Bobby Brown (song)

"Bobby Brown"
Single by Frank Zappa
from the album Sheik Yerbouti
Released	March 3, 1979
Recorded	1978
Genre	Pop rock, comedy rock, progressive rock
Length	2:49
Label	CBS Records
Writer(s)	Frank Zappa
Producer(s)	Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa singles chronology
"Dancin' Fool" (1979) "Bobby Brown (Goes Down)" (1979) "Joe's Garage" (1979)

"Bobby Brown" ( (song sample, 600Kb)) or "Bobby Brown (Goes Down)" is a song by Frank Zappa released on his album Sheik Yerbouti in 1979. One of his best known songs, it was hugely successful in Europe.

The song describes a wealthy, misogynist student named Bobby Brown, "the cutest boy in town", whose life is the archetypical American Dream until a traumatic sexual encounter with "Freddie", a lesbian 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") have become self-described "sexual spastic(s)" involved in golden showers and S&M, for which he thanks his "friend", Freddie. This song was more successful in Europe than America (the song's pervasive sexual content made it unfit for broadcast on U.S. radio) and this is why it is only featured on the vinyl and European CD version of Zappa's best of compilation, Strictly Commercial. ^[1][2]

Track list

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
Germany (Official German Charts)[6]	4
Norway (VG-lista)[7]	1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[8]	1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[9]	5

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
Austria (IFPI Austria)[10]	Gold	50,000^x
Germany (BVMI)[11]	Gold	250,000^^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[12]	Gold	50,000^*
Sweden (GLF)[13]	Gold	50,000^x
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[14]	Gold	50,000^x
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone

References

1. "Sheik Yerbouti". globalia.net. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
2. "Zappa interviews". home.swipnet.se. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
3. Bobby Brown (song) at Discogs (list of releases)
4. Frank-Zappa-Bobby-Brown at Discogs (list of releases)
5. "Austriancharts.at – Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
6. "Musicline.de – Frank Zappa Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
7. "Norwegiancharts.com – Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown". VG-lista. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
8. "Swedishcharts.com – Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
9. "Swisscharts.com – Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
10. "Austrian single certifications – Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown Goes Down (Si)" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved November 7, 2015. Enter Frank Zappa in the field Interpret. Enter Bobby Brown Goes Down (Si) in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen
11. "German single certifications – Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
12. "Norwegian single certifications – Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown Goes Down" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
13. "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. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
14. "Swiss single certifications – Frank Zappa – Bobby Brown" (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2015.