos
And every person who’s adrift in the storm
Etc.

genteel2.mp3

Now, here’s an instrumental (well wordless anyway) interlude that I like a lot. It reminds me of a passage in the “Wild Nights!” movement from John Adams’ Harmonium.

genteel3.mp3

Next, winding up toward the end, it’s a wonderful chromatic variation on the anthem theme, followed by an episode that I think is absolutely beautiful. Again, I must highlight some lyrics.

Lord have mercy on the hippies and faggots
On the narcs and the weird little children they grow
Help the black man
Help the poor man
Help the milkman
Help the doorman

(Let me know if I don’t have that quite right.)

genteel4.mp3