Bobby Brown (song)

“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).

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

B. “Baby Snakes” – 1:50

Version 2:

A. “Bobby Brown” – 2:43

B. “Stick It Out” – 4:33

Chart positions

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

Certifications

References

External links

“Bobby Brown” at Discogs (list of releases)